Show me how

Walk-throughs for the fix in front of you

Each one leads with the safest approach, tells you plainly when to stop, and shows when it was last reviewed.

26 walk-throughs

Beginner

Find and shut off your water

The one thing to learn before anything goes wrong: where the main shut-off is, which way it turns, and how to isolate a single fixture instead of the whole house.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Beginner

Stop a toilet that keeps running

A running toilet is nearly always a worn flapper or a fill valve set too high. Both are inexpensive parts and a fully DIY-safe repair.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Beginner

Change an HVAC air filter the right way

Ten minutes, no tools, and the single highest-return maintenance task in a Texas home. Includes how to read the size and which direction the arrow goes.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

BeginnerCare needed

AC blowing warm air: what to check first

Work the free checks in order — thermostat mode, filter, breaker, outdoor unit, frozen coil — then stop. Refrigerant and electrical repairs are licensed work.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

IntermediatePro required

No hot water: narrowing it down safely

Separate an electric problem from a gas problem before you touch anything, and know exactly which steps are yours and which belong to a licensed tech.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Electrical15 min

BeginnerPro required

Dead outlet: the safe checks before you call

Most dead outlets are a tripped GFCI or breaker, and both are safe to reset. Anything warm, scorched, or smelling burnt is an immediate stop.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Beginner

Clear a slow drain without chemicals

Hair and soap collect within the first few feet. Mechanical removal fixes it for good; caustic drain cleaner just moves the problem and damages older pipe.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Beginner

Fix a dripping faucet

A drip is almost always a worn cartridge or O-ring. Bring the old part to the store and match it exactly — brands are not interchangeable.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Walls and surfaces90 min

IntermediateCare needed

Patch a hole in drywall

Cut it square, back it, and use thin coats. The finish work is what separates an invisible patch from an obvious one.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

BeginnerPro required

Garage door won't close

Nine times out of ten it is the safety sensors. What you must never touch is the torsion spring above the door.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

BeginnerCare needed

Dishwasher not draining

Filter, air gap, and drain hose in that order. Most standing water clears in under half an hour with no parts at all.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Beginner

Protect pipes before a Texas freeze

An hour of preparation the day before a hard freeze avoids the single most expensive winter claim in North Texas.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

BeginnerPro required

Test and replace smoke and CO alarms

A chirp is usually a battery or an expired unit. A sounding CO alarm is never something to investigate from inside the house.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

IntermediatePro required

Water damage: the first hour

What you do in the first hour decides whether this is drying or demolition. Stop the water, kill the power to the area, document, then dry.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

IntermediatePro required

Roof leak triage from inside

Contain the water and protect the ceiling from the inside. Getting on a roof is where homeowners get hurt — that part is a pro's job.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Appliances10 min

BeginnerCare needed

Reset a jammed garbage disposal

A hum means jammed, silence means tripped. Both usually clear in ten minutes with a hex key.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

BeginnerPro required

Power outage: what to do in order

Tell an outage apart from a panel problem in two minutes, then protect food, electronics, and anyone who depends on powered equipment.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Beginner

Seal drafty windows and doors

Weatherstripping and a tube of caulk are the cheapest energy upgrade in the house, and both are genuinely beginner work.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

BeginnerCare needed

Washing machine won't drain

Most no-drain washers are a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose, not a dead machine. Drain the drum safely first, then clear the filter.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

BeginnerCare needed

Clean your dryer vent

A lint-packed vent is the top cause of slow drying and a leading cause of laundry fires. This is a 30-minute job once a year.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Appliances60 min

IntermediateCare needed

Refrigerator not cooling

Before you call anyone, check the simple causes: blocked vents, dirty condenser coils, and a start relay that has failed on an older compressor.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

IntermediateCare needed

Flush your water heater

Sediment at the bottom of the tank steals capacity, makes rumbling noises and shortens the heater's life. Flushing once a year fixes all three.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

BeginnerCare needed

Reset a tripped breaker safely

Resetting a breaker takes ten seconds, but stance and technique matter. Here is the safe way, and the signs that mean stop and call an electrician.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

IntermediateCare needed

Install a smart thermostat

Photograph the old wiring, match the letters, and most swaps take under an hour. The one thing to check first is whether your system has a C wire.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

IntermediateCare needed

Install a video doorbell

A wired doorbell swap uses the two low-voltage wires already at your door. The trick is finding the right breaker and getting the chime connector right.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Beginner

Re-caulk a tub or shower

Peeling caulk lets water into the wall. The step almost everyone skips is removing every last trace of the old bead before the new one goes on.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

XIANEHOMES.ORG

Scan to enter