If 50 is on the horizon for you, read up!
48 Things You Should Know About Your Home by Age 50
![How to Flush the Toilet When the Power's Out: Flush With a Bucket](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH05JUN_BUCKET_01.jpg)
How to Flush the Toilet When the Power's Out: Flush With a Bucket
![Locate Your Main Water Shutoff Valve](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH00NOV_SHUTOF_01.jpg)
Locate Your Main Water Shutoff Valve
![Find Your Property Lines](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/FH05APR_457_56_001-find-your-property-line-metal-detector-stake.jpg)
Find Your Property Lines
![Deal with Drainage](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH06JAU_470_56_015_1200x1200.jpg)
Deal with Drainage
![Adjust Your Water Heater](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH05APR_457_06_021_1200x1200.jpg)
Adjust Your Water Heater
![Understand Electrical](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH07DJA_474_05_042_1200x1200.jpg)
Understand Electrical
![Test the Sump Pump or Risk a Flood](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FH16FEB_FORGET_02.jpg)
Test the Sump Pump or Risk a Flood
![Clean Dryer Vents or Waste Energy and Risk a Fire](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH16FEB_FORGET_10.jpg)
Clean Dryer Vents or Waste Energy and Risk a Fire
![How to Stop Under-the-Door Air Leaks](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH98OCT_013_98_025_26.jpg)
How to Stop Under-the-Door Air Leaks
![How to Fix a Loose Doorknob](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH00MAY_02008006.jpg)
How to Fix a Loose Doorknob
![How to Sharpen Lawnmower Blades](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/dfh17jun027_fh06apr_467_07_008.jpg)
How to Sharpen Lawnmower Blades
![Loosen Stuck Pipes with Heat](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH15FEB_WKPLUMB_05.jpg)
Loosen Stuck Pipes with Heat
![Touch-up Without Cleanup](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH10MAR_506_08_022.jpg)
Touch-up Without Cleanup
![Don't Choose a Problem Tree](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH13OCT_PLTREE_02.jpg)
Don't Choose a Problem Tree
![Fix Loose Joints With Epoxy Resin](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH16MAR_EPOXYS_03.jpg)
Fix Loose Joints With Epoxy Resin
![Fix a loose screw](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/shutterstock_400632202.jpg)
Fix a loose screw
![Suck Out Drain Clogs](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH10SEP_511_08_033.jpg)
Suck Out Drain Clogs
![Replace loose, popped nails](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/FH04APR_YOU_CAN-FIX-5.jpg)
Replace loose, popped nails
![Loose Gutters](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH13JUN_GUTFIX_04.jpg)
Loose Gutters
![Refrigerator](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH02FEB_FRIDGM_16.jpg)
Refrigerator
![Fix a Wobbly Ceiling Fan](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/dfh17sep042-13.jpg)
Fix a Wobbly Ceiling Fan
![How to Change Locks](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/dfh17sep013_161895581.jpg)
How to Change Locks
![Paint Like a Pro](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/dfh17sep013_9.jpg)
Paint Like a Pro
![shutterstock_175554785 fix a running toilet](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/shutterstock_175554785.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
How to Fix a Running Toilet
There is a four-step strategy for fixing a running toilet. The fix will not only give your toilet a stronger flush, it can lower your water bill
![shutterstock_519670600 living room wood floors feet](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/shutterstock_519670600.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
How to Fix Squeaky Floors
Silence those squeaky floors. This quick fix for silencing floor squeaks will take you just a day. Bonus: You don’t need any special tools.
![FH03DJA_02848_017 fix a crack in drywall](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FH03DJA_02848_017.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
How to Fix a Crack in Drywall
It doesn’t matter if your son’s basketball got away from him or you nicked the wall moving a piece of furniture—at some point you’ll be faced with a crack in the drywall. You’ll need a taping knife and utility knife, along with some drywall tape, pre-mixed joint compound and setting type compound to fix the crack so it doesn’t come back.
![FH98APR_01296006 fix cracked grout](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FH98APR_01296006.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
How to Fix Cracked Grout
Even the best tile jobs will succumb to cracking grout at some point. If the grout between your bathroom floor tiles is crumbling, there is a quick fix that will save you from tearing up the floor and starting over.
![shutterstock_342891008 fix washing machine repair](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/shutterstock_342891008.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
How to Fix an Unbalanced Washing Machine
You threw a heavy load of towels in the washer and now it’s unbalanced. With a level, pliers and a pry bar, you can have the washer balanced again in five minutes.
![Garbage Disposal Repair](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/fh15may_558_53_013.jpg)
Garbage Disposal Repair
![Light Switches](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/fh04jun_03332_016.jpg)
Light Switches
![Repairing Decks](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/fh04apr_03278_021.jpg)
Repairing Decks
![Fix Windows](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/fh06feb_465_06_030.jpg)
Fix Windows
![Foam a Loose Showerhead](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH13JUN_TENMIN_09.jpg)
Foam a Loose Showerhead
![Solution for a Small Leak](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH06FEB_ROOFLK_01.jpg)
Solution for a Small Leak
Some roof leaks are tough to locate. Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation, push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic. Often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier, such as at ceiling light fixtures.
If you can't see any telltale flow marks, and since the stain is fairly small, look at the underside of the roof for 'shiners.' A shiner is a nail that missed the framing member, in this case when the carpenter nailed the roof sheathing to the rafters. Moisture that escapes into the cold attic from the rooms below often condenses on cold nails. Sometimes you can spot this if you climb up into your attic on a cold night. The nails will look white because they're frosted. When the attic heats up a bit during the day, the frost melts and drips, then the nails frost up at night again and so on. The solution is to simply clip the nail with a side-cutting pliers.
![Lubricate a Lock with a Pencil](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/HH-pencil-key-1.jpg)
Lubricate a Lock with a Pencil
![Fix a Broken Light Fixture](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FH12JUN_529_56_012_hsp.jpg)
Fix a Broken Light Fixture
![Fix a Shutoff Valve](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH13JUN_TENMIN_06.jpg)
Fix a Shutoff Valve
![air conditioner](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FH14JUN_549_56_021.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Air Filter
It is instinctual for homeowners to contact an HVAC tech when they notice irregularities in their cooling or heating system. These irregularities could be a direct result of a dirty or clogged air filter. We encourage homeowners to check their filters and replace if necessary. It’s also beneficial for homeowners with pets, carpet, or for homes near fields or construction zones to have multiple filters for convenient replacement.
Pro Tip: Mark your calendars! 1-in. filters should be changed every month, 2-in. filters should be changed every 2 months and 4 to 5-in. filters should be changed every 6 to 12 months.
![shutterstock_301521827 washer and dryer closet](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/shutterstock_301521827.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Clothes Dryer Repair Guide
Most dryer problems can be fixed in an hour with a few basic tools and a continuity tester or multimeter, and you can do the work yourself with these simple instructions. Get the clothes dryer repair guide.
![Restore Free Flow to a Faucet](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH13JUN_TENMIN_21.jpg)
Restore Free Flow to a Faucet
![](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FH10NOV_513_06_017.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
How to Adjust Oven Temperatures
If your oven cooking times are off, recalibrate your oven temperature to match an accurate oven thermometer. The procedure is in your oven’s instruction manual. Learn how to adjust oven temperatures.
![](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FH09JUN_499_59_042.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
Electric Stove Repair
You can solve most electric range burner problems yourself and avoid the expensive service call. It’s quick and easy to replace a burner or bad burner socket. Read the electric stove repair tips.
![How to Remove Carpet Yourself](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/FH08SEP_491_55_022.jpg)
How to Remove Carpet Yourself
![shutterstock_302060321 plunger fix a clogged sink](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/shutterstock_302060321.jpg?fit=696%2C696)
How to Fix a Clogged Drain
Clogged drains usually happen at the most inopportune times. Keep a plunger and drain snake on hand to clear up most drain problems in less than an hour.
![Cut the Power to Your A/C or Waste Energy and Damage Your Compressor](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH16OCT_WINTER_10.jpg)
Cut the Power to Your A/C or Waste Energy and Damage Your Compressor
![Protect the Air Conditioner](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/FFH08NOV_493_05_060.jpg)
Protect the Air Conditioner
![Swap Out the Gas in Small Engines or Replace the Carburetor in the Spring](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH16OCT_WINTER_09.jpg)
Swap Out the Gas in Small Engines or Replace the Carburetor in the Spring
![Clean Attic Venting or Invite Ice Dams](https://www.familyhandyman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/FH16OCT_WINTER_06.jpg)
Clean Attic Venting or Invite Ice Dams
Poor attic ventilation can cause ice dams in the winter months, increase cooling costs, create a home for mold and reduce the life of shingles during the dog days of summer.
Over time, the vents located in your soffits and on some gable-end wall vents get clogged with dust and debris and lose their effectiveness. Clean them with a leaf blower or compressed air. You could use a pressure washer, but stick to a couple quick passes because you don't want to saturate the attic insulation with water. Clean the vents every few years, unless you live near a lot of trees with floating seeds, which can clog vents in one season. For much more on preventing ice dams, check out this guide.