Home repair, explained plainly
Fix the small stuff yourself. Know when to call a pro.
Clear repair guides for every part of the house, with a picture for every step, cost estimates, and help deciding when to call a pro.
189fixes, step by step
1116step pictures
Sep 2026last reviewed
- Cost to do it yourself vs. hiring a pro
- Tools and parts listed before you start
- Clear signs it's time to call someone
What's going on at your place?
Toilet keeps running or refillingFaucet drips when it's offSink drains slowly or not at allDisposal hums but won't spinSome outlets suddenly deadHole or dent in a wallMoldy or peeling tub caulkHouse feels dusty, bills are upNo hot waterToilet is cloggedToilet rocksTub drains slowlyDryer won't startOven won't heat upGrout looks dirtyWater under the sinkBreaker keeps trippingAC blowing warm airFurnace won't turn onSmoke alarm chirpingPuddle by the water heaterDishwasher has standing waterWasher won't drainGarage door won't close
More problems (174), by room and system
Emergency
Plumbing
Water under the sinkPuddle by the water heaterHot water runs out fastPipes frozen, faucet only tricklesOne faucet has low pressureSump pump won't turn onHouse smells like sewerPipes bang when the water shuts offToilet won't refill after flushingKitchen sprayer weak or not workingOutdoor faucet is leakingWater heater is making noiseWater pressure is low everywhereToilet gurgles
Kitchen & laundry
Clothes take forever to dryWasher smells mustyFridge running constantlyDishwasher has standing waterDisposal leakingDishes still dirtyWasher won't drainWasher shakes or moves during spinFridge is leaking waterWater leaking from the dishwasherIce maker stopped making iceFridge isn't cold enoughDryer runs but doesn't heatWasher is leaking waterDishwasher leaves dishes dirtyGas burner clicks but won't lightElectric stove burner won't heatWasher won't spinRange hood fan won't turn onMicrowave runs but food stays coldKitchen sink disposal stinksDryer is thumping or squealingDishes come out of the dishwasher wetFreezer covered in frostRefrigerator is making a strange noiseWasher won't fill with waterDishwasher smells badDishwasher won't startWashing machine won't startFridge water dispenser not working
Bathroom
Weak shower pressureToilet seat slides aroundA floor tile is crackedToilet flush is weakBathroom fan is loud or weakTowel bar is looseShower drain is slow or cloggedWater around the base of the toiletShower head is leakingMold on the bathroom ceilingToilet handle is loose or wobblyWater still comes out of the tub spoutBathroom sink stopper won't stay closedGrout is cracked or missingShower faucet keeps drippingBathtub stopper won't hold waterToilet tank is sweating
Heating & cooling
AC blowing warm airFurnace won't turn onRadiator cold at the topElectric water heater stopped heatingOutdoor AC unit is dirtyThermostat is blank or not workingWater leaking around the AC or furnaceOne room is too hot or coldBurning smell when the heat comes onIce on the AC linesFurnace turns on and off a lotHeat is on but vents blow coldBaseboard heater stays coldHeat pump blows cool air in winterFurnace is making noise
Electrical
Smoke alarm chirpingLights flickeringLight switch not workingBreaker keeps trippingPlugs fall out of an outletCarbon monoxide alarm beepingCeiling fan wobblesDoorbell doesn't ringOutdoor motion light won't turn onReplacing a light fixtureCeiling fan won't turn onOutside outlet has no powerGFCI button won't stay inLight bulbs keep burning outCeiling fan works but the light doesn'tSmoke alarm goes off for no reasonRecessed light keeps turning off
Walls
Need to hang a heavy mirrorCan't find a studBumps in drywallCrack in a wall or ceilingPaint touch-ups showPlaster cracks when I hang thingsNail holes show through paintDented drywall cornerPaint peeling on a wall or ceilingBasement smells mustyWater stain on the ceilingDrywall tape is peeling or bubblingHole in a plaster wallWallpaper peeling at the seams
Doors & windows
Door squeaksDoor sticks or won't latchCold drafts by windowsLock is hard to turnWindow won't openWindow screen is tornNeed to take a door offGarage door won't closeDoor swings open or closed on its ownHinge screws spin and won't tightenGarage door opener won't respondSliding door is hard to openDraft around an outside doorWater on the inside of windowsDoor knob is loose or wobblyHole in a hollow-core doorStorm door won't closePocket door came off its trackWindow won't stay openWindow glass is broken
Exterior
Gutters overflowingCracked deck boardGate drags or won't latchMissing roof shingleGetting outdoor faucets ready for winterFence picket is brokenCrack in a concrete walk or stepVinyl siding is looseGutter pulling away from the houseWater puddles next to the houseLight showing under garage doorIcicles and ice along the roof edgeGarage door is noisyGutter leaks at a seam or cornerDeck railing is wobblyCracks in the asphalt driveway
Carpentry
Nails keep bendingBaseboard pulling awayStairs creakRailing wobblesNeed to remove baseboardChair wobblesDrawer bottom saggingNail won't come outNailing boards at an angleWooden drawer sticksCabinet door is crooked or saggingDrawer won't close all the wayDoor jamb is split or crackedCloset shelf is saggingWindow sill is soft or rottedTable wobblesCabinet knob keeps coming loose
Floors
Floor squeaksGap between baseboard and floorCarpet coming up at the edgeScratches in a hardwood floorGaps between laminate or vinyl planksLaminate floor is lifting or bucklingFloor transition strip is looseGaps between hardwood boardsHardwood board is loose or raisedCarpet has ripples or wrinklesHardwood floor boards are cuppingVinyl floor tile is peeling upBurn or hole in the carpet
Not sure where to start?
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The Punch List
Your October punch list
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This week at your place
What the forecast says to do
Enter your ZIP and we'll match this week's weather to the jobs worth doing before it arrives.
See everything that's due at your house →Seasonal checklist and reminders →
Common home repairs
The problems people run into most.
Plumbing
Fix a running toilet
Check the flapper, chain and fill valve to find what's keeping the water running.
Easy15–30 min$5–25
Plumbing
Unclog a sink without chemicals
Clear hair and buildup with a plastic snake or plunger, then check the trap if needed.
Moderate20–45 min$0–15
Electrical
Reset a tripped outlet or breaker
Find the tripped GFCI or breaker and get the power back safely.
Easy5–15 min$0
Heating & cooling
AC not cooling? Check these first
Start with the thermostat, filter, breakers and outdoor unit.
Easy20–45 min$0–30
Plumbing
No hot water? Start here
Find out what to check first on your gas or electric water heater.
Moderate15–45 min$0–40
Plumbing
Find and fix a leak under the sink
Dry the area, then follow the drip to find where the leak starts.
Moderate20–60 min$0–25
Plumbing
All 20 plumbing fixes →
Kitchen & laundry
All 33 kitchen & laundry fixes →
Bathroom
All 21 bathroom fixes →
Heating & cooling
All 16 heating & cooling fixes →
Electrical
All 18 electrical fixes →
Walls
All 15 wall fixes →
Doors & windows
All 20 doors & windows fixes →
Exterior
All 16 exterior fixes →
Carpentry
All 17 carpentry fixes →
Floors
All 13 floors fixes →
Checklist
Seasonal maintenance checklist
A little upkeep each season helps prevent expensive surprises.