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Grab the Hammer

Home repair, explained plainly

Fix the small stuff yourself. Know when to call a pro.

Step-by-step guides with pictures for every step, real costs, and honest advice on when a job is over your head.

50 guides · 250 step pictures · reviewed Sep 2026

What's going on at your place?

Toilet keeps running or refilling Faucet drips when it's off Sink drains slowly or not at all Disposal hums but won't spin Some outlets suddenly dead Hole or dent in a wall Moldy or peeling tub caulk House feels dusty, bills are up

More problems (42), by room and system

Emergency

A pipe is leaking right now

Plumbing

No hot water Toilet is clogged Water under the sink Puddle by the water heater Hot water runs out fast

Kitchen & laundry

Clothes take forever to dry Washer smells musty Fridge running constantly Dishwasher has standing water Disposal leaking Dishes still dirty

Bathroom

Weak shower pressure Grout looks dirty Toilet rocks Tub drains slowly Toilet seat slides around

Heating & cooling

AC blowing warm air Furnace won't turn on

Electrical

Smoke alarm chirping Lights flickering Light switch not working

Walls

Need to hang a heavy mirror Can't find a stud Bumps in drywall

Doors & windows

Door squeaks Door sticks or won't latch Cold drafts by windows Lock is hard to turn Window won't open

Exterior

Gutters overflowing Cracked deck board Gate drags or won't latch Missing roof shingle

Carpentry

Nails keep bending Baseboard pulling away Floor squeaks Stairs creak Railing wobbles Need to remove baseboard Chair wobbles Drawer bottom sagging

Most needed fixes

The problems people run into most.

Fix a running toilet

That endless hiss is almost always a $6 part.

Easy15–30 min$5–25

Unclog a sink without chemicals

Skip the harsh drain cleaner. A $5 tool clears most clogs.

Moderate20–45 min$0–15

Reset a tripped outlet or breaker

Half the house lost power? It's usually a button or a switch.

Easy5–15 min$0

Heating & cooling

AC not cooling? Check these first

Most warm-air AC calls are fixed by a filter, a setting, or a hose.

Easy20–45 min$0–30

No hot water? Check these first

Before you buy a new water heater, try these free fixes.

Moderate15–45 min$0–40

Find and fix a leak under the sink

A damp cabinet floor usually traces back to one of five spots.

Moderate20–60 min$0–25

Plumbing

All 9 plumbing guides →

Find your main water shutoff

Easy10–20 min$0

Fix a running toilet

Easy15–30 min$5–25

Stop a dripping faucet

Moderate30–60 min$15–40

Unclog a sink without chemicals

Moderate20–45 min$0–15

No hot water? Check these first

Moderate15–45 min$0–40

Unclog a toilet (without the overflow)

Easy5–20 min$0–25

Find and fix a leak under the sink

Moderate20–60 min$0–25

Water heater leaking? What to do first

Moderate15–45 min$0–30

Hot water runs out too fast? Here's why

Moderate1–2 hrs$0–40

Kitchen & laundry

All 7 kitchen & laundry guides →

Kitchen & laundry

Unjam a garbage disposal

Easy10 min$0–8

Kitchen & laundry

Clean your dryer vent

Moderate45–60 min$15–30

Kitchen & laundry

Get rid of a smelly washing machine

Easy45 min$0–10

Kitchen & laundry

Clean your refrigerator coils

Easy20–30 min$0–12

Kitchen & laundry

Dishwasher not draining? Here's the fix

Easy20–40 min$0

Kitchen & laundry

Garbage disposal leaking? Find where

Moderate20–45 min$0–15

Kitchen & laundry

Clean dishwasher spray arms for cleaner dishes

Easy15–20 min$0

Bathroom

All 6 bathroom guides →

Recaulk a tub or shower

Moderate2 hrs + 24 hr cure$10–20

Fix low shower water pressure

Easy10 min + soak$2–5

Clean dirty grout without harsh chemicals

Easy1–2 hrs$5–15

Fix a wobbly toilet

Easy20 min$0–10

Unclog a slow bathtub drain

Easy15–30 min$0–8

Fix a loose, wobbly toilet seat

Easy5–10 min$0–10

Heating & cooling

All 3 heating & cooling guides →

Heating & cooling

Change your HVAC air filter

Easy5 min$8–30

Heating & cooling

AC not cooling? Check these first

Easy20–45 min$0–30

Heating & cooling

Furnace not turning on? Check these first

Easy15–30 min$0–30

Electrical

All 4 electrical guides →

Reset a tripped outlet or breaker

Easy5–15 min$0

Stop a smoke alarm from chirping

Easy10 min$3–30

Why are my lights flickering?

Easy10–20 min$0–30

Replace a light switch safely

Moderate20–30 min$3–15

Walls

All 4 walls guides →

Patch a hole in drywall

Moderate1 hr + drying$10–25

Hang heavy pictures and mirrors safely

Easy20–30 min$5–20

How to find a wall stud (with or without a stud finder)

Easy5–15 min$0–25

Fix nail pops in drywall

Easy30 min + drying$5–15

Doors & windows

All 5 doors & windows guides →

Doors & windows

Fix a squeaky door hinge

Easy10 min$0–8

Doors & windows

Fix a door that sticks or won't latch

Easy15 min$2–5

Doors & windows

Stop drafts around windows

Easy30 min per window$10–25

Doors & windows

Fix a sticking deadbolt or door lock

Easy15–30 min$0–10

Doors & windows

Fix a window that sticks or won't open

Easy20–45 min$0–15

Exterior

All 4 exterior guides →

Clean gutters and downspouts safely

Moderate2–4 hrs$0–40

Replace a cracked or loose deck board

Moderate1–2 hrs$20–60

Fix a loose fence board or sagging gate

Easy30–60 min$10–30

Replace a damaged roof shingle

Hard1 hr$10–30

Carpentry

All 8 carpentry guides →

How to use a hammer (without bending nails)

Easy10 min to learn$15–30

Reattach loose baseboard trim

Easy20–30 min$5–15

Fix a squeaky floor

Moderate30–60 min$10–30

Fix squeaky stairs

Moderate30–60 min$5–20

Tighten a loose stair railing

Moderate30–90 min$5–30

Remove trim or baseboard without damaging the wall

Easy15–30 min per wall$0–15

Fix a wobbly wooden chair

Moderate1 hr + overnight$10–25

Repair a sagging drawer bottom

Easy20–40 min$5–15

Seasonal maintenance checklist

A few hours each season heads off most of the expensive surprises.