The home owner's manual : operating instructions, troubleshooting tips, and advice on household maintenance ; illustrated by Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum

At Last! A Beginner’s Guide to Home Technology Water stains on your ceiling. Dents and cracks in your drywall. Radiators that hiss and gurgle all night long. It’s enough to make you cry out, “Why doesn’t my house come with an owner’s manual?” And now—finally!—it does. Through step-by-step instructions and helpful schematic diagrams, The Home Owner’s Manual explores hundreds of frequently asked questions: What’s the best way to fix a leaky faucet? When should I have my chimney cleaned? How can I reset a circuit breaker without electrocuting myself? Whatever your concerns, you’ll find the answers here—courtesy of licensed building contractor Dan Ramsey, who has taught the basics of renovation to thousands of homeowners.

Quirk Owner's Manuals have taught readers how to "repair" and "maintain" babies, toddlers, dogs, and cats. Now we're tackling the biggest and most complicated "appliance" of all your home!

Through step-by-step instructions and techy schematic diagrams, The Home Owner's Manual explores hundreds of frequently asked questions: How can I drain the sludge out of my water heater? What makes my radiators "hiss" at night? Is there any easy way to unstop a toilet? How can I fill a crack in my wall? And when should I seek professional help?

You'll also find advice on inspecting a new home, moving in, redecorating, emergency maintenance, and much more. With plenty of helpful illustrations to guide you along, The Home Owner's Manual makes household maintenance a breeze.

Library Journal

Quirk continues its line of little owner's manuals with this title by Ramsey (Doors, Windows and Skylights). A short and stocky book, it features heavyweight paper that will supposedly stand up to repeated use. Stylized cartoons that contain hidden jokes effectively pepper the book with humor. Coverage is purposefully cursory; house systems are described very concisely and authoritatively. Simple repairs are never illustrated, just via instructional text. Though the book offers some useful information, it is not an essential purchase. Turn to Reader's Digest's The Complete-Do-It-Yourself Manual instead. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Through step-by-step instructions and helpful schematic diagrams, this book explores the frequently asked questions: how can I drain the sludge out of my water heater? What makes my radiators "hiss" at night? And, is there any easy way to unstop a toilet? It is helpful for both first-time homeowners and those looking to maintain their home.