Tame Your Home

Book excerpt: Taking care of a home is exciting, but it can also be confusing, overwhelming, and even a bit scary. What is the best way to cool down the house without damaging the air conditioner? Why is a sump pump important and how does it work? When is the best time to check the exhaust and intake vents? Tame Your Home — A Manual to Prevent Costly Breakdowns and Deliver Long-Term Value answers all these questions and more. This home improvement and maintenance manual helps to demystify the management of a home. It can be used by anyone who is taking care of a home, whether the home is new or older, and whether owned or rented. This book also offers some very useful checklists and maintenance schedules that are organized by season to help you monitor what needs regular checking and upkeep. With this book, you will learn how the different systems and features in a home can work to create a comfortable, safe, and healthy space. This book will guide you through a better understanding of each system, and how to work with your home to prevent system break downs with regular maintenance, cleaning and care. Organized alphabetically under two main sections—Indoor Features and Outdoor Features—Tame Your Home provides detailed information on many of the systems and elements, such as: ■ plumbing ■ heating & air conditioning (hvac) ■ flooring ■ electrical & lighting ■ insulation ■ landscaping, grading, & drainage ■ decks ■ moisture management The goal of this book is to help empower you in your home with tools to care for your home for the long term. By using these tools in your home, you can minimize unnecessary and unexpected costs, as well as the potential for unexpected and unwelcome surprises. All the tips and tricks offered within these pages truly help you tame your home, so it works for and not against you.