About This Book:
Why is my faucet leaking? What’s that smell coming from the heating system? Is “engineered lumber” any better than conventional wood? Can I fix this myself?

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.

With easy-to-understand pictures and explanations on every page, How Your House Works get right to the point, helping you understand how things work, what can go wrong, and how to trouble-shoot a problem.

How Your House Works covers virtually everything in your house:

• 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.

How Your House Works is a must-have reference for every homeowner, handyman, and contractor — for repair, remodeling, and new construction.