The Home Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Troubleshooting Tips, and Advice on Household Maintenance

Synopsis Quirk Owner's Manuals have taught readers how to "repair" and "maintain" babies, toddlers, dogs, and cats. Now we're tackling the biggest and most complicated "appliance" of all your home! Through step-by-step instructions and techy schematic diagrams, The Home Owner's Manual explores hundreds of frequently asked questions: How can I drain the sludge out of my water heater? What makes my radiators "hiss" at night? Is there any easy way to unstop a toilet? How can I fill a crack in my wall? And when should I seek professional help? You'll also find advice on inspecting a new home, moving in, redecorating, emergency maintenance, and much more. With plenty of helpful illustrations to guide you along, The Home Owner's Manual makes household maintenance a breeze. Library Journal Quirk continues its line of little owner's manuals with this title by Ramsey (Doors, Windows and Skylights). A short and stocky book, it features heavyweight paper that will supposedly stand up to repeated use. Stylized cartoons that contain hidden jokes effectively pepper the book with humor. Coverage is purposefully cursory; house systems are described very concisely and authoritatively. Simple repairs are never illustrated, just via instructional text. Though the book offers some useful information, it is not an essential purchase. Turn to Reader's Digest's The Complete-Do-It-Yourself Manual instead. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information. More Reviews and Recommendations Biography Dan Ramsey, a licensed building and home improvement contractor, has taught thousands of homeowners how to fix things through his Web site, www.fixitclub.com (hosted by BobVila.com). He lives in Willets, California.