Homeowner Guides
New to homeownership? These five guides are the foundation everything else builds on: what to do and when, what it costs, what your first month should look like, which jobs are safe to DIY, and what all the terms mean.
The First-Time Homeowner's Maintenance Calendar (Month by Month)January through December: the exact maintenance tasks for each month, so nothing slips.Read the guide
How Much Should a First-Time Homeowner Budget for Maintenance Each Year?The 1% to 4% rule, what a home's age does to it, and how to build a reserve fund.Read the guide
How Long Home Appliances and Systems Last: A Lifespan ChartTypical lifespans for 24 home systems and appliances, who says what, and the signs each one is wearing out.Read the guide
What to Do in the First 30 Days After Buying a HouseShutoffs, locks, alarms, filters, and paperwork — the move-in checklist.Read the guide
The Emergency Shutoffs Every Homeowner Should Find on Day OneThe water, gas, and electric shutoffs to find in your first week, which ones to test, and which ones to leave alone.Read the guide
DIY vs. Hire a Pro: Which Home Maintenance Tasks to Do YourselfGreen/yellow/red tiers by trade — what you can do, what needs judgment, and what always goes to a licensed pro.Read the guide
Home Maintenance Terms Every First-Time Homeowner Should Know30 essential terms defined in plain language — the jargon behind your furnace, plumbing, and electrical system.Read the guide
Free tools
Build a winter checklist that fits your house, look up a strange noise, smell, or leak by symptom, check tonight's freeze risk for your zip code, look up when the first freeze usually comes, paste your home inspection report and see what each finding means, work out what size generator your outage list needs, find your furnace filter size and MERV rating, or get a 12-month maintenance schedule for your house.
Prepare My House for Winter: Your Personal ChecklistAnswer a few questions about your home for a winter checklist you can tick off, print, or share.Read the guide
What's Wrong With My House? Find It by SymptomPick a noise, smell, leak, or alarm to see how urgent it is, the likely causes, and what to read.Read the guide
Will My Pipes Freeze Tonight?Your zip code, tonight's National Weather Service forecast, and a plain verdict on whether your pipes could freeze.Read the guide
When Is the First Freeze? Frost Dates by Zip CodeYour zip code's typical first freeze, hard freeze, and last spring freeze from NOAA, and the date to winterize outdoor plumbing by.Read the guide
Home Inspection Report Decoder: What Your Inspection Findings MeanPaste your report: plain-English meanings, a how-worried rating, and who to call for each inspection finding.Read the guide
What Size Generator Do I Need?Tick what you'd run in an outage to see the running and starting watts you need and the size of generator that fits.Read the guide
What Size Furnace Filter Do I Need?Answer a few quick questions to find your filter size, the MERV rating your system can take, and when to change it.Read the guide
My Home Profile: Your House's Maintenance ScheduleAnswer a few questions about your house for a month-by-month maintenance schedule that fits its age, climate, and systems.Read the guide
How-to guides
Step-by-step instructions for the small jobs that prevent big repairs, with the safety caveats a first-timer needs and a clear line for when to call a pro.
How to Find, Test, and Label Your Home's Main Water Shutoff ValveWhere the valve hides, gate vs ball, how to test it without snapping it, and why everyone in the house should know.Read the guide
How to Flush a Tank Water Heater, Step by StepPower off, cool down, drain, refill, then power on — the yearly flush in ten careful steps, with the traps that catch first-timers.Read the guide
Water Heater Anode Rod: The Cheap Part That Protects Your TankThe rod that corrodes so your tank doesn't: when to check it, which type to use, and how to swap it safely.Read the guide
How to Test a Sump Pump and Its Battery Backup Before the Rainy SeasonThe bucket test, the float, the check valve, the discharge line, and the backup — ten minutes that prevent a flooded basement.Read the guide
How to Clean a Dryer Vent from the Dryer to the Outside CapWarning signs, the brush kit, gas-dryer cautions, and the full duct run from the dryer to the outside cap.Read the guide
How to Change a Furnace Filter: Find It, Read the Arrow, Get the Size RightWhere the filter lives, which way the arrow points, the nominal-size trap, and the monthly check that keeps the system alive.Read the guide
Refrigerator Water Filter Replacement: Find Yours, Change It, Reset the LightEvery six months, by the makers' own advice: find the part number, swap it, flush the line, and reset the reminder.Read the guide
How to Test Smoke Alarms and CO Alarms: The Ten-Minute Monthly RoutineThe monthly button test, the interconnect check, the date on the back, the yearly battery swap, and what every chirp means.Read the guide
How to Winterize Outdoor Faucets and Hose Bibs Before the First Hard FreezeHoses off, interior valve closed, line drained, spigot covered — and why frost-free hose bibs still burst with a hose attached.Read the guide
How to Winterize an In-Ground Sprinkler System Before the First Hard FreezeWater off, controller off, lines drained or blown out by a pro, and the backflow preventer drained and covered.Read the guide
How to Bleed Hot-Water Radiators and Baseboard, Step by StepCool the system, open each bleed valve until water appears, check the boiler gauge, and never bleed a steam radiator.Read the guide
Fireplace Safety Before the First Fire: The Inspection, the Checks You Can Do, and How to Burn SafelyBook the chimney inspection, check the damper and alarms, burn only dry wood, and put the ashes outside in a metal can.Read the guide
How to Clean Gutters from the Ground Without Climbing a LadderThe wand-and-scoop method, clearing a clogged downspout, the checks that matter, and when the job belongs to a pro.Read the guide
Where to Put Water Leak Sensors in Your House, and How to Set Them Up RightThe ten spots that leak first, app and alert setup, the wet-finger test, and how many sensors a typical house needs.Read the guide
How to Check Whether Your Thermostat Has a C-Wire (Before You Buy a Smart One)Power off, pull the faceplate, read the terminals, look for the spare wire — and the three fixes if there is no C-wire.Read the guide
Something wrong? Troubleshooting guides
Start from the symptom: what it usually means, the causes in the order to check them, what you can fix yourself, and when to call a pro.
Heating and coolingPlumbing, leaks, and hot waterElectrical and powerGas and alarmsAppliances and garage doorAround the house
Heating and cooling
Furnace Not Turning On? Why It Won't Start and What to CheckThermostat and power first, then the blower door, the status light, and the gas: what to check before the tech.Read the guide
How to Reset a Gas Furnace Safely, and When a Reset Is the Wrong MoveRead the blink code, cycle the power once, and leave rollout and limit switches to the technician.Read the guide
Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air? What to Check, in OrderFan setting and filter first, then the gas supply and the pipes outside — what you can fix and what the tech fixes.Read the guide
One Room Colder Than the Rest of the House? What to Check FirstUsually it's the airflow or the room itself. The five-minute checks, what not to do, and when it's a job for an HVAC pro.Read the guide
Radiator Not Heating? What to Check on Hot-Water and Steam SystemsHot-water and steam radiators fail in different ways. Tell them apart, read the boiler gauge, and know which fixes are yours and which are a technician's.Read the guide
Boiler Pressure Too High or Too Low? What the Gauge Means and What to DoRead the boiler gauge, know the normal cold and hot range, and tell a simple top-up from a pressure problem that needs a technician.Read the guide
Electric Baseboard Heater Not Working? What to Check, and When to Call an ElectricianMost no-heat problems are the thermostat, the breaker, or a blocked heater tripping its overheat cutoff. The safe checks, and the line where an electrician takes over.Read the guide
Furnace Turning On and Off Every Few Minutes: Short Cycling Causes and What to DoStart with the filter and the vents, then the flame sensor, the outside vent pipes, and the thermostat — what you can fix and what the tech fixes.Read the guide
Furnace Runs Constantly or Won't Shut Off: What's Normal, What to Check, and When to CallLong runs in a cold snap can be normal. Check the fan setting, the thermostat, the filter, and the vents first; a blower that never stops is a technician job.Read the guide
Furnace Making Noise: What Each Sound Means and What to DoA hum and a click are normal. A boom at startup or grinding metal means shut it off and call; a whistle is usually the filter.Read the guide
Furnace Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit: Causes, Safe Checks, and When to Call a ProThermocouple, a clogged pilot orifice, drafts, or the gas supply: what you can check on a standing-pilot furnace and what the technician fixes.Read the guide
Furnace Smells Like Burning: What Each Smell Means and What to DoDust burning off should fade. Rotten eggs, burning plastic, or a hot electrical smell means act now.Read the guide
Furnace Leaking Water: What It Means, What to Check, and When to CallShut it off and dry it up, then trace the water: the condensate drain, the pump, a pipe joint, the humidifier, the AC coil, or something nearby.Read the guide
Furnace Vent Blocked by Snow: How to Find the Pipes, Clear Them, and Get the Heat BackSnow over the white plastic pipes can shut the furnace down or push CO inside. Find them, clear them by hand, and keep them clear.Read the guide
Heat Pump Blowing Cold Air: Defrost, AUX and EM Heat, and What to FixDefrost, steam, and AUX heat are normal; ice that won't clear is not. What to check, what to clear, and when to call.Read the guide
Heat Pump Frozen? Normal Frost and Defrost vs. Ice That Needs a TechnicianLight frost, steam, and a stopped fan are normal defrost; a block of ice is not. What to clear, what never to do, and when to call.Read the guide
Heat Pump Emergency Heat vs. Aux Heat: What They Mean and When to SwitchAUX comes on by itself and is normal; EM HEAT is the switch you flip only when the outdoor unit can't run. When to use it, and when to call.Read the guide
Heat Pump Running Constantly in Winter: When It's Normal and When It's NotLong, steady runs in the cold are normal; a house that can't reach the setting is not. What to check, what to fix, and when to call.Read the guide
Heat Pump Making Noise in Winter: Normal Defrost Sounds vs. Problem SoundsA whoosh, steam, a stopped fan, and a hum are normal defrost; grinding, rattling, screeching, or banging means shut it off and call.Read the guide
Thermostat Not Working: Fixes for a Blank Screen, No Heat, Wrong Readings, and Wi-FiBlank, ignoring you, reading wrong, or offline: what to check, what you can fix, and when to call the tech.Read the guide
What Temperature Should You Keep Your House in Winter?68°F or lower while you're up, lower while you sleep or are out, and never below 55°F when you're away. Plus heat pumps, pipes, and who needs it warmer.Read the guide
What Indoor Humidity Should Be in Winter, and How to Raise or Lower ItAim for 30 to 50%, lower as it gets colder outside, measure with a hygrometer, and keep the humidifier clean.Read the guide
How to Find Drafts in Your House: Where Air Leaks Hide and How to CheckThe usual leak spots, four simple tests to find them, what to seal yourself, and what to leave alone.Read the guide
Leaving Your House Empty in Winter: What to Do Before You GoHeat no lower than 55°F, cabinets open, water off for long trips, a house checker, sensors, and the water heater on vacation.Read the guide
Clogged Condensate Drain Line: AC and Furnace FixesWater by the indoor unit or a system that shut itself off: power off, vacuum the line, flush with vinegar, then check the pump and furnace trap.Read the guide
AC Not Cooling: What to Check When It Blows Warm AirThermostat, filter, vents, outdoor unit, and breaker first; refrigerant, capacitors, and compressors belong to the technician.Read the guide
Frozen AC: How to Thaw It and Why It FrozeIce on the lines or the indoor coil: thaw it safely, catch the meltwater, fix the airflow, and know when it's a refrigerant job.Read the guide
AC Won't Turn On: What to Check and When to CallBlank thermostat, a silent or humming outdoor unit, or nothing at all: the checks that are yours, and the parts that belong to the technician.Read the guide
Plumbing, leaks, and hot water
Frozen Pipes: What to Do First, How to Thaw Them Safely, and How to Prevent a BurstFaucet open, main shutoff located, gentle heat from the faucet end back — and what to do if the pipe has already split.Read the guide
No Water From the Well in Winter: Finding and Thawing a Frozen Line SafelyThe pump down the well rarely freezes; the pipes above ground do. Power off first, gentle heat only, and test the water after any repair.Read the guide
Tankless Water Heater Freeze Protection: Why It Needs Power, and When to Drain ItBuilt-in heaters stop working when the power goes out. Keep it powered, protect the outside pipes, and drain it before an outage in a freeze.Read the guide
Snow and Ice on the Gas Meter: Clear It Gently, and When to Call the UtilityA broom or your hands, never a shovel, hammer, or hot water. Clear the vents too, and call the utility if the meter is encased in ice.Read the guide
Frost in the Attic: Why It Forms on Nails and Sheathing, and How to Stop ItA thin film after a cold snap is common; heavy frost means house air is leaking in. Seal the leaks first, then fix venting and humidity.Read the guide
Snow Blower Won't Start: The Fuel, Choke, and Key Checks That Fix MostKey in, fuel valve open, choke on, prime, throttle fast, and fresh gas: the makers' first checks, plus the clog rule that saves fingers.Read the guide
Frozen Drain Pipe: How to Tell, How to Thaw It Safely, and When to Call a PlumberA drain that quits in a cold snap: stop running water, warm the space gently, never use a flame, and call when it's the main line.Read the guide
Burst Pipe: What to Do in the First Hour, and What Comes NextMain off, clear of wet wiring, lines drained. Then photos, drying within 48 hours, and the plumber and insurer calls.Read the guide
No Hot Water: Causes and Fixes for Gas, Electric, and Tankless Water HeatersOne faucet or the whole house, gas, electric, or tankless: what to check yourself and when to call the plumber.Read the guide
Hot Water Runs Out Fast: Why Showers Go Cold Sooner and What to DoShowers going cold sooner: check the setting, winter water, and demand first, then sediment, the dip tube, elements, mixing valves, and cross-overs.Read the guide
Water Heater Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit: Causes, Safe Checks, and When to Call a ProThermocouple, a dirty pilot, a tripped flammable vapor system, the gas supply, or drafts: what you can check and what the technician fixes.Read the guide
Water Heater Leaking: How to Find the Source and What to DoCondensation, the relief valve, the drain valve, a fitting, or the tank itself: how to tell, and what to do about each.Read the guide
Water Heater Making a Popping or Rumbling Noise: What It Means and What to DoSediment is the usual cause and a flush is the usual fix — plus what sizzling, ticking, and screeching mean, and when it is time to replace.Read the guide
Hot Water Smells Like Rotten Eggs: Causes, Fixes, and How to Tell It From GasGas or water, hot only or cold too, then the anode, disinfection, and temperature fixes the makers describe.Read the guide
Low Water Pressure in the House: One Faucet, the Hot Side, or EverywhereOne faucet, the hot side, or the whole house? Narrow it down, measure it with a gauge, and know who to call.Read the guide
Pipes Banging When the Water Shuts Off: Water Hammer Causes and How to Stop ItTest the pressure, strap loose pipes, and add arrestors at the washer: what you can fix and what the plumber fixes.Read the guide
How to Fix a Dripping Faucet: Compression, Cartridge, Ball, and DiscSpout drip, handle leak, or base leak: identify the faucet type, shut the water off, replace the worn part, and check the maker's warranty first.Read the guide
Toilet Keeps Running: How to Find the Cause and Fix It YourselfThe dye test, the three parts behind nearly every running toilet, the twenty-minute flapper and fill valve swaps, and when it is a job for the plumber.Read the guide
Toilet Clogged or Won't Flush: Stop the Overflow, Then Clear the ClogStop the overflow, tell a clog from a weak flush, plunge and auger it the right way, and spot a main-line backup.Read the guide
Slow or Clogged Drain: How to Clear a Sink, Tub, or Shower Without ChemicalsStopper, barbed tool, plunger, P-trap, then a hand auger: clear one slow drain, and know when it's the main line.Read the guide
Sump Pump Running Constantly: The Seven Causes, in the Order to Check ThemStuck float, failed check valve, high water table, undersized pump, or a discharge problem — how to tell which one you have.Read the guide
Sewer Smell in the House: Why the Bathroom or Basement Smells Like Sewage, and What to DoRule out gas, then refill dry traps and check the toilet seal, cleanout caps, roof vents, septic, and the sewage pit lid.Read the guide
Water Stain on the Ceiling: Find the Source, Stop the Leak, and Repair ItStay clear of wet fixtures, stop the water, then trace the stain to a bathroom, the roof, an ice dam, the AC, or attic condensation.Read the guide
Electrical and power
What to Do When the Power Goes Out: Safety First, Then the Food, the Heat, and the HouseGenerators outside, at least 20 feet away; flashlights, not candles; fridge shut; and what to do when power returns.Read the guide
Standby vs. Portable Generator: Which Is Right for Your House?Automatic whole-house power or a cheaper generator you run yourself. The differences, the safety rules, and who should pick which.Read the guide
Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping? Causes, How to Reset It Safely, and When to Call an ElectricianReset it once the safe way, move the load, and know which smells, sounds, and repeat trips mean an electrician.Read the guide
Half the House Has No Power: What It Means and What to DoOne room or half the house? Reset breakers and GFCIs the safe way, run the 240-volt test, and know when it's the utility's call.Read the guide
GFCI Outlet Won't Reset? Why the Outlets Went Dead, What to Check, and When to Call an ElectricianFind the tripped GFCI, check the breaker, unplug everything, and know when one that won't reset needs an electrician.Read the guide
Lights Flickering in the House: One Bulb, One Room, or the Whole HouseOne bulb, one room, or the whole street: what each kind of flicker means, what you can fix, and when to call an electrician or the utility.Read the guide
Outlet Not Working? What to Check When an Outlet, Half an Outlet, or a Room Goes DeadA dead outlet, a dead half, or a dead room: the GFCIs, breakers, and switches to check first, and the warning signs that mean call an electrician.Read the guide
Gas and alarms
Smell Gas in Your House? What to Do Right Now, and What Comes NextRotten eggs or hissing near a gas line: get out without touching switches or phones, call from a safe distance, and stay out until the utility says it's safe.Read the guide
Carbon Monoxide Alarm Going Off: What to Do Right Now, and What Comes NextGet out, call 911 from outside, stay out. Then learn alarm vs. chirp, and what to do after the all-clear.Read the guide
Smoke Alarm Going Off With No Smoke: What to Check First, the Common Causes, and the FixesCheck for fire first, then cooking, steam, dust, and drafts, and find the one hardwired alarm that set off the rest.Read the guide
Smoke Alarm Still Chirping After a New Battery: Eight Causes and the Fix for EachThe reset that clears a residual charge, the battery drawer trap, the ten-year end-of-life chirp, and how to find which device is actually chirping.Read the guide
Appliances and garage door
Refrigerator Not Cooling? Fridge Warm but Freezer Cold: Causes and FixesSettings, vents, door seal, and coils first; a thermometer and the 40°F rule for the food; the fans, frost, and compressor go to the technician.Read the guide
Dishwasher Not Draining: Why Water Stands in the Bottom and How to Clear ItStanding water in the tub: finish or cancel the cycle, clean the filter, then check the disposal, drain hose, air gap, and drain pump.Read the guide
Oven Not Heating Up but the Stove Works? Causes and Fixes for Electric and Gas OvensSettings, locks, and the breaker first, then the gas valve and a look at the bake element or igniter, and which parts belong to the technician.Read the guide
Dryer Takes Two Cycles to Dry Clothes: Why It Happens and How to Fix ItAlmost always the vent. The five-minute airflow test, the lint trap and moisture sensor, and when the heating element is the problem.Read the guide
Garbage Disposal Not Working: Humming, Won't Turn On, Draining Slowly, or LeakingReset button, hex wrench, outlet and breaker first, then the drain line and leaks, and when a new unit is the fix.Read the guide
Garage Door Won't Open: What You See, What It Means, and When to StopStart with the lock button, batteries, power, and the release cord. A bang, a gap in a spring, or a suddenly heavy door means stop and call a technician.Read the guide
Washing Machine Not Draining: Why Water Stays in the Drum and How to Get It OutWater left in the drum: check the cycle, load, and suds, clean the pump filter, then the drain hose, standpipe, and lid or door lock.Read the guide
Around the house
Ice Dam on Your Roof? What to Do Now, What Not to Do, and How to Stop the Next OneProtect the room, rake the eaves from the ground, leave the ice to a roofer, and seal the attic so it doesn't recur.Read the guide
How Much Snow Can a Roof Hold? Weight, Warning Signs, and What to DoIt's the weight, not the depth. Know what snow and ice weigh, the signs of a strained roof, and how to clear it from the ground.Read the guide
Condensation on the Inside of Windows: Why It Happens and How to Stop ItMeasure the humidity, turn the humidifier down as it gets colder, run the fans, and know when fog means a failed seal.Read the guide
Musty Smell in the Basement: What Causes It and How to Get Rid of It for GoodHumid air, water seeping in, or damp boxes and carpet: find the source, dry the space out, and clean small mold safely.Read the guide
Mice in the House: The Signs, Where They Get In, and How to Get Rid of Them SafelyDroppings, gnaw marks, or scratching in the walls: seal the gaps, set snap traps along the walls, and clean up the way the CDC says.Read the guide
Ants in the House: How to Get Rid of Them, and When It's Carpenter Ants or TermitesWipe the trail, seal the gap, bait instead of spraying, and know when big black ants or winged swarmers mean moisture and a pro.Read the guide
Pair these with our seasonal checklists — the calendar tells you the rhythm, the checklists give you the tasks.