The Everything Fix-It Book
From Clogged Drains and Gutters, to Leaky Faucets and Toilets--All You Need to Get the Job Done
Published on 30. April 2004
336 pages
978-1-4405-2289-5 (ISBN)
Description
Fixing leaky roofs, replacing broken pipes, and repairing cracks in ceilings can seem daunting to any homeowner. The Everything Fix-It Book takes readers through dozens of everyday fix-it projects, helping them avoid the high cost of professional help while maintaining the safety and value of their investments. This easy-to-follow guide shows how to patch drywall, replace windowpanes, repair furniture, maintain major appliances, and hire a pro for the big jobs without getting taken to the cleaners.
This hands-on guide provides expert instruction on how to:
Specially written for the mechanically challenged, The Everything Fix-It Book is the ideal resource to help homeowners prepare for the unexpected.
This hands-on guide provides expert instruction on how to:
- Understand the ins and outs of plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling systems
- Find the right tools for the job
- Identify and solve pest problems
- Make a home energy efficient
- Know when to call in the pros and how to avoid ripoffs
Specially written for the mechanically challenged, The Everything Fix-It Book is the ideal resource to help homeowners prepare for the unexpected.
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Yvonne Jeffery
The Everything Fix-it Book
From Clogged Drains and Gutters, to Leaky Faucets and Toilets - All You Need to Get the Job Done
Book
04/2004
Adams Media Corporation
€33.76
Article exhausted; check different version
Person
Yvonne Jeffery (Alberta, Canada) is the associate editor of the quarterly City Woman and has contributed to National Geographic Traveler, Woman's Day, and Reader's Digest. She has extensive experience tackling home repair projects and is currently renovating her forty-year-old home in Calgary.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Top Ten Reasons to Fix It Yourself
- Introduction
- 1 Getting Ready for Home Repair
- Aim for Energy Efficiency
- Why You Need a Home Inspection
- Home Inspection Tips You Can Use
- Every Homeowner's Basic Tool Kit
- When You Need a Building Permit
- 2 Safety First
- Identifying Utility Shutoffs
- Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
- Fire Extinguishers
- Automatic-Stop Garage Door Closers
- Ladder Safety
- 3 Quick Fixes for Common Problems
- Keeping Showerheads and Faucets Running Free
- First Aid for Leaky Pipes
- Silencing Noisy Pipes
- Fast and Easy Toilet Fixes
- Clearing Blocked Drains
- Freeing Sticky Doors
- 4 Healthy Houses
- Water Testing
- Reducing Allergy and Asthma Triggers
- Managing Mold and Mildew
- Getting the Lead Out-Or Not
- Radon Gas
- Asbestos
- 5 Weather Wise
- Fall Maintenance
- Spring Maintenance
- Exterior Weatherproofing
- Dealing with Frozen Pipes
- Putting the Chill on Outdoor Faucets
- Eliminating Ice Dams
- Natural Disasters
- 6 Energy Savers
- Identifying Energy Wasters
- Reducing Utility Bills
- The Benefits of Insulation
- Easy Insulation Fixes
- Interior Weatherproofing
- Installing a Programmable Thermostat
- Reducing Water Consumption
- 7 The Exterior Envelope
- Foundations and Masonry
- Caring for Siding
- Soffits, Fascia, and Trim
- Maintaining Gutters
- Maintaining Roofs
- First Aid for Roofs
- 8 The Great Outdoors
- Utility Lines
- Clotheslines
- Optimizing Water Drainage
- Driveways, Patios, and Sidewalks
- Decks, Steps, and Fences
- Septic Systems
- 9 Pest Control
- Pest Removal
- General Pest Prevention Measures
- Crawling and Jumping Insects
- Flying Insects
- Mice, Snakes, and Bats
- Larger Unwanted Visitors
- The Really Big Pests
- 10 Security Watch
- Essential Lighting
- The Most Secure Doors
- Making Use of Locks
- Peepholes
- Windows
- Choosing a Home Alarm System
- 11 Down in the Basement
- Basement Moisture
- Dealing with Leaks
- Maintaining Sump Pumps
- Backwater Valves
- Insulating Basements
- 12 Fixable Floors
- Solutions for Squeaks
- Patching Subflooring
- Carpet
- Ceramic Tile
- Hardwood
- Resilient Flooring
- Stairs
- 13 Winning Walls
- Washing Walls
- Anchoring Nails and Screws
- Dealing with Wallboard
- Dealing with Plaster
- Wallpaper Fixes
- Moldings and Panels
- 14 Simply Ceilings
- Brightening Dull Ceilings
- Ceiling Cracks
- Leaking Ceilings
- Sagging Ceilings
- Damaged Wallboard Ceilings
- Ceiling Tiles
- Ceiling Fans
- 15 Up in the Attic
- Identifying Attic Problems
- Inspecting Your Attic
- Ventilation Issues
- Insulating Ductwork
- Installing Attic Insulation
- 16 Durable Doors
- Door Handles and Locks
- Solving Door Problems
- Keeping Doorbells Ringing
- Replacing Door Thresholds
- Hollow-Core Doors
- Sliding Doors
- Bi-Fold Doors
- Storm Doors
- 17 Ways with Windows
- Freeing a Stuck Window
- Sash Windows
- Casement/Awning Windows
- Sliding Windows
- Window Screens
- Window Film
- 18 Practical Plumbing
- Introduction to Plumbing
- Installing Shutoff Valves
- Repairing Leaky Faucets
- Replacing Faucets
- Drain Stoppers and Strainers
- Not-So-Quick Fixes for Toilets
- Reseating a Toilet
- 19 Easy Electricity
- Problem Signs
- Safety Reminders
- Wire Tips
- Your Home's Electrical Circuits
- Replacing Light Switches
- Replacing Electrical Outlets
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
- Replacing Plugs
- Lamps and Lights
- 20 HVAC Systems
- Forced-Air Furnace Maintenance
- Replacing and Cleaning Furnace Filters
- Ductwork Maintenance
- Cleaning Forced-Air Furnace Humidifiers
- Water-Based Heating Systems
- Hot-Water Heater Maintenance
- Fireplace, Wood Stove, and Chimney Maintenance
- Ventilation System Maintenance
- Air Conditioner Maintenance
- 21 When You Can't Do It Yourself
- Knowing When to Say No
- Finding Qualified Contractors
- Avoiding the Wrong Contractor
- Selecting the Right Contractor
- The Job Contract
- Working with the Contractor
- Resolving Problems
- Appendix A Resources
- Appendix B Maintenance Schedule
- Index
