Before You Call a Pro
Pros are worth every penny for the big stuff. But plenty of service calls end with a technician pressing a reset button or pulling out a clogged filter, and you pay for the visit either way. Try these first. Each one shows what the service call usually costs, so you know what you're saving. These are the simple checks a technician would run first.
Smell gas, see sparks, or have water pouring in? Skip this page and go to emergency steps.
Before you call a plumber
Most plumbing service calls start at $100 or more just to show up. These checks cost nothing.
Fix a running toiletThat endless hiss is almost always a $6 part.15–30 min · Pro visit: $150–$300
Unclog a toilet (without the overflow)The right plunger and one trick keep this from getting worse.5–20 min · Pro visit: $150–$300
Unclog a sink without chemicalsSkip the harsh drain cleaner. A $5 tool clears most clogs.20–45 min · Pro visit: $125–$275
Unjam a garbage disposalIt hums but won't spin? You don't need a plumber for this one.10 min · Pro visit: $100–$200
Find and fix a leak under the sinkA damp cabinet floor usually traces back to one of five spots.20–60 min · Pro visit: $150–$350
Fix low shower water pressureA bag of vinegar often brings your shower back to life overnight.10 min + soak · Pro visit: $150–$400
No hot water? Start hereBefore you buy a new water heater, try these free fixes.15–45 min · Pro visit: $150–$600
Reset an electric water heaterNo hot water, but the breaker's fine? Press the hidden red button.15–20 min · Pro visit: $150–$400
Why your hot water runs out so fastSediment, a failed element, or a heater too small for your home.1–2 hrs · Pro visit: $100–$250
Before you call an electrician
Only the safe checks here: resets, bulbs, dimmers and batteries. Anything that sparks, smells hot or keeps tripping goes to a licensed electrician.
Reset a tripped outlet or breakerHalf the house lost power? It's usually a button or a switch.5–15 min · Pro visit: $100–$250
Why are my lights flickering?One flickering light is easy. Many at once is a different story.10–20 min · Pro visit: $100–$300
Stop a smoke alarm from chirpingThat chirp at 3 a.m. has a simple cause, and sometimes a hidden one.10 min · Pro visit: $15–$60
Before you call for heating or AC service
A surprising number of no-heat and no-cool calls end with a new filter or a flipped switch.
Change your HVAC air filterTwo minutes, and your system runs cheaper and cleaner.5 min · Pro visit: $8–$30
Furnace won't turn onThe first cold night is when furnaces act up. Most fixes are free.15–30 min · Pro visit: $100–$300
AC not cooling? Check these firstMost warm-air AC calls are fixed by a filter, a setting, or a hose.20–45 min · Pro visit: $100–$300
Clean your AC condenser coilsA dirty outdoor unit can't shed heat. An hour with a hose helps a lot.45–60 min · Pro visit: $75–$200
Bleed a radiatorCold at the top, warm at the bottom? There's air trapped inside.10 min per radiator · Pro visit: $100–$250
Before you call appliance repair
Filters, coils and vents cause a lot of appliance trouble, and cleaning them is a job you can do.
Dishwasher not drainingStanding water in the bottom is almost always a clogged filter.20–40 min · Pro visit: $100–$200
Clean clogged dishwasher spray armsFood on the dishes after a cycle? The spray holes are probably clogged.15–20 min · Pro visit: $100–$200
Clean your refrigerator coilsDusty coils make your fridge work harder. A 20-minute fix.20–30 min · Pro visit: $150–$400
Get rid of a smelly washing machineThat musty smell has three sources. Clean them once and it's gone.45 min · Pro visit: $100–$200
Clean your dryer ventClothes taking forever to dry? A clogged vent is also a fire risk.45–60 min · Pro visit: $100–$250
Tried it and it's still not right? Every guide ends with the signs that mean it's time to call someone.