Home Maintenance For Dummies

by Carey, James; Carey, Morris

• ISBN13: 9780470430637
• ISBN10: 047043063X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-10-26
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

A hands-on, step-by-step guide to properly maintaining your homeYour home requires regular maintenance to operate safely and efficiently. The expert advice in this second edition of Home Maintenance For Dummies can help you save literally thousands of dollars each year by showing you how to perform home maintenance yourself!This new edition provides the latest tips on how to tune up your home and make repairs to every room of the house, from basement to attic. By combining step-by-step instructions and expert information, this practical guide gives you the skills to tackle everything from furnace tune-ups to leaky roofs. You'll also learn how to conduct routine inspections, keep major appliances running efficiently, and increase energy efficiency. Shows how to keep your home in tip-top shape, preserve its value, and avoid costly repairs Covers all rooms of the house, in addition to the roof, foundation, and exterior Explains how to keep all home systems and major appliances running smoothly Includes a seasonal maintenance schedule Provides the latest green maintenance options to help lower your utility billsJames Carey and Morris Carey have a radio show, a newspaper column, and a Web site, all called On the House, and appear regularly on CBS News Saturday Morning. They are also the authors of Home Remodeling For DummiesIf you've always wanted to tackle home repairs like a pro, Home Maintenance For Dummies, 2nd Edition is your ideal resource!

Author Biography

James Carey and Morris Carey Jr. share their 55+ years of experience as award-winning, licensed contractors with millions of people nationwide through a weekly radio program and syndicated newspaper column, both titled On The House. They also appear regularly on CBS News Saturday Morning.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Part I: Home Maintenance and You.

Chapter 1: Home Maintenance: What It Is and Why It Matters.

Chapter 2: Getting to Know Your House and Its Systems.

Chapter 3: Putting Together Your Home Maintenance Plan.

Part II: The Energy Envelope.

Chapter 4: Foundation and Floor Frame Fundamentals.

Chapter 5: Roofi ng and Siding.

Chapter 6: Windows, Exterior Doors, and Insulation.

Part III: Key Systems: Plumbing and HVAC.

Chapter 7: Plumbing, Part I: Pipes, Water Heaters, Water Softeners, and More.

Chapter 8: Plumbing, Part II: Fixtures.

Chapter 9: Plumbing, Part III: Sewer and Septic Systems.

Chapter 10: Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems.

Part IV: Inside Home Sweet Home.

Chapter 11: Walls and Ceilings.

Chapter 12: Floors and Interior Doors.

Chapter 13: Cabinets and Countertops.

Chapter 14: Appliances.

Chapter 15: Don’t Get Burned: Fireplaces.

Chapter 16: Maintaining Your Home-Safety Systems.

Part V: Out in the Great Wide Open.

Chapter 17: Walkways, Patios, and Driveways.

Chapter 18: Decks, Fences, and Retaining Walls.

Chapter 19: And Then There Was Rust.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 20: Ten Cleaning Solutions You Can Make at Home.

Chapter 21: Ten Maintenance Skills You Need.

Index.