The Homeowner's Fix-It Manual: Plumbing, Electrics, Walls, Doors, Windows, Floors, Damp and Draughts - How to Diagnose Common Faults, What to Fix Yourself, and When to Call a Professional
English | October 11, 2026 | ASIN: B0HMPB1P1V | 280 pages | Epub | 14.04 MB
Half of what a tradesman charges for is knowing which of five things it is. That part you can learn.A dripping tap, a radiator that stays cold, a door that has started to stick, a patch of damp that appears every winter - each of these has a short list of causes and a test that tells them apart. Most of the cost of a call-out is the diagnosis, and most of the risk in doing it yourself comes from starting work before you know what is wrong.This manual is built around that split. Every chapter takes a symptom, gives you the causes in order of likelihood, tells you the check that proves it, and then says plainly whether this is a job for you, a job for you with care, or a job for somebody qualified and insured.What is insideThe tool kit, and knowing where the line isLearning how your house worksTaps and mixersToilets and cisternsBlockages and drainsFinding and stopping leaksHeating: radiators and the wet systemElectrics: the boundaryLighting, sockets and simple electrical faultsWalls and ceilingsDoors, locks and hingesWindows, glazing and draughtsDamp, condensation and ventilationHonest about the boundary. Every chapter says which jobs are yours, which need care, and which must go to a qualified, insured trade - and says that the rules differ where you live and change over time. Over 60 diagrams, a symptom index covering 39 faults, a quick reference and a seasonal maintenance schedule.