Water & Plumbing
Running toilets, popping water heaters, low pressure and strange smells from the tap: what causes them, what to check first and when the job belongs to a plumber.
Water heaters
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How Long Do Water Heaters Last? Lifespan by Type
The age printed on the label tells you more than the noises it makes. Here is how long each type lasts, how to read its age, and the signs that the end is near.
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Why Is My Water Heater Making a Popping Noise?
That popcorn sound from the basement is steam bubbles escaping from under a layer of mineral scale. It is rarely dangerous, but it costs you efficiency and shortens the tank’s life.
Toilets
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Why Does My Toilet Keep Running? How to Find and Fix It
A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons a day, and the fix is usually a part that costs less than a pizza. Here is how to tell which part has failed.
Other parts of the house
- Heating & Cooling Air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, thermostats and space heaters.
- Kitchen Appliances Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, stoves and microwaves.
- Laundry Washing machines, dryers, detergents, cycles and care.
- Electricity & Energy Running costs, outlets, breakers, lighting and smoke and CO alarms.
- Air & Moisture Humidity, condensation, dehumidifiers, humidifiers and indoor air.