Frequently Asked Questions Every question below is answered inside a full guide. Click through for the answer plus the step-by-step fix, costs, and mistakes to avoid. How to Clean a Shower Head With Vinegar · Bathroom How long should I soak a shower head in vinegar? Can I clean a shower head without removing it? What if vinegar does not fix the shower spray? How to Fix a Running Toilet in 15 Minutes (No Plumber) · Bathroom Why does my toilet run for a few seconds every hour, then stop? Can a running toilet really raise my water bill? Do drop-in tank cleaning tablets damage toilets? I replaced the flapper and it still runs. Now what? How to Replace a Toilet Fill Valve in 30 Minutes · Bathroom How do I know if my toilet fill valve is bad? Can I replace a toilet fill valve myself? Do I need to replace the flapper at the same time? How to Unclog a Shower Drain Without Chemicals · Bathroom What is the best way to unclog a shower drain full of hair? Can I use a drain snake in a shower drain? Should I pour boiling water down a shower drain? How to Unclog a Toilet Fast, With or Without a Plunger · Bathroom Will a clogged toilet eventually unclog itself? How do you unclog a toilet without a plunger? Why shouldn't I flush a clogged toilet a second time? When should I call a plumber for a clogged toilet? Low Shower Water Pressure? Fix It in One Evening · Bathroom Only the hot water is weak. Is that still the shower head? My pressure dropped suddenly, not gradually. What does that mean? Can I just remove the flow restrictor? How often should I clean the shower head in a hard-water area? Remove Hard Water Stains from Shower Glass (What Actually Works) · Bathroom Does CLR work on shower glass? Can I use a Magic Eraser on shower doors? Why do the stains come back within a couple of weeks? The glass is still cloudy after cleaning. Is it ruined? Remove Mold From Shower Caulk (Bleach Won't Do It) · Bathroom Does bleach kill mold in caulk? How do I know if the caulk needs replacing or just cleaning? What kind of caulk should I use in a shower? Can I just caulk over the old caulk? Toilet Flapper Replacement: Get the Right Size the First Time · Bathroom How often should a toilet flapper be replaced? Can a flapper cause a weak flush? How do I know if I need a brand-specific flapper? My toilet has a plastic tower instead of a flapper. What do I buy? Unclog a Slow Bathroom Sink in 15 Minutes, No Chemicals · Bathroom The sink is still slow after I cleaned the stopper and trap. What's left? Why does my bathroom sink smell even when it drains fine? Are chemical drain cleaners ever the right call for a bathroom sink? How often should I clear the stopper? Why Your Toilet Refills Randomly, and How to Stop It · Bathroom Is a toilet that refills randomly the same as a running toilet? Why does my toilet only refill every few hours? Can I ignore a phantom flush if it only happens once or twice a day? GFCI Won't Reset? What It's Telling You · Electrical Why won't my GFCI outlet reset no matter how many times I press it? Why does my GFCI trip the instant I plug something in? How long do GFCI outlets last? Is a GFCI the same thing as a breaker? How to Fix a Dead Outlet Before Calling an Electrician · Electrical Why would one outlet stop working but the breaker is not tripped? Is it safe to replace a dead outlet myself? Why does my GFCI keep tripping every time I reset it? How much does an electrician charge to fix a dead outlet? How to Reset a Tripped Breaker the Right Way · Electrical Why does my breaker look like it's on but the outlet still has no power? Why does a breaker trip again the moment I reset it? Is it safe to reset a breaker myself? What's the difference between a tripped breaker and a tripped GFCI? Lights Flickering? One Bulb Is Fine, the Whole House Isn't · Electrical Why do my LED lights flicker on a dimmer? Is flickering lights a sign of an electrical problem? Why do my lights dim when the AC or fridge kicks on? Can a bad breaker cause flickering? Smoke Detector Chirping? Why a New Battery Didn't Fix It · Electrical Why does my smoke detector keep chirping after I changed the battery? How long do smoke detectors last? Why does my smoke detector chirp in the middle of the night? Can I just take the battery out to stop the noise? AC Running but Not Cooling? Check These First · Heating & Cooling Why is my air conditioner running but not blowing cold air? Can a dirty filter really stop an AC from cooling? What does it mean if the outdoor AC unit is covered in ice? How much does it cost to fix an AC that's low on refrigerant? Ceiling Fan Direction in Summer: Set It in 2 Minutes · Heating & Cooling Should a ceiling fan go clockwise or counterclockwise in summer? How do I know if my ceiling fan is going the right way? Does a ceiling fan cool a room if no one is in it? How to Cool a Room With Fans When the AC Can't Keep Up · Heating & Cooling Where should I put a fan to cool a room? Does putting ice in front of a fan really work? Should a ceiling fan run clockwise or counterclockwise in summer? How to Replace an HVAC Filter the Right Way · Heating & Cooling Which direction should the arrow point on an HVAC filter? How often should I replace my HVAC filter? What happens if the HVAC filter is installed backwards? Can I run my HVAC system without a filter for a few days? No Hot Water? Start With the Reset Button or the Pilot · Heating & Cooling Where is the reset button on an electric water heater? Why does my hot water run out so fast now? Why won't my water heater pilot light stay lit? How long should a water heater last? Why Is Upstairs So Hot? Fix the Heat Traps First · Heating & Cooling Why is upstairs hotter than downstairs? How can I cool upstairs without a second AC? Should I close downstairs vents to cool upstairs? Window AC Not Cooling? 5 Checks Before Replacing It · Heating & Cooling Why is my window AC running but not cooling? Can I recharge a window AC? Should a window AC be tilted? Dishwasher Not Draining? Work This List in Order · Kitchen Is a little water in the bottom of the dishwasher normal? Why won't my dishwasher drain even though the garbage disposal works fine? Can I run a dishwasher that isn't draining? What does a plumber charge to fix a dishwasher that won't drain? Garbage Disposal Not Working? Humming vs Silence · Kitchen Where is the reset button on a garbage disposal? Why does my garbage disposal hum but not spin? Can I put my hand in a garbage disposal to clear a jam? How long should a garbage disposal last? Garbage Disposal Smells? Clean It in 10 Minutes (3 Steps) · Kitchen Is it safe to put lemon in the garbage disposal? Why does the smell come back a week after I clean it? Can I pour bleach down the disposal? What foods make a disposal smell the worst? How to Fix a Leaky Faucet (Find the Right Part First) · Kitchen Why does my faucet only drip at night? Can I just tighten the handle harder to stop the drip? How do I figure out my faucet's brand and model? When does replacing the whole faucet make more sense? Dryer Takes Too Long? It's Almost Always Airflow · Laundry & Cleaning Why does my dryer take two cycles to dry one load? How do I know if my dryer vent is clogged? Can dryer sheets make a dryer dry slower? How often should a dryer vent be cleaned? How to Clean a Front Load Washer Gasket That Smells · Laundry & Cleaning Why does my washer gasket smell even after I wipe it? Can I use vinegar on a washer gasket? How often should I clean the washer gasket? Washer Won't Drain? Check the Filter, Hose, Then Pump · Laundry & Cleaning Why is my washing machine full of water and won't drain? How do I drain a washing machine manually? Why does my washer drain but not spin? How much does it cost to replace a washer drain pump? Washing Machine Smells? Clean These 3 Spots (Gasket, Drum, Filter) · Laundry & Cleaning The smell came back within a week. What did I miss? My towels still smell musty even after cleaning the machine. Why? Do top-loaders get this problem too? Is it safe to run bleach in the washer? Fix a Drafty Door in an Hour (Weatherstripping That Lasts) · Outdoors & Seasonal Which type of weatherstripping lasts the longest? Do fabric draft stoppers (door snakes) actually work? How much money does sealing a drafty door actually save? I weatherstripped and it still drafts. What now? How to Clean Gutters Without Falling Off the Ladder · Outdoors & Seasonal How often should gutters be cleaned? What happens if you never clean your gutters? Can you clean gutters from the ground? When should I hire someone instead? How to Replace a Worn Door Sweep Before Winter · Outdoors & Seasonal How do I know if the door sweep is the problem? Should the door sweep touch the floor? Can I use a stick-on sweep instead of a screw-on one? Outdoor Faucet Leaking? Where It Drips Tells You Why · Outdoors & Seasonal Why does my outdoor faucet leak from the handle when the water is on? How do I stop an outdoor faucet from dripping when it's closed? Why does my spigot leak from the top only when a hose is attached? Can a frozen outdoor faucet cause a leak inside the wall? Seal Drafty Windows Before the First Cold Snap · Outdoors & Seasonal How do I find where a window is leaking air? Does window insulation film actually work? Should I caulk around the inside of my windows? Is it cheaper to seal old windows or replace them? Drain Flies Keep Coming Back? Kill the Biofilm · Pests What are those little black flies near my bathroom drain? Why do drain flies keep coming back after I clean the sink? Does bleach kill drain flies? How long does it take to get rid of drain flies for good? Get Rid of Wasps Safely: Treat the Nest After Dark · Pests What time of day is safest to spray a wasp nest? Why are wasps so aggressive in late summer? Can I spray a wasp nest while standing on a ladder? What does wasp removal cost if I hire it out? How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Overnight · Pests What actually attracts fruit flies into the kitchen? Does the vinegar trap really work overnight? Why do fruit flies keep coming back after I throw out the fruit? Are fruit flies harmful, or just annoying? How to Get Rid of Mice for Good (Seal First, Trap Second) · Pests How small a hole can a mouse get through? Why do I keep catching mice but they never stop coming? Should I use poison for mice? Is it safe to vacuum up mouse droppings? How to Stop Ants in the Kitchen · Pests Why do ants keep coming back after I wipe the counter? Should I spray ants or use bait? How long does ant bait take to work? Does vinegar get rid of ants permanently? Fix a Squeaky Door Hinge for Good (WD-40 Isn't Enough) · Walls, Doors & Floors Can I use olive oil on a squeaky hinge? What about the old bar-of-soap trick? I lubricated it and the squeak came back in a month. Why? The door squeaks and sticks or drags. Same fix? How to Fix a Squeaky Floor From Above or Below · Walls, Doors & Floors What causes a floor to squeak? Is a squeaky floor a serious problem? Does talcum powder actually stop floor squeaks? Why do my floors squeak more in winter? How to Fix a Sticking Door (Tighten the Hinges First) · Walls, Doors & Floors Why is my door suddenly sticking? How do I fix a door that won't latch? Should I plane a sticking door? Why does my door stick only in summer? Patch a Hole in Drywall (Doorknob, Fist, or Anchor Size) · Walls, Doors & Floors What size hole can you fix with a mesh patch? How many coats of joint compound does a patch need? Do I have to prime a drywall patch before painting? How long does joint compound take to dry? Patch Nail Holes in Drywall Before Move-Out (10 Minutes, $8) · Walls, Doors & Floors What about holes bigger than a nail, like anchors and screw holes? Will my landlord charge me anyway? The paint touch-up is visible. Did I do something wrong? Does the toothpaste trick work?