Home repair guides
Each guide answers one question and links every fact to the government office, utility or manufacturer it came from.
All guides and city pages
- Before DFW's first freeze: a checklist for hoses, faucets and pipes
DFW's average first freeze is November 22. Take hoses off, cover outdoor faucets, find your water shut-off, and know when a frozen pipe needs a plumber.
- Furnace not heating? What to check first, and when to call a pro
Furnace not turning on or blowing cold air? Safety first, then the checks furnace makers list, and the signs that it's a job for a heating pro.
- How to free a jammed or humming garbage disposal, and when to call a pro
A disposal that hums but won't turn is usually jammed. Free it safely with the power off, keep grease and some foods out, and know when to get help.
- Who to call for a leaking water heater, and what to do first
A leaking water heater is a plumber's job, unless you smell gas. What to shut off first, what to tell the pro, and what a written quote should list.
- How to use a space heater safely, and when you need an electrician
Plug a space heater into a wall outlet, never an extension cord or power strip. Keep what can burn at least 3 feet away. Plus when to call an electrician.
- How to flush your water heater, and when it's a plumber's job
Makers say to flush a tank water heater once a year. The steps in the right order, who should not do it, and the signs that it's a job for a plumber.
- Hiring a contractor in Texas
Which Texas home trades need a state license and how to check one, what to hold back when you pay, and the rules for door-to-door and storm contractors.