Home maintenance help, in plain English
Short, practical guides to the everyday house problems that cost real money when ignored. Each one has a quick summary, a checklist you can print, what to do if you find a problem, and links to the official and manufacturer sources we checked.
Start with the month-by-month calendar, the how-to fixes, or the printable Appliance Record.
Guides
- Winterizing outdoor faucets and hose bibs
Last checked 2026-10-21
Take the hoses off, shut the inside valve, drain the faucet and leave it open, cover it. About ten minutes per faucet, before your area's first frost. - How to set your water heater temperature (and check it with a thermometer)
Last checked 2026-10-21
Test the hot water at a faucet with a kitchen thermometer, then set the water heater to about 120°F. Cuts scald risk and saves energy. About 15 minutes plus waiting time.
Get the free Home Maintenance Calendar (PDF)
A printable 26-page calendar: one page per month with what to check and what to do if you find a problem, plus an Appliance Record, a consumables and replacement parts log, an outdoor power equipment page, a home inventory and a flood/insurance-claim prep sheet. Sign up and you'll get the download link right away, plus a short, practical email no more than a few times a month. Unsubscribe any time.
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