 |
 |
 |
|
A must-have reference for every homeowner, handyman, and contractor – for repair, remodeling, and new construction.
Why is my faucet leaking, my toilet running, or my dishwasher refusing to start? Can I fix it myself? What's causing the heating system to smell bad or the foundation to crack? Do I need an air filtration system? Is the new "engineered lumber" as good as conventional wood? These are just a few examples of questions homeowners face when repairs are needed, or when a new house or addition is being planned.
There's no question that it pays to be an informed consumer. Knowledge of your home's systems helps you control repair and construction costs and make sure the correct elements are being installed or replaced.
This book uncovers the mysteries behind just about every major appliance and building element in your house. Clear, "exploded" drawings show you exactly how these things should be put together and how they function – what to check if they don't work, and what you can do that might save you having to call in a professional.
The easy-to-understand pictures and explanations on every page get right to the point, helping you understand how things work, what can go wrong, and how to troubleshoot a problem.
Virtually everything in your house is included:
- Electrical – circuit breakers and grounding, service, outlets, lamps and fixtures.
- Heating and air conditioning – gas, electrical and oil – ductwork and piping, thermostats, central and window AC units, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and air filtering systems.
- Plumbing – kitchen and bath fixtures, piping, water heaters, traps and vents, septic tanks, pumps and water softener systems – even sprinkler systems and swimming pool filters/heaters.
- Major household appliances – from kitchen to laundry.
- Foundation, framing, doors and windows – including issues like drainage and radon, types of framing and how it supports the house, and all types of doors and windows.
"The first step in solving any problem is to understand how a thing is supposed to work. How Your House Works, with its crystal-clear illustrations and explanations, provides that understanding for all of the systems and appliances in your home. It will quickly become the operator's manual for your house."
— Bob Feeman, Editor of SmartHomeowner Magazine
Not only homeowners, but handymen and contractors will benefit from the easy-to-interpret information presented here, especially for getting up to speed on items that are not their specialty.
If you would like the confidence of knowing more about how your house works and what to do if something breaks down, read this book. It just may change your life.
From the Introduction
This book offers a unique approach to home improvement, maintenance, and repair. It describes how virtually everything in a house is put together, and how each item functions - from plumbing to electrical, heating and air conditioning, appliances, doors and windows, and even the home's foundation and wood framing.
The key to the book is the easy-to-understand, see-through drawings. Each one is backed up by clear, brief explanations from a nationally known home improvement expert. It's a formula for a quick understanding of what you're dealing with when troubleshooting a problem, talking to your repairman, or planning your new home, addition, or remodeling project . . . and selecting new fixtures, appliances, or materials.
The illustrations show how the components of a system fit together and how each item is intended to function - whether it's an air conditioner, a hot water heater, the foundation, or a faucet. The author breaks down the workings of all of the plumbing, electrical, and heating/air conditioning systems, and other house parts, and show not only what the parts look like and how they interact, but the sequence in which things work. Even complex systems are explained in simple terms and diagrams.
Throughout the book, you'll also see "Before Calling for Help" boxes-guidance on simple things to check, in many cases solving the problem quickly and inexpensively without having to hire a repairman.
If you do find that you need a contractor or serviceman, the book will help you understand your options
and be better informed about having the correct elements installed or replaced.
About the Author
Charlie Wing is a nationally recognized home improvement/repair expert. He has written or co-written more than 20 books on these topics, including Home Depot's Decorative Painting, Tiling, and Plumbing 1-2-3 books, Better Homes and Gardens' Complete Guide to Home Repair, Rodale Press's The Visual Handbook of Building and Remodeling and The Big book of Small Household Repairs, and many others, including Ortho's Home Improvement Encyclopedia and How to Build Additions. An MIT graduate, Charlie has been a guest more than 400 times on home improvement radio and television shows, including on the Discovery Channel, PBS, and NBC's Today Show. He developed and hosted a national PBS series on home remodeling for energy efficiency. He was founding and tehcnical editor for Smart Homeowner magazine from 2001-2004.
Table of Contents
Introduction. Chapter 1: Plumbing. Chapter 2: Wiring. Chapter 3: Heating. Chapter 4: Cooling. Chapter 5: Air Quality. Chapter 6: Appliances. Chapter 7: Windows and Doors. Chapter 8: Foundation and Frame. Index. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
