Plumbing
How to fix a clogged toilet
Most clogs clear with a flange plunger in about 5 minutes. Here's how to do it without a mess, and when to stop.
⏱ About 5 minutes
Home repair, the plain way
Fix it yourself — and know when not to.
Step-by-step home repair guides written by a California construction worker. No jargon, a picture for most steps, and a clear line on when to stop and call a licensed pro.
- 1The short answer — what's usually wrong, and how long it takes.
- 2What you need — the tools, nothing extra.
- 3Step by step — water or power off first, every time.
- 4What not to do — the mistakes that make it worse.
- 5When to call a pro — where DIY stops.
No guides match that yet. Try a simpler word, like “sink” or “light”.
Plumbing
Toilets, sinks, disposals, and faucets — the fixes most people pay a plumber for.
Plumbing
How to fix a toilet that keeps running
Usually a worn-out flapper: a $5–25 part and about 15 minutes. Start with a simple dye test.
⏱ About 15 minutes
Plumbing
How to unclog a kitchen sink
Grease and food in the drain or trap. Plunge, snake, or go straight to the trap — with or without a disposal.
⏱ 15–30 minutes
Plumbing
Why is my garbage disposal not working?
Humming means jammed; silence means no power or a tripped reset. Both are usually a 10-minute fix.
⏱ About 10 minutes
Plumbing
Leaky faucet? The $10 part most people don't know about
A dripping spout is usually a worn cartridge, O-ring, or washer — about a $10 part and 20 minutes.
⏱ About 20 minutesElectrical
Safe checks you can do from the outside — breakers, GFCIs, and flickering lights. No wiring.
Electrical
Why your breaker keeps tripping — the 5-minute check
Overload or a fault? Unplug, reset once, and add things back one at a time — all from the front of the panel.
⏱ About 5 minutes
Electrical
GFCI outlet keeps tripping in the bathroom or kitchen
Usually water, one bad appliance, or a worn-out GFCI. Find the cause in 10–15 minutes — replacement is an electrician's job.
⏱ 10–15 minutes
Electrical
Why your lights flicker (and when it's actually dangerous)
Most flicker is a loose bulb or the wrong bulb for the dimmer. Here's how to tell that from a dangerous loose connection.
⏱ About 5 minutesAround the House
Walls, shelves, and the driveway.
Around the House
How to hang something heavy without it falling off the wall
Find the stud first; if there's no stud, pick the right anchor for the weight — and check for pipes and wires before you drill.
⏱ 20–30 minutes
Around the House
Cracked driveway — fix it yourself or get a quote?
Cracks under 1/4 inch are a DIY fill. Wide, sinking, or heaved slabs need a contractor quote. Here's how to tell.
⏱ An afternoon, plus curing timeEmergency Prep
Earthquake preparedness for California families.
Emergency Prep
Earthquake Preparedness Guide for California Families
Alerts, securing your home, building a kit, a family plan, and what to do during and after the shaking.
8 sectionsEarthquake guide
Before: secure your home
Most injuries in California earthquakes come from falling objects, not collapsing buildings. This section walks through the DIY jobs that make a house safer, and it flags retrofit and mobile-home work that needs a permit or a pro.
Section 2Earthquake guide
Build your kit
The easy option is one ready-made kit, then add water. If you would rather build your own, this section has the full item list, how much water to store, and extras for kids, pets, medications, the car, work, and under the bed.
Section 3Earthquake guide
Printable checklist
A short list you can print and check off on paper, for this week, this month, during shaking, and after.
Section 7Free printable California Earthquake Checklist
Get the one-page checklist — what to do this week, this month, and when the shaking starts and stops. Stick it on the fridge.
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