100 Things Every Homeowner Must Know

Table of contents

1 Understand your plumbing system

2 Understand your heating system

3 Understand your water heater

4 Push a button, save $100

5 Make appliances last

6 Keep your water softener healthy

8 Prevent burst pipes

9 Dry up a wet basement

10 Save on home insurance

11 Make your carpet last

12 Improve your insulation

13 Cut heating costs

14 Clean your air conditioner

15 Cut cooling costs

16 Protect your electronics

17 Understand your electrical system

18 Eliminate ants

19 Get rid of mice

20 Defeat termites

21 Protect against pet damage

22 Don’t kill your lawn mower

Bonus section: Our favorite storage tips

23 Guard against carbon monoxide

25 Test for lead paint

26 Stop mold and mildew

27 Prevent home fires

28 Replace smoke alarms

29 Be ready for fire

30 Clean your dryer vent

31 Keep crooks out

32 Burglar-proof your garage

33 Hide your valuables

34 Be ready for blackouts

35 Can you count on your sump pump?

36 Find your shutoff valves

38 Stay safe in a storm

39 Be prepared for roof damage

Bonus section: Best home hints

40 Remodel without regrets

41 Cut remodeling costs

42 Decorate smart

43 Choose the best flooring

44 Choose the best faucet

45 Move furniture the smart way

46 Hang pictures straight and level

47 Hang a heavy mirror

48 Pick a paint color you’ll love

49 Pick the best paint for the job

50 Prep for a neater paint job

51 Paint like a pro

52 Roll paint right

53 Spray paint perfectly

54 Hire the best roofer

55 Hire the best painting contractor

56 Find your property lines

Bonus section: Greatest goofs

57 Master your drill

58 Drive screws like a pro

59 Master the jigsaw

60 Measure accurately

61 Master the hammer

63 Be ready for anything

64 Finish wood flawlessly

65 Caulk like a pro

66 Install wire shelving

67 Connect coax cable right

68 Replace a light fixture

69 Make home chores easier

70 Wash windows like a pro

71 Clean faster, clean better

72 Make yard chores easier

73 Grow a great lawn

75 Sharpen a mower blade

76 Win against weeds

77 Plant a tree

78 Prune like a pro

Bonus section: Best problem solvers

79 Fix a toilet

80 Unplug a toilet

81 Stop leaks under the sink

82 Unclog a sink

83 Fix an outdoor faucet

84 Clean a clogged faucet

85 Fix a loose towel bar—forever!

86 Tune up your cabinets

87 Renew grungy grout

89 Tune up closet doors

90 Patch walls perfectly

91 Fix furniture fast

92 Repair concrete

93 Fix appliances yourself—and save

94 Fix your furnace

95 Lube it right

96 Warm up a cold room

97 Cool a hot room

98 Cure condensation

99 Defeat odors

100 Quiet your home

Bonus section: Incredibly easy fixes