Plain-English home maintenance guides for new homeowners.

Second guide available

Water Shut-Off 101 is live in the Bucklevel store.

This guide is built around a simple emergency-prep question: do you know where your main water shut-off is before a leak happens?

• Find and label the main water shut-off.
• Know the difference between main, fixture, and curb/street valves.
• Keep the valve accessible and record key household emergency info.
• Understand when to stop and call a qualified plumber, utility company, electrician, or emergency help.

Home safety guide available

Smoke Detectors & CO Alarms 101 is live in the Bucklevel store.

This guide is built around a calm first-pass check: what alarms do you have, where are they, do they appear current, and what needs follow-up?

• Understand the difference between smoke alarms and CO alarms.
• Check common locations, labels, manufacture dates, and test instructions.
• Write down missing, expired, chirping, damaged, painted-over, or confusing alarms.
• Know when to call emergency services, the fire department nonemergency line, a qualified electrician, or an alarm professional.

Laundry room guide available

Dryer Vent Maintenance 101 helps make lint and airflow easier to understand.

This guide is built around simple homeowner observations: clean the lint screen, notice drying-time changes, look at the exterior vent from a safe place, and write down the vent path if you can identify it.

• Understand the difference between the lint screen, duct, and exterior vent.
• Watch for long drying times, heat, odd smells, blocked vent flaps, lint buildup, smoke, or scorching.
• Know when to stop using the dryer and call emergency services or a qualified professional.

Rainwater guide available

Gutter & Drainage Basics 101 helps homeowners follow where water goes.

This guide focuses on safe ground-level observations around gutters, downspouts, splash blocks, pooling water, soil slope clues, and basement or crawlspace moisture signals.

• Look for overflowing gutters, missing extensions, short downspouts, or water dumping near the foundation.
• Use a simple rainwater checklist and home water-path worksheet.
• Stay off ladders and roofs, and call qualified help for unsafe access or drainage work.

Basement water guide available

Sump Pump & Basement Water 101 helps reduce panic before heavy rain.

This guide helps homeowners identify basic sump pump parts, record useful home-specific details, understand backup questions, and spot basement water clues that deserve follow-up.

• Write down pump, pit, discharge, backup, and power information.
• Understand what a float, discharge line, backup pump, and backup power question mean.
• Do not work around electricity and standing water; call qualified help for repairs, flooding, mold, or unsafe conditions.

Water heater guide available

Water Heater Basics 101 helps homeowners keep better water heater records.

This guide helps homeowners find the label, write down age and model clues, notice leak or temperature warning signs, and understand when water heater questions belong with a qualified professional.

• Record label, age, fuel type, location, and maintenance-history notes.
• Watch for visible leaks, rust, odd sounds, temperature issues, and other warning signs.
• Do not attempt gas, electrical, plumbing, pressure valve, or repair work from a guide.

Bathroom moisture guide available

Bathroom Fan & Moisture 101 turns steamy bathrooms into a simple checklist.

This guide focuses on everyday fan habits, moisture clues, and the point where a bathroom fan, mold, roof, duct, wiring, or plumbing concern needs qualified help.

• Build a simple after-shower fan habit and note which bathrooms need attention.
• Look for lingering steam, stains, odors, peeling paint, recurring moisture, or visible mold concerns.
• Stay out of wiring, attic, roof, ductwork, and mold remediation work unless handled by a qualified pro.