Homeowners
Take care of your home without getting taken
Four questions decide almost every home repair: what is actually wrong, what it should cost, whether to fix or replace it, and whether the quote in front of you is fair. There is a tool here for each one.
- Diagnostic guides
- 6
- Cost guides
- 8
- Decision tools
- 20
Start with the problem
- 01
Diagnose the symptom
Start from what you can observe, not from what you fear. Most symptoms have a cheap, common cause worth ruling out first.
Diagnostic guides - 02
Learn the range
Know the national range and what drives it before the first contractor tells you a number.
Cost guides - 03
Repair or replace
Compare cost per remaining year, not a percentage rule. Age changes the answer more than price does.
Repair vs. replace - 04
Check the quote
Price is half of it. Scope, permits, insurance, warranty and payment terms are the other half.
Quote analyzer
- CoolingAir Conditioner Not CoolingWork through the causes of an air conditioner that runs but does not cool, ordered from most to least likely.10 causes, ordered
- HeatingFurnace Not HeatingDiagnose a gas furnace that will not fire, short cycles, or blows cold air, starting with what you can safely check.9 causes, ordered
- PlumbingNo Hot WaterFind out why a water heater has stopped producing hot water, for both gas and electric units.8 causes, ordered
- ElectricalBreaker Keeps TrippingUnderstand why a circuit breaker trips repeatedly and which causes are safe to investigate yourself.7 causes, ordered
- PlumbingDrain Keeps CloggingTell the difference between a local fixture clog and a main line problem before you spend money on the wrong fix.6 causes, ordered
- RoofingRoof LeakTrace a ceiling stain back to its actual source, which is rarely directly above the visible damage.7 causes, ordered
- Water Heater ReplacementReplacing a standard tank water heater with a like-for-like unit, installed and hauled away.$900–$3,400per unit installed
- HVAC System ReplacementReplacing a residential furnace, air conditioner or heat pump, including installation and startup.$4,500–$20,000per system installed
- Roof ReplacementTearing off and replacing a residential roof, including underlayment, flashing and disposal.$8,000–$45,000per roof, 2,000 sq ft home
- Electrical Panel UpgradeReplacing a main service panel, typically going from 100A to 200A, including service coordination.$1,800–$9,000per service upgrade
- Sewer Line Repair & ReplacementRepairing or replacing the sewer lateral between a home and the municipal main.$1,500–$30,000per lateral
- Air Conditioner RepairDiagnosing and repairing a residential air conditioning system that is not cooling properly.$150–$2,500per repair
- Foundation RepairStabilizing or correcting foundation settlement, cracking and water intrusion.$2,000–$40,000per project
- Window ReplacementReplacing residential windows, either as inserts into existing frames or full-frame replacement.$450–$2,500per window installed
Decide what to do
- EstimatorRepair CostEstimate what a common home repair should cost in your area before you call anyone.
- ComparisonRepair vs. ReplaceCompare the economics of repairing a failing system against replacing it outright.
- ComparisonDIY vs. ProWeigh cost, time, tools, permits, risk and consequences before you take on a job yourself.
- EstimatorRenovation CostEstimate a kitchen, bath, basement or addition project by scope, finish level and region.
- ComparisonRent vs. BuyCompare renting against buying a tool across the number of times you will actually use it.
Hire and maintain
- DiagnosticQuote AnalyzerBreak down a contractor's quote and see whether the price and the terms are reasonable.
- PlannerMaintenance PlannerGenerate a seasonal maintenance schedule tailored to your home's systems, age and climate.
- DiagnosticHome HealthAssess the remaining life of your major systems and see what is likely to fail next.
- ChecklistHiring ChecklistWork through license, insurance, contract and payment checks before you sign anything.
- ElectricianInstall and maintain the power, lighting and control systems in homes, businesses and industrial plants.
- PlumberInstall and repair the water supply, drainage, gas and fixture systems that keep buildings habitable.
- HVAC TechnicianInstall, service and troubleshoot the heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems buildings depend on.
- WelderJoin metal for structures, pipelines, pressure vessels and manufactured goods to a qualified procedure.
- CarpenterFrame, finish and build the structures and interiors of residential and commercial buildings.
- Heavy Equipment OperatorRun excavators, dozers, loaders and cranes to move earth and place material on construction sites.
- RooferInstall and repair the roof systems that keep water out of residential and commercial buildings.