How to Fix Everything for Dummies

The fun and easy way to repair anything and everything around the house
For anyone who's ever been frustrated by repair shop rip-offs, this guide shows how to troubleshoot and fix a wide range of household appliances-lamps, vacuum cleaners, washers, dryers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, blenders, radios, televisions, and even computers. Packed with step-by-step illustrations and easy-to-follow instructions, it's a must-have money-saver for the half of all homeowners who undertake do-it-yourself projects.

Biography

Do-it-yourself experts Gary and Peg Hedstrom extensively remodeled six houses and built two from scratch, doing all the work themselves. A retired diesel mechanic, Gary describes himself as a jack-of-all-trades who’s happiest taking things apart to see how they’re built and putting them back together. He hates sitting still and willingly shares his knowledge with others so they can fix things themselves. Peg liked to get her hands “dirty,” as she puts it, fixing appliances and discarded televisions long before she met Gary. So she willingly tackled everything else once she and Gary started working on homes. Her favorite pastime, however, is restoring wood and old, damaged furniture, as well as doing the finishing touches in a home. Lifelong Michigan residents, the couple has homes in Grand Rapids and Florida.

Judy Ondrla Tremore, a veteran reporter and business writer, wrote two books and co-authored another before writing How to Fix Everything For Dummies. Her articles and stories have appeared in The Grand Rapids Press, Cadence (where she was managing editor), Legal Assistant Today, Grand Rapids Business Journal, Grand Rapids Magazine, Cosmopolitan Home, Our Children, Applause, and several other Michigan and Illinois publications. She was the Grand Rapids editor of Metropolitan Woman. Among her favorite articles were those pertaining to home improvement and design and restoration projects, because they dovetail with her deep interest in architecture and homes. She grew up in the Chicago area and has lived in Michigan for more than 30 years.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Part I: Gearing Up to Fix Everything.

Chapter 1: If Your Broken Stuff Needs Repair.

Chapter 2: Tackling Basic Tools and Equipment.

Part II: Repairing Your Home’s Interior.

Chapter 3: Taking the Creaks, Cracks, and Holes Out of Floors, Stairs, and Basements.

Chapter 4: Conquering Door and Window Headaches.

Chapter 5: Closing In on Walls and Ceilings.

Chapter 6: Tending to Cabinet, Closet, and Countertop Glitches.

Part III: Conquering Simple Electrical, Air, and Plumbing Repairs.

Chapter 7: Don’t Blow Your Fuse: Minor Electrical Repairs.

Chapter 8: Handling Your Heating, Cooling, and Air Quality Systems.

Chapter 9: Sailing Through the Waterworks: Plumbing Repairs.

Part IV: Keeping Your Stuff in Good Shape.

Chapter 10: Looming Large Over Major Appliances.

Chapter 11: Getting Small Appliances to Work.

Chapter 12: Fine-Tuning Communication Equipment.

Chapter 13: Rescuing Your Favorite Furnishings.

Part V: Working Outside Your House.

Chapter 14: Sprucing Up Your Home’s Exterior.

Chapter 15: Improving Your Outdoor Leisure Areas.

Chapter 16: Repairing, Patching, and Sealing Concrete and Asphalt.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 17: Ten Repairs You Should Leave to the Professionals.

Chapter 18: Ten (Okay, Twelve) Tips for Hiring a Repair Specialist (When All Else Fails).

Index.

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