Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

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.

This book uncovers the mysteries behind just about every major appliance and building element in your house. Clear, "exploded" drawings show you exactly how these things should be put together and how they function - what to check if they don't work, and what you can do that might save you having to call in a professional.

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

Virtually everything in your house is included:

• 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.

Average Customer Rating:

Excellent Overview...	Customer Rating:
I think this book is a great reference to have on hand, but even more, I actually enjoyed reading it cover to cover upon arrival. Now that I'm familiar with the contents, I'll know better where to look when I need to fix something.

Excellent "How To" Manual	Customer Rating:
The best features of this book are the diagrams. If you are a visual person, then this is the book for you. In addition to the clear, concise step-by-step instructions, the diagrams provide the added help to ensure your full understanding. A must-have for home owners.

great for first time home buyers	Customer Rating:
this is a nice, solid little book - its really quite interesting and informative - presented in a clear way. The illustrations are very helpful - this seems like it would be a good foundation book to have if you are a new home buyer especially.

Excellent book, but could use follow up

Customer Rating:

Describing how how the high tech parts of a microwave,flouroscent light,and detectors work. Before repairs; it excellent, except, for p. 122 vacuum cleaners- before calling for help - also, motor filter can be clogged. It's similiar to a plastic scrubbber under the dust container. It can be cleaned by washing it under water. Located below bagging area when the motor intacts air. Rainbow Home Inspection Co. Inman, South Carolina

Amazing book	Customer Rating:
My husband and I are not really handy around the house, so we purchased this book so we could get to know our home better. We were not disappointed. The diagrams are wonderfully clear and the tips for things to try before calling a professional are wonderful. We have already used the book several times to fix things around the house. The book has paid for itself ten-fold.