There’s a truism about houses: sooner or later, whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Most people recognize this phrase as Murphy’s Law, but after twenty-five years of fixing things, I know that it’s also the First Law of Homeownership.

Because stuff goes bad—often in a hurry, usually when you least expect it, and most likely when there’s a tiny balance in your checking account—being able to diagnose a small problem before it’s a big one, and even fix it yourself, is a very nice aptitude to develop.

That’s what got me excited about writing The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Simple Home Repair.

After about a year in our first house, we had a new baby and lots of bills, and the First Law of Homeownership kicked in. Pipes froze, the pump died, and the gutters started leaking. I noticed that moss was growing on the garage roof! My husband traveled all the time, and so the ball was in my court. I had to fix some of this stuff myself, or we’d go bust paying repair people.

So I took the next step: I started learning about my house’s structure, systems, and appliances, and started down the DIY highway.

I was a bit tentative at first, but the simple repairs I completed successfully encouraged me to try others. When I did call repairmen, I asked them to explain what they were doing, and why. I picked their brains about the finer points of my house’s plumbing, wiring, heating, and appliances. Pretty soon, my friends were calling me to walk them through the fixes for their own appliance breakdowns and plumbing disasters.

In this book, I pass along what I’ve learned, along with lots of good advice from fellow DIY-ers and seasoned pros. I hope you find that acquiring these skills is fun and empowering. And I hope that the knowledge will save you money; it’s saved me and my family plenty!

Taking care of a home is quite a bit like taking care of ourselves; keeping it in shape requires maintenance and, when needed, tweaks and touch-ups to keep it looking and functioning at its best. Like our own bodies, a home has lots of parts and systems that need care and attention. We can do a good portion of the work ourselves. And when things happen that are beyond our scope and ability, we call in an expert.

This book will acquaint you with many modest efforts you can make yourself to keep a house in shape. It’s designed as a sensible, starter volume for someone who’s never worked on a house before but wants to learn. It tells you what tools you need, and how to work safely. There are no big, complicated repairs here—no major surgery. But you’ll find lots of step-by-step instructions, many illustrated, to help you become well acquainted with your house and take a role in its well-being.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Simple Home Repair contains 19 chapters and 3 helpful appendixes. Here’s how it’s structured:

Part 1, “Getting to Know Your House,” is a beginner’s guide to equip and prepare yourself for doing home repairs effectively and safely. It tells you everything you need to know about the tools, supplies, and safety equipment that anyone interested in DIY repairs should have. It also provides you with an orientation about your home’s systems, and how you can control them.

Part 2, “Skin Deep: Repairing Surfaces and Openings,” teaches you some basic repair techniques you’ll use for your home’s most visible parts. You’ll find out how to make dinged and dented walls and ceilings look new, and remove some of the squeaks and bounces in floors and stairs. This section will also help you get your home’s simplest moving parts—the windows and doors—moving smoothly.

Part 3, “The Circulatory System: Plumbing and Fixtures,” deals with all the places where water runs through your home: kitchens, baths, and the supply lines that deliver this most necessary element to the fixtures you use every day. Tackle emergency repairs and learn the techniques to address minor problems with plumbing fixtures and fittings.

Part 4, “Mission Control: Wiring, Appliances, Heating, and Cooling,” covers the systems and conveniences that make your home run like it’s the twenty-first century. While your wiring, many appliances, and the heating system in your home may be complex and major repair beyond your beginner’s scope and talents, you can learn some simple fixes and do some needed maintenance on your own.

Part 5, “Preventive Maintenance: Safety and Upkeep,” teaches you about installing, maintaining, and using the necessary equipment for home safety. It also provides you with a routine to keep up with the maintenance of your house, inside and out, to prevent small problems from becoming larger ones.

To round out your beginner skills, you’ll find a Glossary of the specialized vocabulary for house parts, systems, and repair techniques you should know; a chapter-by-chapter list of Online Resources for additional information about specific repairs, tools, materials, and training; and helpful Home Inspection Checklists that you can photocopy and use to keep track of your home’s condition—both inside and out—on a regular basis.