How to Fix Everything For Dummies

Gary Hedstrom, Peg Hedstrom, Judy Ondrla Tremore

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9780764572098
• eBook ISBN: 9781118054321
• Edition: 1

If I had a hammer: The fun and easy way for do-it-yourselfers to repair home appliances and furniture

For anyone who's ever been frustrated by a repair shop rip-off or just wanted to join thousands of others in the DIY craze, How to Fix Everything For Dummies is a no-nonsense guide showing you how to troubleshoot and fix a wide range of furniture (with wobbly legs, for example) and household appliances -- vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, toasters, blenders, radios, televisions, and even computers and printers.

Packed with step-by-step illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions, it's a must-have money-saver for the half of all homeowners who undertake Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home projects. This hands-on, DIY manual shows you not only how to fix faulty appliances but also tend to all those irritating repairs that cost more to have someone else fix than the item is worth. How to Fix Everything For Dummies is for you if you

• Are a homeowner or an apartment dweller
• Want to fix things around the house but aren't sure where to start
• Have some experience but need guidance on tackling more and larger repairs
• May be frustrated about throwing things away because you don't know where to go to repair them
• Don't want to pay for service calls when the problem is minor

Featuring clear, concise directions, How to Fix Everything For Dummies also covers the proper tools and materials to get the job done correctly without breaking the bank and important safety measures to take so you don't hurt yourself. You'll learn how to

• Fix creaky stairs
• Patch basement floors
• Restore damaged carpets
• Correct drywall and repair plaster walls
• Fix door and cabinet hardware problems
• Rewire fixtures
• Get doorbells to work
• Fix garage door openers
• Unclog drains and fix leaky pipes
• Mend wooden fences and decks
• Repair minor cracks in the concrete driveway or pool
• And a whole lot more

Additionally, this friendly guide is written in plain English and includes a list of home repairs you should not take on yourself but should leave for the professionals and tips on how to hire one. Grab your copy of How to Fix Everything For Dummies, grab your screwdriver and wrench, and get to work!

Table of contents

• Title
• Contents
• Introduction
• Part I : Gearing Up to Fix Everything
• Chapter 1: If Your Broken Stuff Needs Repair . . .
• Chapter 2: Tackling Basic Tools and Equipment
• Part II : Repairing Your Home’s Interior
• Chapter 3: Taking the Creaks, Cracks, and Holes Out of Floors, Stairs, and Basements
• Chapter 4: Conquering Door and Window Headaches
• Chapter 5: Closing In on Walls and Ceilings
• Chapter 6: Tending to Cabinet, Closet, and Countertop Glitches
• Part III : Conquering Simple Electrical, Air, and Plumbing Repairs
• Chapter 7: Don’t Blow Your Fuse: Minor Electrical Repairs
• Chapter 8: Handling Your Heating, Cooling, and Air Quality Systems
• Chapter 9: Sailing Through the Waterworks: Plumbing Repairs
• Part IV : Keeping Your Stuff in Good Shape
• Chapter 10: Looming Large Over Major Appliances
• Chapter 11: Getting Small Appliances to Work
• Chapter 12: Fine-Tuning Communication Equipment
• Chapter 13: Rescuing Your Favorite Furnishings
• Part V : Working Outside Your House
• Chapter 14: Sprucing Up Your Home’s Exterior
• Chapter 15: Improving Your Outdoor Leisure Areas
• Chapter 16: Repairing, Patching, and Sealing Concrete and Asphalt
• Part VI : The Part of Tens
• Chapter 17: Ten Repairs You Should Leave to the Professionals
• Chapter 18: Ten (Okay, Twelve) Tips for Hiring a Repair Specialist (When All Else Fails)