SECRETS of APPLIANCE REPAIRMEN: A CONSUMERS HANDBOOK ON SAVING MONEY Review

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(More customer reviews)I guess I should have read the publisher's blurb more carefully. There wasn't anything in this that I didn't already know or couldn't find in the handbook that comes with the related appliances.

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There are dozens of repair manuals and books that explain how to repair almost anything on an appliance. This book is not one of them. You won?t learn how to repair timers or switches or anything else in this book. You will learn the principle that makes a dryer dry, what makes it take too long to dry, and what to do about it. the same holds true with a refrigerator that doesn?t get cold enough, and what to look for, and how to correct the problem. All appliances are covered in the book. If you save just one service call to your home, the book will have paid for itself. You will also learn how to purchase an appliance, what to look for in add ons (gadgets) that you don?t need, where to buy. You are also going to learn how to get qualified technician when you need one, and what to do once he or she arrives at your house.

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Easy Cooler Care: A Self Help Guide to Servicing and Repairing Your Evaporative Cooler Review

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(More customer reviews)If not for this book, I would have thought I needed to buy a new motor--or more. Borrowed a copy from the library, then bought this one for future reference.

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"Easy Cooler Care" is the first-ever comprehensive "how-to" book on evaporative coolers. This book covers maintenance, seasonal servicing, repairs, how to enhance the cooler's performance and how to save $100's per year. It is perfect for those moving into the southwest United States from all over the country without any knowledge about servicing evaporative coolers.The book's large size type makes it very easy to read while working on the cooler itself and the over 160 full-color photos help the reader understand what the author is discussing. Step-by-step photographsillustrate how you can:-- List all the parts you would ever need to replace-- Prepare your cooler for the summer season-- Make repairs and replace parts-- Prepare your cooler for the winter season-- Enhance the performance of your cooler

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How to Operate Your Home Review

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(More customer reviews)"How to Operate Your Home" is a fantastic "must have" manual every homeowner should read. Rarely is a homeowner educated on how to operate the systems of their home. I give the "booklet" version to each of my home inspection clients. The maintenance and safety tips alone are well worth the purchase price.

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An owner's manual for your home.This is "The Guide" to operate your home.Over 250 drawings and simple explanations that describe the operation of the structural, electrical and mechanical systems in your home.Hundreds of solutions to common problems.This book will give you the information you need to effectively operate and maintain your home.NOT a home repair manual - this is an OPERATING manual, like a manual for your car.

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Code Check Plumbing: A Field Guide to the Plumbing Codes Review

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(More customer reviews)Code check has helped me immensely. I teach residential plumbing for a 150+ employee 1500+ homes a year Northern California company and have found that the info in C.C. is formatted in such a way that my apprentice plumbers can easily find info they need. They seldom need clarification. All codes cited are referenced with the UPC and IRC section numbers for easy look up.(IRC not used here in NorCal but nice for those who need it) Diagrams are simple and clear. C.C. is laminated and tough. Built for in the field use. I love this book. Holding back the fifth star due to spanish version unavailability.

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The Code Check series provides answers to all types of building code questions. The books are filled with essential information, yet are handy enough to take to the job site.

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The Savvy Woman's Guide to Owning a Home: How to Care for, Improve and Maintain Your Home Review

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(More customer reviews)I am shocked by the good reviews this book is getting. I made this purchase thinking I'd learn how to "care for, improve and maintain" my home. Instead I found a bunch of non-specific reasons why I need to maintain my home and nothing about how to do so. What exactly are these reviewers referring back to? There is no information here that is complete enough to be useful. I am willing to bet that I never need to open this book again.
Anyone who has ever moved already knows most of the helpful hints contained in the first 1/3 of this book. We're talking about simple things like: change your address with the post office; find out how to get from your new house to your office; call the electric company and get the power turned on...
The real content is in middle third of the book. That's the section that's supposed to be about maintaining your home. Here's the gist: Houses have plumbing systems, call a plumber. Houses have electric systems, call an electrician. (Unless you want to change the color of your light switch, apparently as women we're all supposed to get giddy at the thought of light switches in different colors.) The repairs chapter is concentrated on which professionals to call in. Roof trouble requires a roofer... There are a whopping 2 paragraphs about doing repairs yourself. In these paragraphs Ms. Werner recommends purchasing a book about home maintenance!!! The seasonal and yearly checkup chapters are the only redeeming part of the whole book, although they are still lacking. These consist basically of a list of places to check for structural damage.
The final 1/3 of the book contains more generalized information that about emergency planning, picking schools for your kids and canceling your mail when you go on vacation. Again, this is not really relevant to home improvement, and is mostly targeted at people lacking common sense or people who have made long distance moves. This is followed up by a few pages about remodeling. Guess what: you're supposed to call a contractor to do you're remodeling.

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In a light and humorous way, yet clear and detailed enough to be of real help, the book teaches the basics of home care, safety, and getting into a new community. It covers everything from moving into the new place, to seasonal and yearly "to do" lists, to dealing with a host of repairs.The book is laid out in a sensible way and contains sidebars with lots of helpful hints and fun anecdotes.It's something I could easily see becoming a bible for the new homeowner, female or male, but is especially excellent for women because it avoids the jargon often used when such information is geared toward men.KK Wilder, Producer, "Wild Spirit: The Writing Life"

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Be Your Own House Contractor: Save 25% Without Lifting a Hammer Review

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(More customer reviews)In 1990 I had my ten acres paid for, and was ready to being building my retirement home. A friend gave me Carl Heldmann's book, Be Your Own House Contractor. I had a set of plans made from my sketching, and got three bids for building. The cheapest was $97,500.00. I decided to try my own general contracting, with little to no experience in construction. With the help of some friends whom I bounced ideas off of, I started out with a spread sheet of sub-contracters, getting three bids from each in their order of appearance. In six months, we finished our home, and without cutting any real expenses, built our home for $67,500. All due to the teachings and following of Carl Heldmann's book. Even if you do decide to use general contractor, this book is still invaluable in the detail and advise given. I have since given this book to three friends who have built homes, and all three were very impressed with the subject matter. A MUST read, in my opinion, for anyone who is going to undertake building or having a new home built. I know of no where else one get such a step by step explanation covering the do's and don't of every phase of the process.

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DIY Guide to Appliances: Installing & Maintaining Your Major Appliances Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked this up at the local library and was very impressed with the detail and the high quality photos. This book details the installation or replacement of practically all major appliances for the home. It is the perfect companion for someone like myself who has the tools, time and ability but sometimes needs a "nudge" in the right direction. I will be purchasing this book because I expect to save hundreds of dollars in repair and maintenance costs. I just used it for reinstalling a dishwasher made much easier because of the detailed photos.
While not a very large volume, it touches base on the repair and maintenance of gas furnaces, refrigerator, central air, gas and electric water heaters, gas and electric ranges, washers and dryer, water softeners, range hoods, water filtration systems, range hoods, and room air conditioners. Nice to have on hand before you have to call a repair company.
I only gave for 4 stars because it does not cover every problem you might encounter and the trouble shooting guide is not very thorough. Never the less, it is money well spent at $12-15.

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Say goodbye to appliance installers and repairmen!When today's consumers buy new stoves, refrigerators and other major appliances, the usual choice isn't an installation contractor, but a home improvement or electronics warehouse store, which simply delivers the unit to the front door. Arranging for installation is now the homeowner's responsibility.Installing the appliance themselves is the choice of increasing numbers of homeowners purchasing appliances in this way.For some appliances, DIY installation can cut the cost of an appliance by more than 50%. And equal cost-savings is achieved by the homeowner who is able to perform basic maintenance and repair tasks themselves.DIY Guide to Appliances is a comprehensive guide to installing and performing basic maintenance on all major household appliances, including washers and dryers, refrigerators, garbage disposers, dishwashers, water heaters, ovens, ranges and more.Perfect companion book for homeowners buying appliances from warehouse storesIncludes complete installation instructions Repair and maintenance instructions can save homeowners thousands of dollars

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Smart Guide: Basements: Step-by-Step Projects Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought this book so I could be over the free shipping threshold on an order. I was hoping to get some ideas to finish my basement. The book is written at a very basic level, almost assuming you aren't really going to do much of the work yourself. Although it has a few decent ideas, anything beyond the most basic of work it suggests you contact a professional (great advice, but I do as much as possible myself).
If you're planning and finishing your basement yourself, I would highly recommend Remodeling A Basement Revised Edition (Taunton's Build Like a Pro). I have the first revision and it gives detailed instructions so you should be able to complete the vast majority of the work yourself. He discusses current code requirements and also mentions when projects tend to vary greatly from area to area. Much better reference.

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Smart Guide®: Basements provides readers with the information they need to convert their dark, dreary basements into bright, airy living spaces.Readers learn how to eliminate moisture problems, change rough concrete walls and floors into finished surfaces, hide pipes and wiring, and bring light and ventilation to these rooms.

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Ultimate Guide to Bathrooms: Plan, Remodel, Build Review

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(More customer reviews)Very good book. This has detailed layouts which is what I was looking for. It also includes smaller bathrooms, for those of us who are not able to have a mansion bathroom.

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Ultimate Guide to Bathrooms guides the reader through the process of designing and doing the work involved with remodeling an existing bathroom or adding a new one. Homeowners will find inspirational information on layout and design, but most of the book covers the hand-on parts of the projects, including adding new tubs and showers, vanities and sinks, and installing flooring and other finishes. Over 60 easy-to-follow photo sequences demonstrate the most popular projects, including the basics of plumbing and electrical work. Homeowners can use the book to do the entire project or pick the parts that interest them.

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Mr. Fix-It Introduces You to Your Home Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought my first house, and knew nothing--and got this as a housewarming gift from my brother. It is a really terrific book! I found it easy and fun to read (which is something I could not say about the other home improvement books I have), and yet there is a huge amount of information crammed into it. It's got clever illustrations in it, which I've found really useful. I have to have a lot of renovations done and am working with contractors more than I ever imagined. This book has made it possible to talk to them without sounding like a numbskull. After reading this book I know I am saving a lot of money, and I've got a good feeling that I am spending my money on the right things that will improve the value of my house in the long run. Even if you think you know something about houses, GET THIS BOOK!!!

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"Whether you are building, updating, or just trying to get the toilet to stop leaking, Lou Manfredini has found a way to take the intimidation out of your relationship with your home. He brings out the ‘Mr. Fix-It' in all of us. Thanks Lou!"—MATT LAUERHow well do you know your home, or the house you are planning to buy? How does it feel? Is it sturdy, solid, built to last? Are there things to look for or warning signs to heed? If there's a drip in the sink or a major leak in the roof, can you repair it on your own? If not, who should you call and who can you trust?Just ask Lou Manfredini, a.k.a. Mr. Fix-It. A house, he insists, is more than a pile of lumber and bricks. A house is more like a living, functioning organism—one that doesn't come with a set of instructions. And whether you want to maintain, repair, or renovate your home, the more you know about your house, the more likely you are to get the job done right. Quality always shows and, without exception, adds comfort, beauty, and value to your home.In this fun, friendly, fully-illustrated guide, Mr. Fix-It provides a "walking tour" of your house, from basement to attic, floor to ceiling, and helps you untangle the wiring behind the walls, the piping snaking its way to sinks and bathrooms, and the workings of windows and walls. The result: you'll have a clear understanding of the systems that make up your house, and gain the expert knowledge to proceed with any job, big or small—whether you're hiring a contractor or doing it yourself. Discover• How your house works: an anatomy lesson• The wonders of water—where it comes from and where it goes• Getting wired—the magic of electricity• Windows—ways to bring in the sunshine and keep out the drafts• The joys of being floored—good floor construction and maintenance• Wall Power—it's not what's on them but what's in them that counts• Decorating secrets the pros don't like to sharePlus Mr. Fix-It's sixty-minute home inspection, an essential tool list, and an ABC glossary of terms: from air duct to weatherstripping!With his relaxed, neighborly style, Lou Manfredini is the trusted friend every home owner wishes they had—someone who knows houses. A must-have guide for both inexperienced and seasoned homeowners, Mr. Fix-It Introduces You to Your Home will help you spend your money wisely, avoid getting ripped off, create the house of your dreams . . . and turn your home into a castle that will endure and delight for years to come.

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Home Basics - Plumbing Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Common Plumbing Projects Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a pretty little book. Great pictures. Good descriptions of how things are done.
But it's very elementary and limited to a only a few projects. I felt pretty confident, after reading it, that I could handle those projects. But I missed having more general information, like what kind of tools, parts and types of materials plumbers used. Information that I could have used for other projects.
Some of that information could be culled from the projects. And I actually do feel more prepared for dealling with basic plumbing issues that may occur. But I wanted more from the book. And I especially wanted general guidance that went beyond these projects.
I believe I'm the type of person the book was aimed at. I bought it because I have a recurring problem in my house, but it was something I thought I might be able to handle by myself with some guidance. That problem was not covered in this book. So for me, it was wasted money.
However if you want a first look at plumbing, with some easy to understand projects, it might be more useful for you.

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Haley's Hints Review

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(More customer reviews)I hate cleaning, and must admit I'm not very good at it. Part of my dislike is wrought out of ignorance. I simply do not know what I'm doing. Cooking is also not a skill I have. I need help.
Haley's Hints teaches me to cheat my way though a lot of household problems. He covers cleaning and cooking tips, but that's just the beginning.
Like the old "Hints from Heloise" I read in the newspaper as a kid, Haley presents very do-able solutions to everyday problems. Unlike Martha Stewart's ideas, which seem unreasonable in the average income family, Haley seems to have considered the practicality of his hints quite aptly.
Whether is it is hiding food odors, discouraging ants or his various methods of removing gum from things, he has a trick to it here in his well organized book.
The guy is thorough. The sheer number of pages will provide plenty of ideas for your home. Besides making a great read for extended bathroom visits, it serves best as a reference. HThe index is impressive and easy to use.
I fully recommend "Haley's Hints: A Compilation" by Graham Haley.
Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

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The extraordinary guide to ordinary items and products with time- and money-saving uses. Over 2,000 of them!In Haley's Hints readers will find:€ Environment-friendly tips on cleaning and stain removal€ Money-saving advice on pest control and pet care€ Practical pointers for children, seniors, and gardeners € Recipe tricks€ Laundry tips€ Sewing hints€ Workplace wonders€ Plumbing, painting, carpentry, and electrical shortcuts € Plus a whole chapter on pampering themselvesAll topped off with a comprehensive easy-find index to help readers find the exact solution they need-fast.

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Practically Green: Your Guide to Ecofriendly Decision-Making Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a very green person to begin with so a lot of the chapters in this book were about subjects I was already familiar with. But I love it for the recipes and I think it would be a great book for anyone who's thinking about living a greener lifestyle. It's well-written and well-organized so you can green up your life one step at a time.

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Practically Green takes the guesswork out of reading labels and will show you how to make smart, healthy purchases for your family without spending tedious hours researching the pros and cons of all of the products available on the market today. Each chapter is broken down into "Buy It" and "Do It" sections. The "Buy-It" section provides key information about everyday purchasing decisions and includes clip-out checklists for you to reference while shopping. The "Do It" section gives DIY ideas for how to make things that are good for your family and good for the environment, such as simple sewing projects, non-toxic cleaning products and luxurious, homemade beauty products.Plus, the author shares some of her favorite recipes that are sure to please the entire family!

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Ultimate Guide: Wiring, 7th edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I was taking on an enormous project in my garage. Quickly - I sold all my woodworking tools to buy more powerful ones, I was going to add an A/C unit, a high-power electrical heater, and needed a lot more lighting. A friend helped me install a sub-panel in the garage but the rest was up to me.
I installed 9 electrical boxes for lights, 15 boxes for receptacles (a mix of 110 and 220, both 20 amp), a junction box to connect all the new lights together, a light switch tied to two new lights in the attic, etc. You get the idea.
I had the Home Depot Wiring 1-2-3 which was like almost all books in this genre, it was a mile wide and an inch deep. Lots of nice photos but doesn't get you beyond the basics. I looked at several books and was as unimpressed as I was with the HD book.
But then I found Ultimate Guide Wiring. Wow. This book is brilliantly written -- it is short, to the point, but gives enough depth for you to do about anything. I had a basic homeowner's knowledge of wiring but this book helped bring me to the next level. Everything I needed to do, this book had a step-by-step guide to help guide me through. This is a complete book that should help anyone with just about any kind of wiring project including adding new lights and light switches, new electrical receptacles, etc.
Whenever I get into a new field, I end up buying a dozen books because they all add something new. Right now I think this will be the one book I use for wiring -- it really has no gaps. From now on, I am going to start with Creative Homeowner books before I try anything else.

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Ultimate Guide: Wiring demystifies residential electrical systems through easy-to-understand language and the use of step-by-step photography and detailed illustrations. Homeowners will learn how their home's electrical system works and how to complete installations and repairs themselves. This project-based book shows how to select the right cable, wires, and other equipment and how to run wiring through walls and between floors. Projects guide the reader through installing switches, outlet receptacles, electrical appliances, and lighting systems. The book also shows how outdoor lighting, including security and low-voltage systems, can help homeowners improve and illuminate the exterior areas around their homes. As with previous editions, the seventh edition has been updated to comply with the latest National Electrical Code.

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Clean Your House Safely & Effectively: Without Harmful Chemicals Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great book - not a new one - published some time ago, but it has great, simple to follow "recipes" for making non-toxic cleaners for your home.

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A guide for non-toxic and safe housecleaning using from-the-cupboard ingredients: baking soda, salt, white vinegar, cornstarach, vegetable oil, and lemon juice. Using these safer ingredients can help you avoid: respiratory distress, allergies, rashes, headaches, and fatigue that can come from using dangerous chemicals.

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Remodeling a Basement (Build Like A Pro) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's common knowledge these days that the old practice of putting wood studs and then fiberglass batts against a foundation wall and then sealing that with a plastic vapor barrier is a recipe for mold and insulation damage from condensation through the foundation wall. (see Fine Homebuilding No. 169 March 2005 p. 78, Fine Homebuilding No. 162, May 2004 p. 52, also the buildingscience dot com publications even the Dept. of Energy and HUD guildelines.) But this author recommends doing just that on pages 99 and 100. His only discussion of foam panels is in the context of using foam panels in between already constructed studs and then he complains that it is difficult to get the panels to fit between the studs. That is a silly way to use foam panels. He doesn't discuss the current recommended practice of installing the foam panels *first*, up against the foundation wall, and then framing or furring strips against the foam. That is much better because then the wood is never in contact with the foundation wall and provides no food (i.e., damp wood) for mold to grow.
The biggest issue with finishing a basement is doing so in a way that prevents unhealthy mold and that "oh-this-smells-like-a-basement" quality of so many basements. Wood framing against a foundation wall, with fiberglass batts keeping a moist environment, and all trapped by a plastic sheet, is a sure fire recipe for just such a brew. It makes me doubt most of the other information. Tauton Press should revise the book to reflect its own current writing on the subject.

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Finishing a basement is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to increase living space in a home. This book helps readers visualize the vast possibilities that exist for this challenging space, and go about the remodeling process in an organized and efficient way. Roger German, a basement remodeling pro, covers every step, from the physically demanding "dirty work" to the rewarding finishing touches. He shows how to deal with a basement's special challenges, such as moisture problems and framing against concrete floors and walls, and gives instructions on pumping water up and out from basement baths and laundry rooms.

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Home Improvement 101 Review

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(More customer reviews)This is helping me a lot as I am just beginning to learn about my home, how to take care of it & how to make minor repairs. I reviewed quite a few books from my library system & this was the best to begin with as far as I'm concerned.

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Everyday care & repair is made easy with this maintenance guide for the DIY novice.Home Improvement 101 is an easy-to-understand but comprehensive guide to common home maintenance and repair tasks, written specifically for less experienced do-it-yourselfers.
From cleaning stains from carpets to unclogging drains, from dealing with insects and pests to fixing a leaky roof, it's all here-everything you forgot to learn from your parents about maintaining a home. Along the way, you'll learn about your home's structures and systems, and how to protect your single largest investment. Home maintenance is not only possible; it can be easy and rewarding, with this one-of-a-kind book.Gives complete, easy-to-follow solutions to more than 100 of the most common home maintenance tasks. Includes tips on selecting and using tools. Appendix includes a month-by-month guide for tracking routine maintenance. Includes real-life tips from actual homeowners. Features tips for working with plumbers, electricians & carpenters.

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