HH Homeowner's Handbook
Home / Browse all

All tasks

99 of 99
Priority
NO. 001 Preventive
HVAC & Air Quality

Replace HVAC air filter

⏱ 5 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 002 Preventive
HVAC & Air Quality

Clean AC condenser (outdoor unit)

⏱ 30-45 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 003 Safety-Critical
HVAC & Air Quality

Annual furnace tune-up/inspection

⏱ 1-2 hrs Pro ●●●○○
NO. 004 Safety-Critical
HVAC & Air Quality

Clean dryer vent

⏱ 45-60 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 005 Preventive
HVAC & Air Quality

Clean bathroom exhaust fan

⏱ 20 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 006 Preventive
HVAC & Air Quality

Seal leaky air ducts

⏱ 2-4 hrs DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 007 Upgrade
HVAC & Air Quality

Install/upgrade a smart thermostat

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●○○○
NO. 008 Preventive
HVAC & Air Quality

Clear AC condensate drain line

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 009 Upgrade
HVAC & Air Quality

Add attic/duct insulation

⏱ Half day+ DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 010 Preventive
HVAC & Air Quality

Test whole-home humidifier/dehumidifier

⏱ 20 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 011 Preventive
Plumbing

Fix a running toilet

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 012 Preventive
Plumbing

Unclog a sink or tub drain

⏱ 15-30 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 013 Upgrade
Plumbing

Replace a kitchen or bath faucet

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●●○○
NO. 014 Preventive
Plumbing

Fix a dripping faucet (cartridge/washer)

⏱ 30-45 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 015 Upgrade
Plumbing

Install a new toilet

⏱ 2-3 hrs DIY ●●●○○
NO. 016 Safety-Critical
Plumbing

Fix a leaking pipe joint

⏱ 30-90 min DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 017 Preventive
Plumbing

Replace a toilet wax ring

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●●○○
NO. 018 Safety-Critical
Plumbing

Snake a main sewer line

⏱ 1-2 hrs Pro ●●●●○
NO. 019 Preventive
Plumbing

Insulate exposed pipes

⏱ 30-60 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 020 Safety-Critical
Plumbing

Winterize outdoor spigots

⏱ 15 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 021 Upgrade
Plumbing

Replace a garbage disposal

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●●○○
NO. 022 Preventive
Plumbing

Fix a jammed/humming garbage disposal

⏱ 10-15 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 023 Preventive
Plumbing

Replace supply lines (braided hoses)

⏱ 20 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 024 Safety-Critical
Plumbing

Test and maintain a sump pump

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 025 Preventive
Plumbing

Flush water heater sediment

⏱ 45-60 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 026 Preventive
Electrical

Replace a light switch

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 027 Safety-Critical
Electrical

Replace an electrical outlet

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 028 Safety-Critical
Electrical

Install/replace a GFCI outlet

⏱ 30-45 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 029 Safety-Critical
Electrical

Reset a tripped breaker

⏱ 5 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 030 Upgrade
Electrical

Replace a ceiling fan or light fixture

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●●○○
NO. 031 Upgrade
Electrical

Install a dimmer switch

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 032 Safety-Critical
Electrical

Test/replace smoke detector batteries

⏱ 10 min per detector DIY ●○○○○
NO. 034 Preventive
Electrical

Diagnose a dead outlet (no power)

⏱ 15-20 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 035 Upgrade
Electrical

Install a whole-panel surge protector

⏱ 1 hr Pro ●●●○○
NO. 036 Preventive
Exterior & Roof

Clean gutters

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 037 Upgrade
Exterior & Roof

Install gutter guards

⏱ 2-4 hrs DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 038 Safety-Critical
Exterior & Roof

Patch a roof leak (shingle repair)

⏱ 1-3 hrs Pro ●●●●○
NO. 039 Preventive
Exterior & Roof

Inspect roof flashing

⏱ 30 min (visual) DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 040 Preventive
Exterior & Roof

Re-caulk exterior trim and siding

⏱ 1-3 hrs DIY ●●○○○
NO. 041 Cosmetic
Exterior & Roof

Power wash siding and driveway

⏱ 2-4 hrs DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 042 Preventive
Exterior & Roof

Repair or replace damaged siding

⏱ 1-3 hrs per panel DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 043 Preventive
Exterior & Roof

Seal foundation cracks

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 044 Cosmetic
Exterior & Roof

Repair a driveway crack

⏱ 30-60 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 045 Safety-Critical
Exterior & Roof

Clean and inspect the chimney

⏱ 1-2 hrs Pro ●●●●○
NO. 046 Cosmetic
Interior & Paint

Patch a small drywall hole

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 047 Preventive
Interior & Paint

Patch a large drywall hole

⏱ 2-3 hrs (+ dry time) DIY ●●●○○
NO. 048 Cosmetic
Interior & Paint

Fix nail pops

⏱ 20 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 049 Preventive
Interior & Paint

Re-caulk bathtub or shower

⏱ 1-2 hrs (+ cure time) DIY ●●○○○
NO. 050 Cosmetic
Interior & Paint

Paint a room (interior)

⏱ 1-2 days DIY ●●○○○
NO. 051 Cosmetic
Interior & Paint

Fix a squeaky floor or stairs

⏱ 30-60 min per spot DIY ●●○○○
NO. 052 Cosmetic
Interior & Paint

Repair a popcorn ceiling spot

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●●○○
NO. 053 Cosmetic
Interior & Paint

Fill gaps in trim/baseboard with wood filler

⏱ 30 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 054 Cosmetic
Interior & Paint

Touch up trim and baseboard paint

⏱ 30-45 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 055 Cosmetic
Interior & Paint

Fix a sticking interior door

⏱ 20-40 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 056 Preventive
Appliances

Clean refrigerator coils

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 057 Preventive
Appliances

Replace refrigerator water filter

⏱ 5 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 058 Preventive
Appliances

Clean dishwasher filter and drain

⏱ 15 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 059 Preventive
Appliances

Level a washing machine

⏱ 15 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 060 Preventive
Appliances

Clean washing machine (mold/odor)

⏱ 30-45 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 061 Preventive
Appliances

Replace an oven igniter (gas range)

⏱ 45-60 min DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 062 Preventive
Appliances

Deep clean an oven

⏱ 1-3 hrs (+ overnight for some methods) DIY ●○○○○
NO. 063 Preventive
Appliances

Replace range hood filter

⏱ 10 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 064 Preventive
Appliances

Descale a coffee maker or kettle

⏱ 30-60 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 065 Preventive
Appliances

Troubleshoot a dryer not heating

⏱ 30-60 min DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 066 Preventive
Doors, Windows & Weatherproofing

Replace weatherstripping

⏱ 30-45 min per door/window DIY ●○○○○
NO. 067 Preventive
Doors, Windows & Weatherproofing

Re-caulk windows

⏱ 20-30 min per window DIY ●○○○○
NO. 068 Cosmetic
Doors, Windows & Weatherproofing

Fix a door that won't latch

⏱ 15-20 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 069 Cosmetic
Doors, Windows & Weatherproofing

Lubricate door hinges and hardware

⏱ 10 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 070 Cosmetic
Doors, Windows & Weatherproofing

Replace a broken window screen

⏱ 30-45 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 071 Preventive
Doors, Windows & Weatherproofing

Install a door draft stopper/sweep

⏱ 15-20 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 072 Safety-Critical
Doors, Windows & Weatherproofing

Repair a garage door opener sensor issue

⏱ 20-30 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 073 Preventive
Doors, Windows & Weatherproofing

Lubricate garage door tracks and rollers

⏱ 15-20 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 074 Cosmetic
Flooring

Fix a squeaky hardwood floor

⏱ 30-60 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 075 Preventive
Flooring

Replace a cracked tile

⏱ 2-3 hrs (+ cure time) DIY ●●●○○
NO. 076 Preventive
Flooring

Re-grout tile

⏱ 2-4 hrs (+ cure time) DIY ●●○○○
NO. 077 Cosmetic
Flooring

Patch or repair vinyl/laminate flooring

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●○○○
NO. 078 Upgrade
Flooring

Refinish hardwood floors

⏱ 2-4 days DIY or Pro ●●●●○
NO. 079 Cosmetic
Flooring

Fix loose or bubbling carpet

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 080 Preventive
Flooring

Repair a squeaky or soft subfloor spot

⏱ 1-3 hrs DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 081 Safety-Critical
Safety & Detectors

Test and replace smoke detectors

⏱ 10 min per unit DIY ●○○○○
NO. 082 Safety-Critical
Safety & Detectors

Test and replace CO detectors

⏱ 10 min per unit DIY ●○○○○
NO. 083 Safety-Critical
Safety & Detectors

Check fire extinguisher and service date

⏱ 5 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 084 Safety-Critical
Safety & Detectors

Test GFCI and AFCI breakers

⏱ 10-15 min DIY ●○○○○
NO. 085 Preventive
Safety & Detectors

Childproof outlets and cabinets

⏱ 1-2 hrs whole house DIY ●○○○○
NO. 086 Preventive
Outdoor & Deck

Stain and seal a wood deck

⏱ 1-2 days (+ dry time) DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 087 Safety-Critical
Outdoor & Deck

Repair loose deck boards or railings

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●○○○
NO. 088 Preventive
Outdoor & Deck

Aerate and overseed the lawn

⏱ 2-3 hrs DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 089 Preventive
Outdoor & Deck

Winterize a sprinkler irrigation system

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 090 Preventive
Outdoor & Deck

Trim trees and shrubs near the roofline

⏱ 2-4 hrs DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 091 Preventive
Outdoor & Deck

Repair a fence panel or post

⏱ 2-4 hrs DIY ●●●○○
NO. 092 Preventive
Outdoor & Deck

Reseal an asphalt driveway

⏱ 1 day (+ cure time) DIY or Pro ●●○○○
NO. 093 Preventive
Outdoor & Deck

Clean and store outdoor furniture

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●○○○○
NO. 094 Preventive
Outdoor & Deck

Inspect and clean window wells

⏱ 20-30 min per well DIY ●○○○○
NO. 095 Safety-Critical
Outdoor & Deck

Grade soil away from the foundation

⏱ 2-4 hrs DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 096 Upgrade
Upgrades & Smart Home

Install a smart thermostat

⏱ 1-2 hrs DIY ●●○○○
NO. 097 Upgrade
Upgrades & Smart Home

Install smart smoke/CO detectors

⏱ 1-2 hrs per unit DIY or Pro ●●●○○
NO. 098 Upgrade
Upgrades & Smart Home

Install a video doorbell

⏱ 30-60 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 099 Upgrade
Upgrades & Smart Home

Upgrade to smart locks

⏱ 30-45 min DIY ●●○○○
NO. 100 Upgrade
Upgrades & Smart Home

Install a whole-home water leak sensor/shutoff

⏱ 1-3 hrs DIY or Pro ●●●○○