Troubleshoot a Dead Outlet Before Calling for Help
An outlet in our living room stopped working. I assumed the worst — bad wiring, maybe even a problem in […]
Replace a Bathroom Faucet in Under an Hour
I paid a plumber $180 to replace a bathroom faucet once. He was done in 25 minutes. I stood there […]
Wrap Extension Cords So They Never Tangle — The Over-Under Method That Changed My Garage
I used to wrap extension cords the same way I wrap everything — around my elbow and hand in a […]
Stop a Chirping Smoke Detector Without Taking It Down
3 AM. That is when smoke detectors always decide to announce a low battery. You are half asleep, standing on […]
Remove Popcorn Ceiling the Easy Way — Without Making a Disaster of Your House
I bought a house built in 1978. Every ceiling was popcorn. I lived with it for two years because the […]
Replace a Garbage Disposal Without a Plumber — I Did It With Zero Experience
My garbage disposal made a noise like a cement mixer full of rocks, then stopped making any noise at all. […]
Patch a Hole in a Screen Door for Under $5 — No Replacement Needed
My dog — a 45-pound terrier mix with strong opinions about squirrels — put his paw through the screen door […]
Fix Squeaky Floors From Above Without Ripping Up Carpet
My hallway floor squeaked so reliably I could tell when my teenager was sneaking to the kitchen at midnight. It […]
Toilet Still Running After Replacing the Flapper? Try This
The plumber quoted me two hundred eighty dollars to fix a toilet that would not stop running. I had already […]
Hammer a Nail Without Bending It or Your Thumb
My dad handed me a hammer when I was twelve and watched me bend six nails in a row. He […]