# OnOtto: full page summaries for AI assistants

> OnOtto (www.onotto.com) is a home maintenance app: recurring tasks that persist until they are done, photo-based appliance identification that builds each appliance's maintenance schedule, AI inspection-report import, and household sharing for up to 6 people with weekly streaks. Founded 2020, relaunched 2026, based in Washington State, USA. Contact hello@onotto.com. Web app: https://app.onotto.com. The short index is at https://www.onotto.com/llms.txt.

This file is generated from the site's own content at build time, so it cannot fall behind the site. It has two halves. First, hand-written summaries of the product, guide, and comparison pages. Second, the reference library: 1,000+ pages across ten archetypes, one line each, giving the page's question, its URL, and its answer.

## Product

### https://www.onotto.com/ (Home)
OnOtto's pitch in one line: it keeps "I'll do it tomorrow" from turning into "oh no, I should have done this last year." Three mechanisms: (1) reminders you cannot lose, because tasks persist until done and completing one schedules the next occurrence, unlike calendar pings that get snoozed and forgotten; (2) snap a photo of an appliance and OnOtto identifies it, builds its maintenance schedule, and asks when you last did each task (no manual required; manual/PDF and inspection-report upload also work); (3) household sharing for up to 6 people with task assignment, a weekly streak, and a leaderboard. The average US homeowner loses about $3,000/year to preventable repairs.

### https://www.onotto.com/pricing/ (Pricing)
Free: $0 forever, with 15 active tasks, 2 members, 1 AI scan, 3 documents. Solo: $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr for unlimited tasks, 2 members, 10 AI scans/month. Family: $8.99/mo or $71.99/yr for up to 6 members, 20 AI scans/month, household streak and leaderboard. Concierge: $14.99/mo or $149/yr, everything in Family plus a hand-reviewed annual Home Health Report, a quarterly season plan in one approve-all screen, and 60 priority AI scans/month. Founder Lifetime ($199 once) is retired from sale; accounts already purchased are honored forever. Every account starts with a 30-day full-access trial, no credit card. Billing is web-based via Stripe, so there is no app-store markup. Cancel anytime in one click; downgrades never delete data.

### https://www.onotto.com/about/ (About)
What OnOtto is and why it exists: missed maintenance costs the average US homeowner about $3,000/year, and the root cause is that calendar reminders get snoozed and dismissed. OnOtto started in 2020 as a home-maintenance blog and checklist project, and relaunched in 2026 as a full app. Based in Washington State. Contact hello@onotto.com.

### https://www.onotto.com/contact/ (Contact)
Email hello@onotto.com for everything: support (replies typically within one business day), billing, press, and feedback. Partner (realtor or inspector) inquiries go to /realtors/.

### https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-cost-calculator/ (Cost calculator)
Interactive estimator of annual home maintenance cost from home age, size, HVAC type, US region, pool, and well/septic. Calibrated to Angi's State of Home Spending 2025 (average $2,041/yr routine maintenance plus $1,143/yr emergency repairs) and the 1-4%-of-home-value rule. Outputs a low-to-high annual range plus the user's top 5 cost drivers with frequencies.

### https://www.onotto.com/realtors/ (Realtors and home inspectors; /partners/ 301s here)
The OnOtto Home Sponsorship: $1 per home per month, billed only for homes that actively used OnOtto in the trailing 90 days; the agent's first home is free forever, unclaimed invites are free, cancel anytime. The client gets OnOtto free (Family-level while sponsored, and their home's history plus the free tier forever regardless), pre-built from their property address and listed systems. The agent gets co-branding (photo, name, brokerage, and a rotating button such as "How much is your home worth?") shown about weekly under a frequency cap, plus placement in the weekly digest, plus a dashboard of impressions, opens by household, and button clicks. Rationale: per NAR, 88% of clients say they would reuse their agent and about 1 in 5 does; roughly 75 to 100 confirmed on-screen moments per engaged home per year at about 14 cents each, against $0.55 to $1.50 per farming postcard, and one shared Zillow lead ($139 to $223) costs more than a year of 12+ sponsored homes. Start at https://app.onotto.com/partner. Inspection reports upload at https://app.onotto.com/scan?kind=inspection and become scheduled recurring tasks.

## Guides by situation

### https://www.onotto.com/new-homeowner-maintenance-guide/
The first 90 days of homeownership in three passes. Month 1 is safety and shutoffs: find and turn the main water valve, label the breaker panel, rekey locks, test detectors and GFCIs. Month 2 is learning the systems: record every system's age from serial-number date codes, turn the inspection report into a task list, book a baseline HVAC service, and watch the gutters in one rain. Month 3 builds the recurring schedule and the 1-4%-of-value budget. OnOtto can import the inspection report directly (https://app.onotto.com/scan?kind=inspection) and turn flagged items into recurring tasks.

### https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-schedule-by-home-age/
The core schedule is the same at any age; the watch list changes. New builds (0-10 yrs): settling, caulk, grading, and the documented 11-month builder-warranty walkthrough. About 20 years: the replacement window, when water heater, HVAC, roof, and appliances all age out together, so sequence replacements deliberately and check for polybutylene pipe (1978-95). 50+ years demands materials vigilance: panel and wiring (aluminum 1965-73), galvanized and cast-iron plumbing, a sewer-lateral scope every 3-5 years, foundation watch, and lead/asbestos awareness before disturbing surfaces. The rule that spans all ages: track each system's install year, not just the house's.

### https://www.onotto.com/rental-home-maintenance-checklist-for-tenants/
An honest tenant-versus-landlord split. Landlords own systems (HVAC, plumbing, roof, structure, provided appliances) under the warranty of habitability. Tenants own habits: filters if the lease assigns them, detector batteries, drain care, appliance care, and prompt written reporting with photos, because the timestamp protects the deposit and any habitability claim. Gray zones (yard, snow, who caused the clog) are decided by the lease and state law. Links the household-chores starter pack for the full any-home cadence.

### https://www.onotto.com/selling-your-home-maintenance-checklist/
Pre-listing, 30 to 60 days out: do the buyer's inspection before the buyer does. HVAC service with an invoice, fix running toilets and drips, test GFCIs and detectors, re-caulk wet areas, clean gutters, and assemble the service-history binder. About $200 to $800 total, because maintenance items cost 2 to 5 times more as inspection concessions than as repairs. What not to do: major replacements for the sale, painting over evidence, or deferring $12 fixes to negotiation. Links /what-should-i-fix-before-selling-my-home/ for the fix-versus-skip analysis.

### https://www.onotto.com/vacation-home-maintenance-checklist/
Three rules for a house that sits empty: shut off the main water for any absence past a few days, hold 50 to 55F in freeze country (manage humidity in the South), and get human eyes on the place every 2 to 4 weeks, because insurance policies commonly restrict coverage past 30 to 60 unoccupied days. Includes a departure checklist (water off, heater vacation mode, open under-sink cabinets, fridge decision, lived-in look), an absence monitoring plan (leak sensors, WiFi temperature sensor, storm passes), and an arrival checklist (slow repressurization while watching every fixture, refill P-traps).

## Comparisons and alternatives

### https://www.onotto.com/best-home-maintenance-app/
An honest comparison of OnOtto ($39.99 to $71.99/yr), HomeZada ($99 to $189/yr, best for home finances), Dwellin, HomeLedger, Tody, and Sweepy (best for cleaning only). OnOtto wins on persistent recurring tasks, photo appliance identification, and 6-member household sharing.

### https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-app-vs-spreadsheet/
A spreadsheet is free and flexible, but it cannot remind anyone, recompute due dates from actual completions, or coordinate a household. The page maps each spreadsheet column to its app equivalent, and it is honest about when a spreadsheet is enough: a single disciplined owner with few systems.

### https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-app-vs-calendar-reminders/
Calendar reminders fail at maintenance for four structural reasons. Dismiss and snooze is one tap and permanent. Missed events do not persist. Fixed dates do not track actual completion, so a filter changed late still needs 90 days from the change. And calendars have no "what matters most now" view. OnOtto fixes all four.

### https://www.onotto.com/centriq-alternative/
Centriq shut down January 31, 2026 and deleted user data. OnOtto rebuilds a home's records in about 20 minutes: photograph each appliance and the AI identifies it and builds its schedule. Honest gaps: no recall alerts yet (use the free CPSC emails), and no standalone insurance inventory.

### https://www.onotto.com/homezada-alternative/
HomeZada is a home-finance platform (value tracking, budgets, inventories) with maintenance attached. OnOtto is maintenance-first at less than half the price. Stay with HomeZada if finances are the point.

### https://www.onotto.com/homebinder-alternative/
HomeBinder is the digital binder that inspectors and agents set up at closing, and it is good at holding records. OnOtto makes them act: the same inspection report becomes persistent recurring tasks. Agents and inspectors can gift OnOtto via /realtors/.

### https://www.onotto.com/thumbtack-alternative-for-maintenance/
Honest framing: Thumbtack is for finding a pro right now, and OnOtto is for never being surprised, which means knowing what your home needs before it becomes an emergency (pro matching is on OnOtto's roadmap). Most people need Thumbtack less once maintenance is scheduled.

# Reference library (1036 pages)
Every page below answers its question in the first sentence, with specific intervals, lifespans, and 2026 USD cost ranges, and backs the answer with by-situation tables. One line per page: the question, the URL, and the short answer.

## How often should you do it? (maintenance intervals) (hub: https://www.onotto.com/how-often/, 196 pages)
Every page answers its interval question in the first sentence, then gives a by-situation table, cost-of-neglect figures, a short how-to, and FAQs.
- [How often should you clean solar panels?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-solar-panels/): Every 6–12 months
- [How often should you replace a carbon monoxide detector?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-carbon-monoxide-detector/): Every 5–7 years
- [How often should you replace smoke detectors?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-smoke-detectors/): Every 10 years
- [How often should you service a standby generator?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-service-standby-generator/): Once a year
- [How often should you test smoke detectors?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-smoke-detectors/): Every month
- [How often should you inspect an electrical panel?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-electrical-panel/): Every 3–5 years
- [How often should you replace a surge protector?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-surge-protector/): Every 2–3 years
- [How often should you test a carbon monoxide detector?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-carbon-monoxide-detectors/): Every month
- [How often should you change standby generator oil?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-change-generator-oil/): Every 100–200 hours
- [How often should you clean and reverse a ceiling fan?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-ceiling-fan/): Twice a year
- [How often should a standby generator run?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-exercise-standby-generator/): Weekly self-test
- [How often should you inspect an EV charger?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-ev-charger/): Once a year
- [How often should you replace an electrical panel?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-electrical-panel/): Every 25–40 years
- [How often should you replace a GFCI outlet?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-gfci-outlet/): Every 10–15 years
- [How often should you replace a solar inverter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-solar-inverter/): Every 10–15 years
- [How often should you replace a whole-house surge protector?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-whole-house-surge-protector/): Every 5–10 years
- [How often should you run a portable generator?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-start-portable-generator/): Monthly to quarterly
- [How often should you test AFCI breakers?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-afci-breakers/): Every month
- [How often should you test circuit breakers?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-circuit-breakers/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean your gutters?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-gutters/): Twice a year
- [How often should you service your garage door?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-service-garage-door/): Once a year
- [How often should you inspect your roof?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-roof/): Twice a year
- [How often should you clean your chimney?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-chimney/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean an AC condensate drain line?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-ac-condensate-drain-line/): Every 3 months
- [How often should you clean AC condenser coils?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-ac-condenser-coils/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean mini-split filters?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-mini-split-filters/): Every 2-4 weeks
- [How often should you recharge AC refrigerant?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-recharge-ac-refrigerant/): Only if leaking
- [How often should you replace a central air conditioner?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-central-air-conditioner/): Every 12-17 years
- [How often should you replace a furnace?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-furnace/): Every 15-20 years
- [How often should you service a heat pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-service-heat-pump/): Twice a year
- [How often should you clean air ducts?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-air-ducts/): Every 3-5 years
- [How often should you clean an evaporator coil?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-evaporator-coil/): Every 1-3 years
- [How often should you clean a furnace flame sensor?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-furnace-flame-sensor/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean heat pump coils?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-heat-pump-coils/): Twice a year
- [How often should you deep-clean a mini-split?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-deep-clean-mini-split/): Once a year
- [How often should you inspect a heat exchanger?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-heat-exchanger/): Every year
- [How often should you replace a heat pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-heat-pump/): Every 12-15 years
- [How often should you replace thermostat batteries?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-thermostat-batteries/): Once a year
- [How often should you service a boiler?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-service-boiler/): Once a year
- [How often should you bleed radiators?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-bleed-radiators/): Once a year
- [How often should you check boiler pressure?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-check-boiler-pressure/): Monthly in heating season
- [How often should you clean an air handler?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-air-handler/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a furnace blower wheel?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-blower-wheel/): Every 2-3 years
- [How often should you clean a condensate pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-condensate-pump/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a dehumidifier filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-dehumidifier-filter/): Every 2–4 weeks
- [How often should you clean furnace burners?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-furnace-burners/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a mini-split drain line?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-mini-split-drain-line/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a whole-house humidifier?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-whole-house-humidifier/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a window air conditioner?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-window-air-conditioner/): Filter every month
- [How often should you inspect ductwork?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-ductwork/): Every 2–3 years
- [How often should you replace an AC capacitor?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-ac-capacitor/): Every 5–15 years
- [How often should you replace a blower motor?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-blower-motor/): Every 10–20 years
- [How often should you replace a boiler?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-boiler/): Every 15–30 years
- [How often should you replace a furnace igniter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-furnace-igniter/): Every 3–7 years
- [How often should you replace an HVAC UV lamp?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-hvac-uv-lamp/): Once a year
- [How often should you replace a mini-split?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-mini-split/): Every 12–20 years
- [How often should you replace a thermostat?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-thermostat/): About every 10 years
- [How often should you seal air ducts?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-seal-air-ducts/): Once, recheck every 10 years
- [How often should you adjust HVAC zone dampers?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-adjust-zone-dampers/): Twice a year
- [How often should you change your HVAC filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-change-hvac-filter/): Every 90 days
- [How often should you flush your water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-flush-water-heater/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean your dryer vent?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-dryer-vent/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean refrigerator coils?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-refrigerator-coils/): Every 6–12 months
- [How often should you replace the furnace humidifier filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-furnace-humidifier-filter/): Once a year
- [How often should you drain and flush a tankless water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-drain-and-flush-tankless-water-heater/): Once a year
- [How often should you have your HVAC professionally serviced?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-service-hvac-professionally/): Twice a year
- [How often should you reseal grout?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-reseal-grout/): Yearly in showers
- [How often should you replace the toilet flapper?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-toilet-flapper/): Every 4–5 years
- [How often should you lubricate door hinges and locks?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-lubricate-door-hinges-and-locks/): Once a year
- [How often should you test GFCI outlets?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-gfci-outlets/): Monthly
- [How often should you clean a dishwasher filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-dishwasher-filter/): Once a month
- [How often should you replace a dishwasher?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-dishwasher/): Every 9–12 years
- [How often should you replace a refrigerator?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-refrigerator/): Every 10–15 years
- [How often should you calibrate oven temperature?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-calibrate-oven-temperature/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean gas range burners?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-gas-range-burners/): Once a month
- [How often should you clean an ice maker?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-ice-maker/): Every 6 months
- [How often should you clean an induction cooktop?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-induction-cooktop/): After every use
- [How often should you clean an oven?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-oven/): Every 3–6 months
- [How often should you clean a refrigerator door gasket?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-refrigerator-gasket/): At least yearly
- [How often should you defrost a chest freezer?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-defrost-chest-freezer/): Every 6–12 months
- [How often should you descale a dishwasher?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-descale-dishwasher/): Once a month
- [How often should you replace microwave filters?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-microwave-filters/): Charcoal: every 6–12 months
- [How often should you replace a range hood charcoal filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-range-hood-charcoal-filter/): Every 6–12 months
- [How often should you change the refrigerator water filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-change-refrigerator-water-filter/): Every 6 months
- [How often should you clean the range hood filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-range-hood-filter/): Every 1–3 months
- [How often should you clean your washing machine?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-washing-machine/): Monthly
- [How often should you seal granite countertops?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-seal-granite-countertops/): About once a year
- [How often should you clean a front-load washer gasket?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-washer-door-gasket/): Every month
- [How often should you replace washing machine hoses?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-washing-machine-hoses/): Every 5 years
- [How often should you replace a dryer?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-dryer/): Every 10–13 years
- [How often should you replace a dryer vent hose?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-dryer-vent-hose/): Every 10 years
- [How often should you replace a washing machine?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-washing-machine/): Every 10–13 years
- [How often should you winterize your sprinkler system?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-winterize-sprinkler-system/): Once a year
- [How often should you fertilize your lawn?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-fertilize-lawn/): 2–4 times a year
- [How often should you aerate your lawn?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-aerate-lawn/): Every 1–3 years
- [How often should you change lawn mower oil?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-change-lawn-mower-oil/): Every 50 hours
- [How often should you clean a pool filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-pool-filter/): Every 2–6 weeks
- [How often should you sharpen a lawn mower blade?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-sharpen-lawn-mower-blade/): Every 20–25 hours
- [How often should you clean a hot tub filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-hot-tub-filter/): Rinse weekly
- [How often should you deep-clean a gas grill?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-deep-clean-gas-grill/): 1–2 times a season
- [How often should you dethatch a lawn?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-dethatch-lawn/): Every 1–2 years
- [How often should you service a pressure washer?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-maintain-pressure-washer/): Once a year
- [How often should you overseed a lawn?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-overseed-lawn/): Once a year
- [How often should you replace a mower spark plug?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-lawn-mower-spark-plug/): Once a year
- [How often should you replace a pool filter cartridge?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-pool-filter-cartridge/): Every 1–3 years
- [How often should you service a pool pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-service-pool-pump/): Weekly + seasonally
- [How often should you service a snow blower?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-service-snow-blower/): Every fall
- [How often should you test a sprinkler system?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-sprinkler-system/): Every spring
- [How often should you apply crabgrass preventer?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-apply-crabgrass-preemergent/): Every spring
- [How often should you check home water pressure?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-check-home-water-pressure/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a garbage disposal?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-garbage-disposal/): Every 1–2 weeks
- [How often should you clean a heat pump water heater filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-heat-pump-water-heater-filter/): Every 1–3 months
- [How often should you replace a sump pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-sump-pump/): Every 7–10 years
- [How often should you replace a water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-water-heater/): Every 8–12 years
- [How often should you replace a water heater anode rod?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-water-heater-anode-rod/): Every 3–5 years
- [How often should you change a whole-house water filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-whole-house-water-filter/): Every 3–6 months
- [How often should you winterize outdoor faucets?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-winterize-outdoor-faucets/): Every fall
- [How often should you check a toilet for leaks?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-check-toilet-for-leaks/): Every 6 months
- [How often should you clean a showerhead?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-showerhead/): Every 3–6 months
- [How often should you inspect a septic system?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-septic-system/): Every 1–3 years
- [How often should you replace a garbage disposal?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-garbage-disposal/): Every 8–12 years
- [How often should you test a backflow preventer?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-backflow-preventer/): Once a year
- [How often should you test a water heater TPR valve?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-water-heater-tpr-valve/): Once a year
- [How often should you add septic tank treatment?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-add-septic-treatment/): Monthly (if at all)
- [How often should you check your water heater temperature?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-adjust-water-heater-temperature/): Once a year
- [How often should you check a well pressure tank?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-check-pressure-tank-air-charge/): Once a year
- [How often should you check a water heater expansion tank?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-check-water-heater-expansion-tank/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a faucet aerator?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-faucet-aerator/): Every 6–12 months
- [How often should you clean a sewer line?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-sewer-line/): Every 18–24 months
- [How often should you clean a sink P-trap?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-sink-p-trap/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a sump pit?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-sump-pit/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a tankless water heater air filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-tankless-water-heater-air-filter/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean a water softener brine tank?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-water-softener-brine-tank/): Once a year
- [How often should you camera-inspect a sewer line?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-sewer-line-camera/): Every 2-5 years
- [How often should you maintain a septic drain field?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-maintain-septic-drain-field/): Ongoing, all year
- [How often should you replace a heat pump water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-heat-pump-water-heater/): Every 10-15 years
- [How often should you replace a pressure-reducing valve?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-pressure-reducing-valve/): Every 7-15 years
- [How often should you change reverse osmosis filters?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-reverse-osmosis-filters/): Pre and post filters every 6-12 months
- [How often should you replace a sump pump backup battery?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-sump-pump-battery-backup/): Every 3-5 years
- [How often should you replace a tankless water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-tankless-water-heater/): About every 20 years
- [How often should you replace a toilet fill valve?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-toilet-fill-valve/): Every 4–5 years
- [How often should you replace a toilet wax ring?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-toilet-wax-ring/): Only when needed
- [How often should you replace a UV water filter bulb?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-uv-water-filter-bulb/): Once a year
- [How often should you replace water softener resin?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-water-softener-resin/): Every 10–15 years
- [How often should you replace a well pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-well-pump/): Every 8–15 years
- [How often should you test your main water shutoff valve?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-main-water-shutoff-valve/): Once a year
- [How often should you test a sewage ejector pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-sewage-ejector-pump/): Once a year
- [How often should you service a well pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-well-pump/): Every 1–2 years
- [How often should you inspect a foundation for cracks?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-foundation-for-cracks/): Once a year
- [How often should you inspect roof flashing?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-roof-flashing/): Once a year
- [How often should you recaulk exterior windows and doors?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-recaulk-exterior/): Every 5 years
- [How often should you repaint a house exterior?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-repaint-exterior/): Every 5–10 years
- [How often should you replace an asphalt shingle roof?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-asphalt-shingle-roof/): Every 20–30 years
- [How often should you sealcoat an asphalt driveway?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-sealcoat-asphalt-driveway/): Every 2–3 years
- [How often should you clean gutter guards?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-gutter-guards/): Once a year
- [How often should you clear downspouts?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-flush-downspouts/): Twice a year
- [How often should you check attic insulation?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-attic-insulation/): Every 5–10 years
- [How often should you inspect a deck for safety?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-deck/): Once a year
- [How often should you recoat a flat roof?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-recoat-flat-roof/): Every 5–10 years
- [How often should you replace weatherstripping?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-weatherstripping/): Every 2–5 years
- [How often should you reseal a deck?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-reseal-deck/): Every 2–3 years
- [How often should you stain a wood fence?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-stain-fence/): Every 2–4 years
- [How often should you test garage door safety sensors?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-garage-door-opener-safety/): Monthly
- [How often should you check grading around a foundation?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-check-foundation-grading/): Once a year
- [How often should you clean vinyl siding?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-clean-vinyl-siding/): Once a year
- [How often should you flush a French drain?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-flush-french-drain/): Every 1–3 years
- [How often should you inspect a chimney?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-chimney/): Every year
- [How often should you inspect a chimney cap?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-chimney-cap/): Once a year
- [How often should you inspect a crawl space?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-crawl-space/): Once a year
- [How often should you inspect fascia and soffit?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-fascia-and-soffit/): Once a year
- [How often should you repaint fiber cement siding?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-repaint-fiber-cement-siding/): Every 10–15 years
- [How often should you replace garage door springs?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-garage-door-springs/): Every 7–12 years
- [How often should you replace a metal roof?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-metal-roof/): Every 40–70 years
- [How often should you replace windows?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-windows/): Every 15–30 years
- [How often should you reseal a skylight?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-reseal-skylight/): Every 10 years
- [How often should you reseal stucco?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-reseal-stucco/): Every 5–10 years
- [How often should you reseal window frames?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-reseal-window-frames/): Every 5 years
- [How often should you reseal wood siding?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-reseal-wood-siding/): Every 3–7 years
- [How often should you seal a concrete driveway?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-seal-concrete-driveway/): Every 3–5 years
- [How often should you seal foundation cracks?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-seal-foundation-cracks/): As they appear
- [How often should you check a ridge vent?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-check-ridge-vent/): Once a year
- [How often should you inspect a fire extinguisher?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-inspect-fire-extinguisher/): Every month
- [How often should you test radon levels?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-radon-levels/): Every 2 years
- [How often should you test well water?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-well-water/): Once a year
- [How often should you replace a security system battery?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-security-system-battery/): Every 3–5 years
- [How often should you shock chlorinate a well?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-shock-chlorinate-well/): As needed
- [How often should you test water leak sensors?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-water-leak-sensors/): Once a year
- [How often should you check a radon mitigation fan?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-check-radon-mitigation-fan/): Every month
- [How often should you test your AC before summer?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-air-conditioner-before-summer/): Every spring
- [How often should you test your furnace before winter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-furnace-before-winter/): Every fall
- [How often should you winterize a lawn mower?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-winterize-lawn-mower/): Every fall
- [How often should you winterize a pool?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-winterize-pool/): Every fall
- [How often should you replace smoke detector batteries?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-replace-smoke-detector-batteries/): Every 6 months
- [How often should you pump your septic tank?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-pump-septic-tank/): Every 3–5 years
- [How often should you test your sump pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-test-sump-pump/): Every 3–4 months
- [How often should you add water softener salt?](https://www.onotto.com/how-often-to-add-water-softener-salt/): Check monthly

## How long does it last? (lifespans) (hub: https://www.onotto.com/lifespans/, 140 pages)
Typical lifespan ranges for home systems and materials, with the variants that shift the number, the observable signs of aging, what buys more years, and replacement cost.
- [How long does a smoke detector last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-smoke-detector-last/): 10 years
- [How long does a whole-house generator last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-whole-house-generator-last/): 20–30 years
- [How long does an electrical panel last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-electrical-panel-last/): 25–40 years
- [How long does an EV charger last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-ev-charger-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long do solar panels last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-solar-panels-last/): 25–30 years
- [How long does a carbon monoxide detector last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-carbon-monoxide-detector-last/): 5–7 years
- [How long does a ceiling fan last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-ceiling-fan-last/): 10–20 years
- [How long does a solar inverter last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-solar-inverter-last/): 10–25 years
- [How long does a circuit breaker last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-circuit-breaker-last/): 30–40 years
- [How long does a GFCI outlet last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-gfci-outlet-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a home battery last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-home-battery-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a portable generator last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-portable-generator-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a surge protector last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-surge-protector-last/): 3–10 years
- [How long does a transfer switch last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-transfer-switch-last/): 20–30 years
- [How long does electrical wiring last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-electrical-wiring-last/): 50–100 years
- [How long does a water heater last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-water-heater-last/): 8–12 years
- [How long does a central air conditioner last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-central-air-conditioner-last/): 12–17 years
- [How long does a furnace last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-furnace-last/): 15–20 years
- [How long does a heat pump last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-heat-pump-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does an HVAC system last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-hvac-system-last/): 15–20 years
- [How long does a boiler last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-boiler-last/): 15–30 years
- [How long does a heat exchanger last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-heat-exchanger-last/): 10–20 years
- [How long does a mini-split last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-mini-split-last/): 10–20 years
- [How long does an AC compressor last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-ac-compressor-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a blower motor last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-blower-motor-last/): 10–20 years
- [How long does a condensate pump last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-condensate-pump-last/): 3–7 years
- [How long does an AC condenser unit last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-condenser-unit-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a dehumidifier last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-dehumidifier-last/): 5–12 years
- [How long does a geothermal heat pump last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-geothermal-heat-pump-last/): 20–25 years
- [How long does a radiator last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-radiator-last/): 30–50+ years
- [How long does a smart thermostat last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-smart-thermostat-last/): 5–10 years
- [How long does a thermostat last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-thermostat-last/): About 10 years
- [How long does a whole-house humidifier last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-whole-house-humidifier-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a window air conditioner last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-window-air-conditioner-last/): 8–10 years
- [How long does an air handler last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-air-handler-last/): 10–20 years
- [How long does an electric furnace last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-electric-furnace-last/): 20–30 years
- [How long does an evaporative cooler last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-evaporative-cooler-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does an evaporator coil last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-evaporator-coil-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does an oil furnace last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-oil-furnace-last/): 20–25 years
- [How long does ductwork last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-ductwork-last/): 20–25 years
- [How long does a furnace igniter last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-furnace-igniter-last/): 3–7 years
- [How long does carpet last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-carpet-last/): 5–15 years
- [How long do hardwood floors last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-hardwood-floors-last/): 25–100 years
- [How long do countertops last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-countertops-last/): 10–50+ years
- [How long do kitchen cabinets last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-kitchen-cabinets-last/): 20–50 years
- [How long does a dishwasher last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-dishwasher-last/): 9–12 years
- [How long does a range last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-range-last/): 13–15 years
- [How long does a refrigerator last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-refrigerator-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a microwave last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-microwave-last/): 7–10 years
- [How long does an induction range last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-induction-range-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does an oven last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-oven-last/): 13–18 years
- [How long does a built-in refrigerator last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-built-in-refrigerator-last/): 15–20 years
- [How long does a cooktop last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-cooktop-last/): 13–18 years
- [How long does a freezer last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-freezer-last/): 12–20 years
- [How long does a gas range last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-gas-range-last/): 15–18 years
- [How long does a range hood last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-range-hood-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a wall oven last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-wall-oven-last/): 13–16 years
- [How long does an electric range last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-electric-range-last/): 13–15 years
- [How long does an ice maker last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-ice-maker-last/): 4–10 years
- [How long does a dryer last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-dryer-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a washing machine last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-washing-machine-last/): 10–14 years
- [How long does a front-load washer last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-front-load-washer-last/): 11–14 years
- [How long does a washing machine hose last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-washing-machine-hose-last/): 3–8 years
- [How long does a gas dryer last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-gas-dryer-last/): 13–15 years
- [How long does a top-load washer last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-top-load-washer-last/): 12–14 years
- [How long does a sprinkler system last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-sprinkler-system-last/): 20–30 years
- [How long does a lawn mower last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-lawn-mower-last/): 8–15 years
- [How long does a pool pump last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-pool-pump-last/): 8–12 years
- [How long does a concrete patio last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-concrete-patio-last/): 25–40 years
- [How long does a gas grill last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-gas-grill-last/): 5–15 years
- [How long does a hot tub last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-hot-tub-last/): 5–20 years
- [How long does a pool filter last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-pool-filter-last/): 3–15 years
- [How long does a pool heater last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-pool-heater-last/): 5–20 years
- [How long does a pool liner last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-pool-liner-last/): 6–12 years
- [How long does a pressure washer last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-pressure-washer-last/): 5–10 years
- [How long does a riding lawn mower last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-riding-lawn-mower-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a robot mower last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-robot-mower-last/): 8–10 years
- [How long does a shed last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-shed-last/): 15–30 years
- [How long does a snow blower last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-snow-blower-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does landscape lighting last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-landscape-lighting-last/): 15–20 years
- [How long does a garbage disposal last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-garbage-disposal-last/): 8–12 years
- [How long does a heat pump water heater last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-heat-pump-water-heater-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a septic tank last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-septic-tank-last/): 20–40+ years
- [How long does a sewer line last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-sewer-line-last/): 50–100+ years
- [How long does a sump pump last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-sump-pump-last/): 7–10 years
- [How long does a tankless water heater last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-tankless-water-heater-last/): 15–20 years
- [How long does a toilet last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-toilet-last/): 15–30 years
- [How long does a water softener last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-water-softener-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a faucet last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-faucet-last/): 15–20 years
- [How long does a gas water heater last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-gas-water-heater-last/): 8–12 years
- [How long does a septic drain field last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-septic-drain-field-last/): 20–30 years
- [How long does a well pump last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-well-pump-last/): 8–15 years
- [How long does an electric water heater last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-electric-water-heater-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long do plumbing pipes last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-plumbing-pipes-last/): 40–70+ years
- [How long does a battery backup sump pump last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-battery-backup-sump-pump-last/): 5–7 years
- [How long does a kitchen faucet last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-kitchen-faucet-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a main water shutoff valve last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-main-water-shutoff-valve-last/): 15–25 years
- [How long does a reverse osmosis system last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-reverse-osmosis-system-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a sewage ejector pump last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-sewage-ejector-pump-last/): 7–10 years
- [How long does a shower valve last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-shower-valve-last/): 20–30 years
- [How long does a water filtration system last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-water-filtration-system-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a well pressure tank last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-well-pressure-tank-last/): 5–15 years
- [How long does an anode rod last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-anode-rod-last/): 3–5 years
- [How long does an expansion tank last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-expansion-tank-last/): 5–10 years
- [How long does a backflow preventer last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-backflow-preventer-last/): 5–15 years
- [How long does a braided supply line last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-braided-supply-line-last/): 5–8 years
- [How long does a deck last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-deck-last/): 10–50 years
- [How long does a driveway last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-driveway-last/): 20–40 years
- [How long does a garage door opener last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-garage-door-opener-last/): 10–15 years
- [How long does a metal roof last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-metal-roof-last/): 40–70 years
- [How long does a roof last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-roof-last/): 20–50 years
- [How long does an asphalt shingle roof last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-asphalt-shingle-roof-last/): 15–30 years
- [How long do gutters last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-gutters-last/): 20–50 years
- [How long do windows last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-windows-last/): 20–40 years
- [How long does a chimney last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-chimney-last/): 50–100 years
- [How long does a fence last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-fence-last/): 15–30 years
- [How long does a foundation last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-foundation-last/): 50–100+ years
- [How long does a garage door last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-garage-door-last/): 15–30 years
- [How long does a tile roof last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-tile-roof-last/): 50–100 years
- [How long does exterior paint last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-exterior-paint-last/): 5–10 years
- [How long does fiber cement siding last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-fiber-cement-siding-last/): 30–50 years
- [How long does vinyl siding last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-vinyl-siding-last/): 20–40 years
- [How long does a flat roof last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-flat-roof-last/): 15–30 years
- [How long does a skylight last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-skylight-last/): 10–20 years
- [How long does a slate roof last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-slate-roof-last/): 75–150+ years
- [How long does an exterior door last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-an-exterior-door-last/): 20–40 years
- [How long does attic insulation last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-attic-insulation-last/): 20–30+ years
- [How long do garage door springs last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-garage-door-springs-last/): 7–12 years
- [How long do gutter guards last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-gutter-guards-last/): 2–20+ years
- [How long does roof flashing last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-roof-flashing-last/): 20–50 years
- [How long does stucco last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-stucco-last/): 50–80 years
- [How long does wood siding last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-wood-siding-last/): 20–40 years
- [How long does a chimney cap last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-chimney-cap-last/): 3–50 years
- [How long does a fire extinguisher last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-fire-extinguisher-last/): 5–15 years
- [How long does a water leak detector last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-water-leak-detector-last/): 3–5 years
- [How long does a radon mitigation system last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-radon-mitigation-system-last/): 20+ years
- [How long does a security system last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-security-system-last/): About 10 years
- [How long does a smart lock last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-smart-lock-last/): 5–10 years
- [How long does a video doorbell last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-video-doorbell-last/): 3–5 years
- [How long does a well water system last?](https://www.onotto.com/how-long-does-a-well-water-system-last/): 20–30+ years (well)

## Maintenance checklists (per system and per scenario) (hub: https://www.onotto.com/checklists/, 130 pages)
Each checklist groups its tasks by cadence, with the interval and effort per task, what neglect costs, and what to leave to a pro.
- [Solar panel maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/solar-panels-maintenance-checklist/): Solar upkeep is a monthly production check plus a 1–2x yearly panel cleaning; inspect mounts and wiring yearly and expect the inverter to fail at 10–15 years.
- [Standby generator maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/standby-generator-maintenance-checklist/): Standby generator maintenance: let the weekly self-test run, change oil every 100–200 hours or each season, and budget $300–500 a year for pro service.
- [Ceiling fan maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/ceiling-fan-maintenance-checklist/): Ceiling fan maintenance is quick: dust blades and tighten screws every few months, flip the direction switch each season, and balance a wobble with a $5 kit.
- [Electrical panel maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/electrical-panel-maintenance-checklist/): Electrical panel upkeep is sensory: look, listen, and smell for scorching or buzzing yearly, test AFCI and GFCI breakers monthly, and keep 3 feet of clearance.
- [Home EV charger maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/ev-charger-maintenance-checklist/): EV charger maintenance is inspecting the cable and connector for wear and heat every few months; a hot or discolored plug means a loose connection to fix now.
- [Home battery backup maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/home-battery-backup-maintenance-checklist/): Home battery maintenance is digital: check state-of-health and firmware monthly, keep it cool and vented, and test grid switchover yearly. Packs last 10–15 years.
- [Portable generator maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/portable-generator-maintenance-checklist/): Portable generator maintenance: run it under load monthly, change oil every 50–100 hours, store it with treated or no fuel, and run it outdoors only for CO safety.
- [Whole-house fan maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/whole-house-fan-maintenance-checklist/): Whole-house fan maintenance: clean blades and louvers yearly, check the belt on belt-driven units, and confirm the insulated damper seals shut in winter.
- [Water heater maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/water-heater-maintenance-checklist/): Water-heater maintenance in one list: a 2-minute monthly leak check, a yearly flush (6 months in hard water), and an anode rod every 3–5 years.
- [What's on a central AC maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/central-air-conditioner-maintenance-checklist/): Central AC maintenance is a monthly filter, a yearly coil rinse and condensate flush, and a $75–200 spring tune-up to reach the full 12–15-year life.
- [What belongs on a furnace maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/furnace-maintenance-checklist/): Furnace maintenance is a 30–90-day filter, an $80–200 fall tune-up, and a yearly flame-sensor and heat-exchanger check to catch a CO-leaking crack.
- [What belongs on a heat pump maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/heat-pump-maintenance-checklist/): A heat pump needs service twice a year at $100–200 each, a 30–90-day filter, and a clear outdoor unit so it can defrost through a 12–15-year life.
- [What's on an HVAC maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/hvac-maintenance-checklist/): HVAC maintenance is a 30–90-day filter, two $80–200 tune-ups a year, and seasonal coil and condensate cleaning that cut a 5–15% efficiency loss.
- [What's on a mini-split maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/mini-split-maintenance-checklist/): Mini-split care is a filter rinse every 2–4 weeks, a yearly blower and coil deep-clean to stop mold, and a clear drain line over a 15–20-year life.
- [What belongs on a boiler maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/boiler-maintenance-checklist/): Boiler maintenance is a $150–300 annual service, cold pressure held near 12–15 psi, a yearly radiator bleed, and a relief-valve test. They last 15–30 years.
- [How do you maintain a gas fireplace?](https://www.onotto.com/gas-fireplace-maintenance-checklist/): A gas fireplace needs one $100–200 pro service a year: clean the burner and glass, check the pilot, thermocouple, and vent, and test the CO alarm.
- [What's on a wood stove maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/wood-stove-maintenance-checklist/): Wood stove upkeep is a yearly flue sweep (or every cord or two), a $150–400 CSIA visit, and burning seasoned wood under 20% moisture to limit creosote.
- [How do you keep an AC condensate line clear?](https://www.onotto.com/condensate-drain-line-maintenance-checklist/): Keep an AC condensate line clear by flushing it with vinegar or a wet/dry vac twice a year and checking the pan and float switch; a clog is a $300–2,000 fix.
- [What's on a dehumidifier maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/dehumidifier-maintenance-checklist/): Dehumidifier maintenance is a filter clean every 2–4 weeks, a monthly coil wipe and drain check, and dry winter storage across a 5–10-year life.
- [Ductwork maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/ductwork-maintenance-checklist/): Ductwork upkeep: seal accessible joints with mastic (leaky ducts waste 20–30% of airflow), wipe registers each season, and clean ducts every 5 to 8 years.
- [Evaporator coil maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/evaporator-coil-maintenance-checklist/): Evaporator coil care: change filters on schedule, get the coil cleaned at the yearly AC tune-up, and check the drain pan. A corroded coil costs $600–1,200.
- [Oil furnace maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/oil-furnace-maintenance-checklist/): Oil furnace upkeep centers on a $150–300 pro tune-up every year: new oil filter and burner nozzle, cleaned combustion chamber, and keeping the tank above a quarter.
- [Radiator maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/radiator-maintenance-checklist/): Radiator maintenance is mostly bleeding trapped air each fall, plus checking steam vents and the boiler low-water cutoff. A stuck vent is a $15–40 part.
- [Swamp cooler maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/swamp-cooler-maintenance-checklist/): Swamp cooler maintenance is two jobs a year: a spring startup with fresh $20–60 pads and a fall winterize that drains every line before the first freeze.
- [Thermostat maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/thermostat-maintenance-checklist/): Thermostat maintenance: fresh batteries once a year, dust the contacts, and verify the schedule and calibration each season. Thermostats last 10 to 15 years.
- [Whole-house humidifier maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/whole-house-humidifier-maintenance-checklist/): Whole-house humidifier upkeep is one yearly job: a fresh $10–25 evaporator pad at the start of heating season, with the humidistat set to 30–40% RH.
- [Window air conditioner maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/window-air-conditioner-maintenance-checklist/): Window AC maintenance: clean the filter every 2 to 4 weeks, wash coils and reseal each summer, and store it upright over winter. They last 8 to 10 years.
- [What's on a bathroom maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/bathroom-maintenance-checklist/): Bathroom upkeep: re-caulk the tub and shower yearly, reseal grout every 1–2 years, clean the exhaust fan, and check under the vanity for leaks.
- [How do you maintain carpet?](https://www.onotto.com/carpet-maintenance-checklist/): Carpet care is vacuuming traffic lanes 2 to 3 times a week and a pro deep clean every 12–18 months, with spills blotted the minute they land.
- [What's on a garage maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/garage-maintenance-checklist/): Garage upkeep is twice-a-year door service (lube plus an auto-reverse test) and resealing the concrete floor every 2–3 years, plus safe storage.
- [How do you maintain hardwood floors?](https://www.onotto.com/hardwood-floors-maintenance-checklist/): Hardwood floors need weekly dust-mopping, indoor humidity held at 35–55%, and a screen-and-recoat every 5 to 10 years before the finish wears through.
- [What's on a kitchen maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/kitchen-maintenance-checklist/): Kitchen upkeep is monthly range-hood, dishwasher, and disposal cleanings plus a yearly leak check: fridge coils, sink caulk, and the supply lines.
- [How do you maintain tile and grout?](https://www.onotto.com/tile-and-grout-maintenance-checklist/): Tile and grout upkeep is resealing cement grout every 1–2 years, cleaning with a pH-neutral product, and regrouting cracked joints before water gets under.
- [What's on a dishwasher maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/dishwasher-maintenance-checklist/): Dishwasher maintenance is a 5-minute filter rinse plus a monthly cleaner cycle, with a yearly leak and gasket check; done right it lasts its 9–12 years.
- [What's on a refrigerator maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/refrigerator-maintenance-checklist/): Refrigerator maintenance is a coil vacuum every 6–12 months and a water filter every 6 months, plus gasket wipes at 37°F; keep it up and it lasts 10–15 years.
- [How do you maintain a chest freezer?](https://www.onotto.com/chest-freezer-maintenance-checklist/): Chest freezer maintenance is a defrost when frost tops 1/4 inch plus a yearly coil vacuum and gasket check at 0°F; done right it lasts 12–20 years.
- [How do you maintain a gas cooktop?](https://www.onotto.com/gas-cooktop-maintenance-checklist/): Gas cooktop maintenance is a monthly clean of the burner caps and igniter ports for a strong blue flame, plus a gas-safety check; it lasts 15–20 years.
- [How do you maintain an ice maker?](https://www.onotto.com/ice-maker-maintenance-checklist/): Ice maker maintenance is a descaling cycle every 3–6 months and a fresh water filter every 6 months, plus a line check; it keeps ice clear for 5–10 years.
- [How do you maintain an induction range?](https://www.onotto.com/induction-range-maintenance-checklist/): Induction range maintenance is a wipe of the glass after each use and keeping the cooling vents clear, plus flat magnetic pans; it lasts 10–15 years.
- [How do you maintain an over-range microwave?](https://www.onotto.com/over-the-range-microwave-maintenance-checklist/): Over-range microwave maintenance is a monthly grease-filter degrease and a charcoal filter every 6–12 months, plus a vent check; it lasts 8–10 years.
- [How do you maintain a range hood?](https://www.onotto.com/range-hood-maintenance-checklist/): Range hood maintenance is a monthly degrease of the mesh filters and a charcoal swap every 6–12 months, plus a damper check; a clean hood lasts 10–15 years.
- [How do you maintain a range and oven?](https://www.onotto.com/range-oven-maintenance-checklist/): Range and oven maintenance is regular burner and cavity cleaning plus blue-flame, seal, and temperature checks; a gas range lasts 15–20 years.
- [Dryer maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/dryer-maintenance-checklist/): Empty the lint screen every load, clean the full vent duct yearly, and vacuum behind the drum. The routine that prevents dryer fires and keeps dry times short.
- [Washing machine maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/washing-machine-maintenance-checklist/): Wipe the door gasket and run a tub-clean cycle monthly, then swap the fill hoses for braided steel every 5 years. Level it so it never walks or leaks.
- [Dryer vent maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/dryer-vent-maintenance-checklist/): Clean the full vent duct from dryer to exterior once a year (every 6 months for heavy use), and swap foil flex for rigid metal. A clog is the top fire cause.
- [Washer supply hose maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/washer-supply-hoses-maintenance-checklist/): Replace washer fill hoses every 5 years with braided stainless, inspect yearly for bulges and rust, and shut the valves when you travel. A burst hose floods fast.
- [Hot tub maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/hot-tub-maintenance-checklist/): A hot tub needs the water tested 2-3 times a week, the filter rinsed weekly and soaked monthly, and a full drain-and-refill every 3-4 months.
- [Pool maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/pool-maintenance-checklist/): Pool care is a water test 2-3 times a week (chlorine 1-3 ppm, pH 7.2-7.6), weekly skimming and brushing, and a filter cleaning about once a month.
- [Sprinkler system maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/sprinkler-system-maintenance-checklist/): A sprinkler system needs a fall blowout before the first freeze, a spring startup with a zone-by-zone check, and an annual certified backflow test.
- [Lawn mower maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/lawn-mower-maintenance-checklist/): Lawn mower maintenance is fresh oil, a sharp blade, a new air filter and spark plug each season, plus stabilized or drained fuel for winter storage.
- [Snow blower maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/snow-blower-maintenance-checklist/): A snow blower needs a fall tune-up: fresh oil, fresh or stabilized fuel, and a check of the belt, shear pins, and auger before the first storm.
- [Fire pit maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/fire-pit-maintenance-checklist/): Fire pit care means clearing ash and covering a wood pit to stop rust, plus a yearly burner, lava-rock, and leak check on a gas pit.
- [Gas grill maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/gas-grill-maintenance-checklist/): Gas grill maintenance is a burn-off and brush after each cook, a deep-clean of the burners and grease tray each season, and a yearly soapy-water leak test.
- [Pool heater maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/pool-heater-maintenance-checklist/): The key to a pool heater is balanced water (pH 7.2-7.6) to stop scale, plus a yearly burner and vent cleaning on gas or a coil rinse on a heat pump.
- [Pool pump maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/pool-pump-maintenance-checklist/): A pool pump needs its strainer basket emptied weekly, the lid O-ring and shaft seal checked, and it must never run dry, which burns out the motor.
- [Pressure washer maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/pressure-washer-maintenance-checklist/): Pressure washer care is flushing the pump and adding pump saver before any freeze, changing the oil and stabilizing fuel on gas units, and clearing the nozzles.
- [Riding mower maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/riding-mower-maintenance-checklist/): Riding mower upkeep: change the oil every 50 hours or yearly, sharpen the blades, grease the fittings, clean the deck, and stabilize fuel before winter storage.
- [Backyard shed maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/shed-maintenance-checklist/): Backyard shed care: reseal the roof yearly, keep the base off wet ground, fix sill rot early, seal gaps against pests, and restain siding every 2–3 years.
- [What's on a septic system maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/septic-system-maintenance-checklist/): Septic maintenance is one tank pump every 3 to 5 years ($300–600), a yearly inspection, and keeping grease, wipes, and roots away from the drain field.
- [What's on a sump pump maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/sump-pump-maintenance-checklist/): Sump pump upkeep is a quarterly bucket test, a yearly pit cleaning and float check, and a fresh backup battery every 3 to 5 years to survive storm outages.
- [How do you maintain a tankless water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/tankless-water-heater-maintenance-checklist/): Tankless water heater upkeep is a yearly vinegar descaling (every 6 months in hard water), plus rinsing the inlet screen and air filter and clearing error codes.
- [What's on a well water system checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/well-water-system-maintenance-checklist/): Well water upkeep is a yearly bacteria and nitrate test, a pressure-tank and pump check near 40/60 psi, and shock chlorination whenever a test comes back dirty.
- [How do you maintain a heat pump water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/heat-pump-water-heater-maintenance-checklist/): Heat pump water heater care is an air-filter cleaning every 3 months, a clear condensate drain, and a yearly descale and anode check to protect the energy savings.
- [What's on a home plumbing maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/plumbing-system-maintenance-checklist/): Home plumbing upkeep is a quarterly leak sweep, a yearly turn of every shutoff valve, a 40 to 60 psi pressure check, and pipe insulation before the first freeze.
- [What's on a water softener maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/water-softener-maintenance-checklist/): Water softener care is keeping salt a third full, breaking up salt bridges monthly, and cleaning the brine tank and venturi yearly so soft water keeps flowing.
- [How do you maintain a faucet?](https://www.onotto.com/faucet-maintenance-checklist/): Faucet upkeep is a clean or new aerator every 6 to 12 months, a fresh cartridge or washer at the first drip, and a yearly check of the supply lines below.
- [How do you maintain a garbage disposal?](https://www.onotto.com/garbage-disposal-maintenance-checklist/): Garbage disposal care is a monthly grind of ice and rock salt, a citrus-and-cold-water flush for odor, never pouring grease, and the reset button when it hums.
- [How do you winterize outdoor faucets?](https://www.onotto.com/hose-bib-maintenance-checklist/): Winterize outdoor faucets in one 10-minute fall pass: disconnect hoses, drain or shut off each hose bib, and add frost-free bibs to end the ritual.
- [How do you maintain your main water shutoff?](https://www.onotto.com/main-water-shutoff-maintenance-checklist/): Maintain your main water shutoff with two habits: know exactly where it is and exercise the valve once a year so it never seizes when a pipe bursts.
- [How do you maintain a well pressure tank?](https://www.onotto.com/pressure-tank-maintenance-checklist/): Maintain a well pressure tank with one yearly air-charge check, set 2 psi below cut-in. A waterlogged tank short-cycles the pump and burns it out.
- [How do you maintain a home sewer line?](https://www.onotto.com/sewer-line-maintenance-checklist/): Maintain a sewer line with a camera inspection every 1 to 2 years when trees are near, plus snaking at the first slow drain, to dodge a $4,000+ dig.
- [What's on a toilet maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/toilet-maintenance-checklist/): Toilet upkeep is nearly free: a yearly dye test, a flapper every 4 to 5 years, a fill valve every 5 to 7. A silent leak wastes 200 gallons a day.
- [How do you maintain a water filtration system?](https://www.onotto.com/water-filtration-system-maintenance-checklist/): Maintain a water filter system on a swap schedule: whole-house cartridges every 3 to 6 months, RO membranes every 2 to 3 years, sanitize housings yearly.
- [How do you maintain a well pump?](https://www.onotto.com/well-pump-maintenance-checklist/): Maintain a well pump by listening: check pressure and short-cycling monthly, verify the tank air charge yearly. A submersible pump lasts 8 to 15 years.
- [How do you maintain a backflow preventer?](https://www.onotto.com/backflow-preventer-maintenance-checklist/): A backflow preventer needs a certified annual test ($50 to $150), usually required by law, plus fall winterizing so it doesn't freeze-crack and fail.
- [Chimney maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/chimney-maintenance-checklist/): Chimney upkeep is a level-1 inspection yearly ($100–250) and a sweep once creosote hits 1/8 inch ($150–400), plus a check of the cap, crown, and flashing.
- [Deck maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/deck-maintenance-checklist/): Deck upkeep is a yearly wash and inspection plus a reseal or restain every 2 to 3 years, with an annual ledger and railing check to catch rot early.
- [Foundation maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/foundation-maintenance-checklist/): Foundation care is water management: grade soil away, extend downspouts 4 to 6 feet out, and check cracks yearly. Major repair runs $5,000–15,000.
- [Garage door maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/garage-door-maintenance-checklist/): Garage door upkeep is lubing rollers, hinges, and springs every 6 months and testing the auto-reverse monthly. Springs last 7 to 12 years.
- [Gutter maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/gutters-maintenance-checklist/): Gutter upkeep is a cleaning at least twice a year, spring and fall, plus downspouts draining 4 to 6 feet from the foundation and tight hangers.
- [Roof maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/roof-maintenance-checklist/): Roof upkeep is inspecting from the ground twice a year and after storms, clearing debris and moss, and checking flashing. Asphalt roofs last 20 to 25 years.
- [Attic maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/attic-maintenance-checklist/): Attic upkeep is two inspections a year for leaks, pests, and moisture, plus insulation at R-38 to R-60 and clear soffit and ridge vents.
- [Basement maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/basement-maintenance-checklist/): Basement upkeep is a quarterly check for cracks, efflorescence, and musty smells plus a sump pump test and working outside drainage.
- [Crawl space maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/crawl-space-maintenance-checklist/): Crawl space upkeep is two inspections a year for water, mold, and pests, plus a vapor barrier over the dirt. Encapsulation runs $5,000–15,000.
- [Driveway maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/driveway-maintenance-checklist/): Driveway upkeep is sealcoating asphalt every 2 to 3 years and filling cracks yearly, or resealing concrete joints. DIY sealcoat runs $100–300.
- [How do you maintain a fence?](https://www.onotto.com/fence-maintenance-checklist/): Fence upkeep in one list: check posts for rot and lean yearly, tighten gates, and wash and reseal wood every 2 to 3 years. Wood lasts 15 to 20 years.
- [How do you maintain an asphalt shingle roof?](https://www.onotto.com/asphalt-shingle-roof-maintenance-checklist/): Asphalt shingle roof care: inspect twice a year for curling and missing shingles, granule loss, and cracked pipe boots, then clear moss and debris.
- [How do you maintain brick and masonry?](https://www.onotto.com/brick-masonry-maintenance-checklist/): Brick and masonry upkeep is mortar upkeep: inspect joints yearly and repoint crumbling seams before water gets behind the brick. Repointing runs $10 to $25 a sq ft.
- [How do you maintain exterior paint?](https://www.onotto.com/exterior-paint-maintenance-checklist/): Exterior paint care: wash siding yearly, touch up bare and peeling spots each season, and repaint every 5 to 10 years on wood, 10 to 15 on fiber cement.
- [How do you maintain a flat roof?](https://www.onotto.com/flat-roof-maintenance-checklist/): Flat roof care runs on drainage: inspect twice a year and after storms, clear drains and scuppers, check seams and flashing, and knock down ponding fast.
- [How do you maintain a French drain?](https://www.onotto.com/french-drain-maintenance-checklist/): French drain care: flush the perforated pipe yearly and keep the outlet clear, or silt sends water back to the foundation. Replacement runs $2,000 to $6,000.
- [How do you maintain a metal roof?](https://www.onotto.com/metal-roof-maintenance-checklist/): Metal roof care: inspect yearly, retighten backed-out screws, renew failed rubber washers and seam sealant, and clear debris. Panels last 40 to 70 years.
- [How do you maintain a retaining wall?](https://www.onotto.com/retaining-wall-maintenance-checklist/): Retaining wall care is drainage: keep weep holes and backfill draining and check yearly for lean, bulge, and cracks. Rebuilding a failed wall runs $5,000 to $15,000.
- [How do you maintain a skylight?](https://www.onotto.com/skylight-maintenance-checklist/): Skylight care: inspect flashing and the seal yearly, clear the curb and weep channels. Seals last 10 to 20 years; a leak onto drywall costs $500 to $2,000.
- [How do you maintain stucco?](https://www.onotto.com/stucco-maintenance-checklist/): Stucco care: seal hairline cracks yearly with elastomeric caulk and repaint every 5 to 10 years. Traditional stucco lasts 50 to 80 years; hidden water rots EIFS.
- [How do you maintain vinyl siding?](https://www.onotto.com/vinyl-siding-maintenance-checklist/): Vinyl siding needs one yearly wash to stop mildew plus a walk-around for cracked or loose panels and re-caulked trim, and it lasts 20 to 40 years with that.
- [How do you maintain your home's windows?](https://www.onotto.com/windows-maintenance-checklist/): Window upkeep is yearly exterior caulk, fresh weatherstripping, and clean, lubed tracks; vinyl frames last 20 to 30 years and a fogged glass unit gets replaced.
- [How do you maintain wood siding?](https://www.onotto.com/wood-siding-maintenance-checklist/): Wood siding needs a repaint or restain every 3 to 7 years, yearly caulk, and quick rot repairs; kept up it lasts 20 to 40 years, neglected it rots in seasons.
- [How do you maintain smoke and CO detectors?](https://www.onotto.com/smoke-and-carbon-monoxide-detector-maintenance-checklist/): Test smoke and CO alarms monthly, swap batteries yearly, replace smoke alarms at 10 years and CO alarms at 5 to 7, and put one on every level.
- [How do you maintain a fire extinguisher?](https://www.onotto.com/fire-extinguisher-maintenance-checklist/): Check the gauge, pin, and hose monthly, recharge or replace after any use, and retire disposable extinguishers at 10 to 12 years. Keep an ABC unit on every level.
- [What's on a home safety maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/home-safety-maintenance-checklist/): Test alarms and extinguisher gauges monthly, then yearly check GFCIs, the dryer vent, the escape plan, and set the water heater to 120°F.
- [How do you maintain a radon mitigation system?](https://www.onotto.com/radon-mitigation-system-maintenance-checklist/): Check the manometer monthly, retest radon every 2 years, and expect the fan to last 5 to 10 years. EPA's action level is 4 pCi/L; a dead fan lets it climb.
- [How do you maintain a home security system?](https://www.onotto.com/security-system-maintenance-checklist/): Test sensors, cameras, and the siren monthly, replace sensor and keypad batteries yearly, and swap the panel backup battery every 3 to 5 years.
- [How do you maintain water leak sensors?](https://www.onotto.com/water-leak-sensor-maintenance-checklist/): Test each leak sensor and the auto-shutoff valve quarterly, replace batteries yearly, and place sensors at the water heater, washer, sinks, and sump.
- [What's on an Airbnb host maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/airbnb-host-maintenance-checklist/): Every Airbnb turnover: test the smoke and CO alarms, check the HVAC filter, run the water, and scan for leaks. Rentals see 3 to 5x a home's wear.
- [What do you do before a hard freeze?](https://www.onotto.com/hard-freeze-maintenance-checklist/): Before a hard freeze: disconnect hoses, drain outdoor faucets, open sink cabinets, and let a faucet drip. A burst pipe dumps hundreds of gallons an hour.
- [What's on a hurricane prep checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/hurricane-season-maintenance-checklist/): Before June 1: trim trees, clear gutters, check the roof and shutters, and service the generator. Per storm, stage water and supplies and secure loose items.
- [What's on a home winterizing checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/winterizing-a-house-maintenance-checklist/): Before winter: service the furnace, seal drafts, clean gutters, disconnect hoses, and blow out sprinklers. Vacant home? Drain the pipes or hold heat at 55°F.
- [What's on a condo maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/condo-maintenance-checklist/): In a condo you maintain the unit inward: HVAC filter and service, water heater, shutoffs, dryer vent, and caulk. The HOA covers the building envelope.
- [What's on a mobile home maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/mobile-home-maintenance-checklist/): Manufactured homes need three extra jobs: recoat the roof every 2 to 3 years, keep skirting and belly wrap intact, and re-level the piers yearly.
- [What's on a new-construction home checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/new-construction-home-maintenance-checklist/): First year in a new build: log warranty items, re-caulk as it settles, watch for nail pops, and change the HVAC filter often. Use the 11-month inspection.
- [What's on a power outage prep checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/power-outage-prep-maintenance-checklist/): Stock outage prep ahead: flashlights, batteries, 1 gallon of water per person per day, and phone charging. Test the generator; fridge food lasts 4 hours.
- [What's on a wildfire season prep checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/wildfire-season-maintenance-checklist/): Before fire season: clear the roof and gutters, keep 5 feet against the house noncombustible, screen vents to 1/8 inch, and thin brush 30 to 100 feet out.
- [What do you do after a home inspection?](https://www.onotto.com/after-home-inspection-maintenance-checklist/): First 90 days in a new home: rekey the locks, find the main shutoffs, change HVAC filters, test alarms, and fix the report's safety items first.
- [Aging parents' home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/aging-parents-home-maintenance-checklist/): Keeping a parent's home safe takes two visits a year: test smoke and CO alarms, set the water heater to 120°F to stop scalds, and clear trip hazards.
- [Coastal home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/coastal-home-maintenance-checklist/): Salt air ages metal and AC coils 2–3x faster near the coast, so rinse the condenser, hardware, and fixtures quarterly and repaint and re-caulk more often.
- [Earthquake prep checklist](https://www.onotto.com/earthquake-prep-maintenance-checklist/): Earthquake prep is mostly anchoring: strap the water heater, bolt tall furniture, fit flexible gas connectors, and learn the gas and water shutoffs.
- [First apartment maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/first-apartment-maintenance-checklist/): Renters maintain too: test smoke and CO alarms, change HVAC filters, clean the dryer lint and fridge coils, and know your unit's shutoff and breaker panel.
- [First-time homebuyer maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/first-time-homebuyer-maintenance-checklist/): Budget 1–2% of your home's value a year for upkeep, find every shutoff and the panel, start a filter and gutter schedule, and log each system's age.
- [Flood prep checklist](https://www.onotto.com/flood-prep-maintenance-checklist/): Just one inch of water can cause $25,000 in damage, so add a battery-backup sump pump, fit drain check valves, elevate utilities, and grade soil away.
- [Old house maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/historic-home-maintenance-checklist/): Old houses live or die by the envelope: repoint mortar, maintain wood windows instead of replacing them, keep water off the foundation, and check old wiring.
- [Ice dam prevention checklist](https://www.onotto.com/ice-dam-prevention-maintenance-checklist/): Ice dams start in the attic, not on the roof: air-seal and insulate the attic floor to R-49+, keep soffit and ridge vents clear, and clean the gutters.
- [Landlord maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/landlord-rental-property-maintenance-checklist/): Landlords owe working smoke and CO alarms by law, plus a service pass each turnover: check HVAC, the water heater, dryer vent, and leaks, and log condition.
- [New house move-in checklist](https://www.onotto.com/moving-into-a-new-house-maintenance-checklist/): Before the furniture arrives: change the locks, test alarms, find the shutoffs and panel, swap HVAC filters, and log each system's age and serial.
- [What do you do to your house before vacation?](https://www.onotto.com/pre-vacation-home-maintenance-checklist/): Before a trip, shut off the main water, hold the thermostat at 55°F or 85°F, unplug electronics, and hold the mail. The 15-minute shutdown that prevents a flood.
- [What's on a severe weather prep checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/severe-weather-prep-maintenance-checklist/): Before severe weather, secure loose outdoor items, clear gutters, charge devices, and stock 1 gallon of water per person a day. An hour of prep, done at the watch.
- [What do you do before leaving a home for the season?](https://www.onotto.com/snowbird-home-maintenance-checklist/): Leaving for the season: shut off the water, hold heat at 55°F or fully drain the pipes, set leak sensors, and tell your insurer about the 30 to 60 day vacancy.
- [What's on a spring startup checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/spring-startup-maintenance-checklist/): Spring startup in a weekend: test the AC on a 60°F day, check outdoor faucets for freeze cracks, clean gutters, and inspect the roof and deck.
- [What's on a tornado prep checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/tornado-prep-maintenance-checklist/): Tornado prep is a safe room plus hardening: pick an interior room with no windows, brace the garage door, and keep helmets ready for a 10–15 minute warning.
- [What's on a cabin maintenance checklist?](https://www.onotto.com/cabin-maintenance-checklist/): Closing a cabin means draining the plumbing, adding RV antifreeze, and pest-proofing; opening means flushing the lines and checking for freeze and rodent damage.

## Monthly checklists (one per calendar month) (hub: https://www.onotto.com/checklists/, 12 pages)
What to do this month and why this month, grouped Inside, Outside, and Systems, with the climate stress that drives the list.
- [January home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/january-home-maintenance-checklist/): January's home maintenance checklist: the deep-winter jobs that matter, from furnace filters and ice-dam watch to frozen-pipe prevention on hard-freeze nights.
- [February home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/february-home-maintenance-checklist/): February home maintenance in nine tasks: catch hidden winter damage in the basement and at the foundation, keep the filter fresh, and book the spring AC tune-up.
- [March home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/march-home-maintenance-checklist/): March home maintenance in eleven tasks: book the AC tune-up ($75–200), test the sump pump before spring rain, clear winter debris from gutters, check the roof.
- [April home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/april-home-maintenance-checklist/): April home maintenance in twelve tasks: reseal the deck (every 2–3 years), start the irrigation system and book the backflow test, seal driveway cracks.
- [May home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/may-home-maintenance-checklist/): May home maintenance in ten tasks: prove the AC actually cools before the first 95°F day, clean the dryer vent ($100–200), fix screens, and check the deck.
- [June home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/june-home-maintenance-checklist/): June home maintenance in ten tasks: flush the AC condensate drain before it clogs, vacuum the refrigerator coils, and seal the leaks that waste cooling.
- [July home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/july-home-maintenance-checklist/): July home maintenance in nine tasks: watch the AC closely (a frozen coil means stop, not push on), flush the condensate drain, and hold the basement at 30–50% RH.
- [August home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/august-home-maintenance-checklist/): August home maintenance in ten tasks: book the fall furnace tune-up before the September rush ($75–200), schedule the chimney sweep, and check the roof.
- [September home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/september-home-maintenance-checklist/): September home maintenance in eleven tasks: book the furnace tune-up ($75–200), run the heat once to catch failures early, sweep the chimney, start the gutters.
- [October home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/october-home-maintenance-checklist/): October home maintenance in eleven tasks: drain outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines before the first hard freeze, clean gutters after leaf drop, tune the furnace.
- [November home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/november-home-maintenance-checklist/): November home maintenance in ten tasks: last gutter clean after full leaf drop, test smoke and CO alarms at the time change, finish draining outdoor plumbing.
- [December home maintenance checklist](https://www.onotto.com/december-home-maintenance-checklist/): December home maintenance in ten tasks: test alarms and the kitchen extinguisher before holiday cooking, hold the thermostat at 55°F, and watch for ice dams.

## Climate-region guides (hub: https://www.onotto.com/checklists/, 14 pages)
How the national schedule shifts where you live: the regional risks, the states covered, and the tasks grouped by their real seasonal window.
- [Home maintenance in the Pacific Northwest](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-pacific-northwest/): Home maintenance for the Pacific Northwest: nine months of rain drive roof moss, clogged gutters, and wood rot. WA/OR climate calendar and the tasks that fit it.
- [Home maintenance in California](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-california/): California home maintenance runs on fire season, not frost: 100 ft of defensible space, ember-resistant vents, a strapped water heater, and smart irrigation.
- [Home maintenance in Florida](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-florida/): Florida home maintenance without a heating season: hurricane prep before June 1, monthly AC condensate flushes, termite inspections, and roof age vs insurance.
- [Home maintenance in Texas](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-texas/): Texas home maintenance is three jobs: survive the summer heat, water the foundation so clay soil does not crack it, and be ready for a hard freeze.
- [Home maintenance in the desert Southwest](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-desert-southwest/): Desert Southwest home maintenance: 110°F summers, hard water, and UV that ages a roof early. Service the AC before May and prep drainage before monsoon.
- [Home maintenance on the Gulf Coast](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-gulf-coast/): Gulf Coast home maintenance skips winter and runs on storm season: hurricane prep before June 1, salt-air corrosion control, mold, and heavy termite pressure.
- [Home maintenance in the Northeast](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-northeast/): Northeast home maintenance pairs hard winters with the country's oldest houses: boiler service, ice-dam prevention, radon testing, and basement moisture.
- [Home maintenance in the Upper Midwest](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-upper-midwest/): Upper Midwest home maintenance is winter-first: frost lines past 40 inches, ice dams, the country's highest radon, and a sump pump that has to work in March.
- [Home maintenance on the Great Plains](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-great-plains/): Great Plains home maintenance is storm-first: hail and wind damage roofs and siding, and swings of 60°F in a week strain both the AC and the furnace.
- [Home maintenance in the Mid-Atlantic](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-mid-atlantic/): Mid-Atlantic home maintenance is a dual-load job: a spring AC service and a fall heating service, plus radon testing, basement moisture, and termite checks.
- [Home maintenance in the Mountain West](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-mountain-west/): Mountain West home maintenance: thin dry air and intense UV at altitude, hard freezes, snow load, high radon, and wildfire defensible space in the Front Range.
- [Home maintenance in the Southeast](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-southeast/): Southeast home maintenance runs on humidity: crawl-space moisture, the heaviest termite pressure inland, a long cooling season, and only light freeze prep.
- [Home maintenance in Alaska](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-alaska/): Alaska home maintenance is winter survival planning: heat that cannot fail, backup heat, heat-traced plumbing, snow load, permafrost, and a short work season.
- [Home maintenance in Hawaii](https://www.onotto.com/home-maintenance-hawaii/): Hawaii home maintenance has no heating season and one relentless enemy: salt air. Add humidity, Formosan and drywood termites, UV, and vog on the Big Island.

## What neglect costs (hub: https://www.onotto.com/costs/, 91 pages)
Each page leads with the dollar answer, then an escalation ladder from the skipped task to the catastrophic bill, the prevention schedule, and an honest "when this is not worth worrying about".
- [What does ignoring a breaker that keeps tripping cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-a-breaker-that-keeps-tripping/): A tripping breaker is a fire warning, not a nuisance: diagnosis runs $100–250 and the fix $150–500, and upsizing the breaker to silence it can burn the house down.
- [What does skipping a carbon monoxide detector cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-going-without-a-carbon-monoxide-detector/): A CO alarm costs $20–50 and lasts 5–7 years, under $10 a year to catch a gas you cannot see or smell that kills people in their sleep. Put one on every level.
- [What does a dead or missing smoke detector really cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-dead-smoke-detector/): A working smoke alarm is a $2–6 battery yearly and a $15–40 unit every 10 years; the NFPA finds most home fire deaths happen where no alarm was working.
- [What does a warm or buzzing electrical panel cost, and is it dangerous?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-buzzing-electrical-panel/): A buzzing, warm, or scorched electrical panel is a fire hazard: $150–300 to diagnose now, and $1,500–4,000 to replace a known-defective panel. Never open the cover.
- [What does a neglected portable generator cost when the power goes out?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-neglecting-a-portable-generator/): A neglected portable generator no-starts during the outage it was bought for, usually stale fuel gumming the carburetor: a $50 DIY kit or a $75–250 shop clean.
- [What does a neglected home EV charger cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-neglecting-your-ev-charger/): A home EV charger pulls 30–48 amps for hours, so a worn NEMA 14-50 outlet overheats: a charred plug is a $150–350 fix and a fire warning. Feel the plug monthly.
- [What does neglecting your solar panels cost in lost production?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-cleaning-your-solar-panels/): Dirty solar panels lose 5–20% of output, restored by a rinse or a $150–300 cleaning; the costlier miss is ignoring monitoring while a $1,500–3,000 inverter dies.
- [What does a failed GFCI outlet cost you?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-testing-your-gfci-outlets/): A GFCI outlet cuts power in a fraction of a second to stop an electrocution, but it wears out silently. Test it monthly; a failed one is a $15–30 DIY swap.
- [What does skipping standby generator maintenance cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-standby-generator-maintenance/): A standby generator dies on the one day it matters when you skip the $150–400 annual service, usually a flat battery or stale fuel. Watch the weekly self-test.
- [What does going without surge protection cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-whole-house-surge-protection/): One surge or lightning strike can fry HVAC boards, appliances, and electronics at once, easily $2,000–10,000, against a $150–350 whole-house surge protector.
- [What does ignoring a running toilet actually cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-running-toilet/): A running toilet wastes 200 to 4,000 gallons a day, adding $60–200+ a month to the water bill, against a $5–25 flapper you swap in 15 minutes. The full cost inside.
- [What does never changing your HVAC filter really cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-changing-your-hvac-filter/): A neglected HVAC filter turns a $5 part into a $200–1,500 repair: first the DOE 5–15% energy penalty, then a frozen coil, then a cracked heat exchanger.
- [What does skipping annual AC service cost you?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-annual-ac-service/): Skipping the $75–200 annual AC tune-up invites a $6,000 breakdown: dirty coils raise bills 10–30%, a weak capacitor strands you, a leak kills the compressor.
- [What does skipping annual furnace tune-ups cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-furnace-tune-ups/): Skip the $80–200 furnace tune-up and small parts fail mid-winter, then a cracked heat exchanger ($1,500–3,000) pushes owners to a $4,000–7,500 replacement.
- [What does skipping heat pump maintenance cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-delaying-heat-pump-maintenance/): Skipping heat pump service costs $100–250 a year versus a $7,000 comeback: strip heat adds $50–150 a month, then a stuck valve or dead compressor totals it.
- [What does a clogged AC condensate drain line cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-clogged-condensate-drain-line/): A clogged AC condensate drain costs nothing to flush but up to $5,000 when the pan overflows into ceilings and drywall. Vinegar every 1–3 months prevents it.
- [What does letting your AC coil keep freezing cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-letting-your-ac-coil-freeze/): An AC coil that keeps freezing is usually a $0–40 airflow fix, but run it iced up and you slug the compressor, a $1,500–2,800 repair. The full cost ladder inside.
- [What does a neglected mini-split really cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-cleaning-your-mini-split/): A mini-split you never clean grows mold and loses 10–20% efficiency: a free monthly filter rinse now, or $150–400 per head deep-cleaned and up to $1,000 in parts.
- [What does a cracked furnace heat exchanger cost, and is it dangerous?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-cracked-heat-exchanger/): A cracked furnace heat exchanger leaks carbon monoxide and gets red-tagged, forcing a $1,500–3,000 exchanger or, more often, a $4,000–7,500 new furnace.
- [What does a weak AC capacitor cost if you ignore it?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-failing-ac-capacitor/): A weak AC capacitor is a $15–40 part that, ignored, burns out a $400–2,800 motor. A tech swaps it for $150–400. Here is why the cheap fix always wins.
- [What do dirty AC condenser coils cost over a summer?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-cleaning-your-condenser-coils/): Dirty condenser coils raise cooling bills 10–30% and set up a $1,500–2,800 compressor failure that can total a $4,000–7,500 unit. A 20-minute hose rinse prevents it.
- [What do leaky, neglected air ducts cost every year?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-sealing-your-ductwork/): Leaky ductwork wastes 20–30% of conditioned air, roughly $200–500 a year, against a $50 mastic job or a $1,000–3,000 aeroseal. The full cost inside.
- [What does skipping annual boiler service cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-boiler-service/): Skipping boiler service saves $150–300 now and risks a $5,000–9,000 replacement when the heat exchanger cracks. The full escalation ladder inside.
- [What does high basement humidity cost if you ignore it?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-musty-basement/): Basement humidity over 60% turns a $200–350 dehumidifier into a $1,500–6,000 mold and rot bill. Here is the cheap habit that stops it and the full cost ladder.
- [What does ignoring a ceiling water stain cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-water-stain-on-the-ceiling/): A ceiling water stain costs $150–600 to trace and fix, or $1,000–8,000 once soaked drywall, mold, and rotted framing pile on. Never just paint over it.
- [What does a neglected dehumidifier cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-emptying-your-dehumidifier/): A full dehumidifier does nothing, and a dust-clogged one burns out its $150–300 compressor, near the $200–350 cost of a new unit. The habit that prevents both.
- [What do dirty refrigerator coils cost you?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-cleaning-refrigerator-coils/): Dirty refrigerator condenser coils add 10 to 35% to energy use and can trigger a $300–600 compressor repair; a free twice-a-year vacuum prevents it.
- [What does a clogged dishwasher filter cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-cleaning-your-dishwasher-filter/): A clogged dishwasher filter strains the drain pump toward a $150–350 failure and leaves dishes gritty; a free 5-minute monthly rinse prevents it.
- [What does a grease-clogged range hood filter cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-a-grease-caked-range-hood-filter/): A grease-caked range hood filter stops venting and becomes fuel for a kitchen fire; a free monthly degrease and $10–25 charcoal swaps prevent it.
- [What does a slowly leaking dishwasher cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-leaking-dishwasher/): A slowly leaking dishwasher rots subfloor and cabinets for $500–5,000 before a puddle shows; a $20–50 gasket or $15–40 hose fixes it early.
- [What does a neglected fridge water line cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-refrigerator-water-line/): A neglected refrigerator ice-maker water line leaks unseen and rots floors and cabinets for $1,000–8,000; a $15–40 braided line prevents it.
- [What does neglecting an induction range cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-neglecting-an-induction-range/): Neglecting an induction range risks a $300–700 cracked glass top and a $400–900 control board; wiping spills and clearing vents costs nothing.
- [What does an old washing machine hose cost when it bursts?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-replacing-washing-machine-hoses/): A burst washing machine hose floods a room at hundreds of gallons an hour and runs $2,500–10,000+, against a $15–30 braided pair you swap in an hour.
- [What does a violently shaking washing machine cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-shaking-washing-machine/): A washer that bangs and walks on spin is grinding its bearings toward a $250–500 repair; leveling the feet and balancing loads costs nothing and stops it.
- [What does a moldy, neglected washing machine cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-washing-machine-mold/): A front-loader that smells musty is growing mold in the gasket; wiping the boot and running a monthly clean cycle is nearly free, versus a $150–350 pump repair.
- [What does routinely overloading your dryer cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-overloading-your-dryer/): Cramming the dryer drum forces two or three cycles per load and grinds the belt and rollers toward a $150–350 repair; drying medium loads is free and stops it.
- [What does a dryer that takes forever to dry cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-running-a-dryer-that-wont-heat/): A dryer that takes two or three cycles to dry is losing airflow or a heating element, wasting energy and risking fire; the element runs $150–300, cleaning is free.
- [What does skipping sprinkler blowout before winter cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-sprinkler-winterization/): A fall sprinkler blowout runs $50–120, or free with your own compressor. Skip it and one hard freeze splits the backflow and heads for $150–1,000+.
- [What does a dirty, grease-caked grill cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-a-grease-caked-grill/): Cleaning the grates and drip tray of a grill is free, but built-up grease fuels flare-ups and rusts burners out early, at $20–60 a part or a $200–800 new grill.
- [What does neglecting your pool pump cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-letting-your-pool-pump-run-dry/): A leaking pool pump shaft seal is a $20–60 DIY part, but let the pump run dry and you cook the motor ($200–500) or a full variable-speed pump ($700–1,500).
- [What does a neglected pool filter cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-cleaning-your-pool-filter/): Rinsing a pool filter on schedule is routine, but a clogged one clouds the water into a $150–400 green-pool cleanup and burns out the $200–600 pump.
- [What does skipping lawn mower maintenance cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-lawn-mower-maintenance/): An annual mower tune-up is $20–50 in parts, but skip the oil, air filter, and fuel stabilizer and stale gas gums the carb or seizes a $300–600 engine.
- [What does neglecting your snow blower cost before winter?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-storing-a-snow-blower-with-fuel-in-it/): Fuel left in a snow blower all off-season gums the carburetor into a $75–200 no-start, when a $40 DIY clean or a fall stabilizer habit would have avoided it.
- [What does one dripping faucet cost over a year?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-dripping-faucet/): A faucet dripping once a second wastes about 3,000 gallons a year; a $5–25 washer or cartridge stops it, while a plumber runs $125–250. Full math inside.
- [What do tree roots in your sewer line cost if you wait?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-tree-roots-in-your-sewer-line/): Clearing tree roots from a sewer line runs $150–500 by rooter or jet; ignore them until the pipe collapses and replacement hits $5,000–15,000+. The ladder inside.
- [What does never flushing your water heater cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-flushing-your-water-heater/): Never flushing a water heater adds 10–25% to costs, burns out a $150–350 element, then rusts the tank into a $1,500–2,500 replacement. A free hour prevents it.
- [What does skipping septic tank pumping cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-pumping-your-septic-tank/): Pumping a septic tank runs $300–600 every 3–5 years; skip it and a clogged, failed drain field costs $10,000–30,000 to rebuild. The full escalation inside.
- [What does a failed sump pump cost when the basement floods?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-testing-your-sump-pump/): An untested sump pump can fail mid-storm and flood a finished basement for $3,000–10,000+, while a new pump is $400–800 and the test is free. Full breakdown inside.
- [What does skipping tankless descaling cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-descaling-your-tankless-water-heater/): Skipping tankless descaling cracks the heat exchanger for $500–1,500, or $3,000–4,500 to replace, versus a $150–300 yearly flush. What scale really costs, inside.
- [What does skipping anode rod replacement cost your water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-anode-rod-replacement/): A $30–60 anode rod checked every 2–3 years can double a water heater's life; skip it and the tank rusts out early, forcing a $1,500–2,500 replacement. Why, inside.
- [What does living with high water pressure cost your plumbing?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-high-water-pressure-problem/): Water pressure over the 80 psi code max wears out pipes and hoses until they burst; a $10 gauge and $150–400 reducing valve prevent it. The full toll inside.
- [What does a jammed or neglected garbage disposal cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-jammed-garbage-disposal/): A humming garbage disposal is usually just jammed, a $0 unjam fix; grind grease and bones and a burned-out motor means $150–400 to replace. Details inside.
- [What does a failed toilet wax ring cost if you ignore it?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-leaking-toilet-wax-ring/): A failed toilet wax ring is a $3–10 part, but ignore the seep and rotted subfloor and flange repair runs $500–3,000. See the escalation and the fix.
- [What does ignoring slow drains eventually cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-slow-drains/): A slow drain clears for $10–25 today, but let it set into a full blockage and a plumber's rooter or hydro-jet runs $150–500, more once it backs up onto the floor.
- [What does leaving a garden hose on over winter cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-leaving-a-hose-connected-in-winter/): Leaving a hose on through a freeze can split the pipe behind the wall: $1,000–8,000 in water damage against a free two-minute fall habit. How the burst happens.
- [What does neglecting your water softener cost the whole house?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-letting-your-water-softener-run-out-of-salt/): Running a softener out of salt lets hard water scale the whole house, trading an $8–15 bag of salt for an $800–2,500 replacement and early appliance wear.
- [What does neglecting a heat pump water heater cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-neglecting-a-heat-pump-water-heater/): Neglect a heat pump water heater and it drops to costly electric-resistance mode; a clogged filter and rusted tank push toward a $1,800–3,500 replacement.
- [What does a neglected septic drain field cost to replace?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-neglecting-your-septic-drain-field/): Killing a septic drain field costs $10,000–30,000 to replace, versus a $300–600 tank pump-out every 3–5 years that is the one thing protecting it. What ruins it.
- [What does neglecting your well pump and system cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-servicing-your-well-pump/): A well pump quits with almost no warning and leaves the house dry; replacement runs $1,000–2,500, more on deep wells, on a pump that lasts only 8–15 years.
- [What does a seized main water shutoff valve cost in an emergency?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-testing-your-main-shutoff-valve/): A seized main shutoff means you cannot stop a burst pipe, turning a small leak into $5,000–40,000+ of flooding. Test it yearly; a ball-valve swap is $150–350.
- [What does going without a sump pump battery backup cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-a-sump-pump-battery-backup/): A sump pump on grid power alone is one storm outage from a $3,000–10,000+ flooded basement, against a $150–500 battery backup. Why they arrive together.
- [What does skipping water filter changes cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-water-filter-changes/): A skipped water filter clogs, breeds bacteria, and can crack its housing, turning a $20–80 cartridge into a $100–600 repair with water damage. The schedule inside.
- [What does never flushing your water heater cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-flushing-water-heater/): Sediment from never flushing costs 10–25% in energy, burns out $150–300 elements, and cuts years off an 8–12 year tank. An annual flush is free.
- [What does ignoring a small roof leak cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-small-roof-leak/): A small roof leak is a $200–600 repair caught early, or $1,500–15,000 once it rots the deck, soaks insulation, and grows mold. The full escalation inside.
- [What do ignored foundation cracks cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-foundation-cracks/): Sealing a minor foundation crack runs $300–800; ignoring a moving crack invites a $5,000–30,000+ structural repair. How to tell cosmetic from dangerous.
- [What does skipping chimney cleaning and inspection cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-cleaning-your-chimney/): An annual chimney sweep and inspection is $150–400; skip it and you risk a chimney fire, a $2,500–7,000 flue liner, and carbon monoxide indoors.
- [What does skipping deck sealing and staining cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-deck-sealing/): Cleaning and resealing a wood deck is $60–200 every 2–3 years; neglect rots the boards and structure into a $4,000–15,000 rebuild. The safety stakes inside.
- [What do downspouts dumping at the foundation cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-downspouts-draining-at-your-foundation/): A downspout extension costs $10–40 and moves roof water 4–6 feet out; skip it and chronic saturation feeds $3,000–30,000 in wet-basement and foundation damage.
- [What does one missing shingle cost if you leave it?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-missing-shingle/): Replacing a missing shingle is $150–400; leaving the gap open lets one storm rot the deck and can void the roof warranty. The escalation, step by step.
- [What does a wet, neglected crawl space cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-wet-crawl-space/): A crawl space vapor barrier is $50–200; a neglected wet crawl space rots framing and grows mold for $5,000–15,000 and fouls the air you breathe upstairs.
- [What does skipping roof inspections cost over a roof's life?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-roof-inspections/): A $150–350 roof inspection turns $200–600 repairs into caught-early wins instead of an $8,000–20,000 premature replacement. What fails first, inside.
- [What does cracked, failing exterior caulk cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-failing-caulk-around-windows/): A tube of exterior caulk is $6–12; letting the seal crack invites $1,000–6,000 in hidden water damage behind the siding, plus higher energy bills.
- [What do sagging, pulling-away gutters cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-gutters-pulling-away-from-the-house/): Re-securing a sagging gutter is $75–300; leaving it rots the fascia and soffit for $600–2,500 and dumps roof water at the foundation. The full breakdown.
- [What does a leaking skylight cost if you wait?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-leaking-skylight/): Resealing a leaking skylight runs $200–600, but wait and the water rots the light well and ceiling for $1,000–5,000. When to reseal versus replace, inside.
- [What does an unsafe, rotting deck ledger cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-a-loose-deck-ledger/): Re-bolting and flashing a deck ledger runs $200–800, but a nailed-on or rotted ledger is the leading cause of deck collapse. The yearly check is free.
- [What do ignored driveway cracks cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-driveway-cracks/): Filling driveway cracks costs $30–200 a season, but let water freeze under the slab and a failed driveway is $3,000–10,000 to replace. The cheap habit inside.
- [What does letting exterior paint go too long cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-letting-exterior-paint-peel/): Repainting a house runs $3,000–8,000, but let bare wood weather past the paint's 7–10 year life and rotted siding adds thousands more. Repaint before it peels.
- [What does soil sloping toward your house cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-negative-grading-against-your-foundation/): Reslope the soil to fall 6 inches over 10 feet for $200–800, or let it drain toward the wall and a wet basement runs $5,000–30,000. The grade fix inside.
- [What does failed roof flashing cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-neglecting-failed-roof-flashing/): Resealing failed roof flashing costs $200–600, but flashing is where most roof leaks start, and ignored water rots framing for $1,500–8,000. Fix it inside.
- [What does too little attic insulation cost every year?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skimping-on-attic-insulation/): Thin attic insulation adds 10–20% to heating and cooling bills every year and drives ice dams, while topping it up to code costs $1,000–2,500 once.
- [What does skipping garage door maintenance cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-garage-door-maintenance/): A $10 twice-a-year lube prevents most garage door failures; a snapped torsion spring is $200–350 installed, and a failed safety reverse is a crushing hazard.
- [What does an expired or unchecked fire extinguisher cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-an-expired-fire-extinguisher/): A home fire extinguisher is $25–60 and needs a 30-second gauge check monthly; an expired or empty one fails when a small fire could still be stopped.
- [What does skipping annual well water testing cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-never-testing-your-well-water/): A basic well water test is $50–150 a year, and skipping it lets bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, or radon flow from the tap with no taste or smell to warn you.
- [What does skipping radon testing cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-radon-testing/): A radon test is $15–40 for a DIY kit or $150–300 pro; the EPA calls this odorless gas a top cause of lung cancer, with 4.0 pCi/L the action level.
- [What does going without water leak detectors cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-water-leak-detectors/): A water leak sensor is $15–30 and pings your phone in minutes; a smart shutoff is $400–800 and closes the main before a burst becomes a $10,000 flood.
- [What do ice dams on your roof cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-ice-dams-on-your-roof/): Ice dams push $1,500 to $10,000 of water into walls and ceilings, plus $300–600 every steam removal; a $1,000–3,000 attic fix stops them for good.
- [What do frozen and burst pipes cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-ignoring-the-risk-of-frozen-pipes/): One burst pipe floods for $5,000 to $20,000+, a top winter claim, yet dripping faucets, 55F heat, and $1–3-per-foot pipe sleeves prevent it for pennies.
- [What does leaving on vacation without shutting off the water cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-leaving-town-without-shutting-off-the-water/): Closing the main before a trip takes 30 seconds and $0; skip it and a failed hose floods unwatched for days, a $5,000 to $40,000+ home claim.
- [What does failing to winterize an empty home cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-not-winterizing-a-vacation-home/): An unwinterized empty house can flood top to bottom for $10,000 to $50,000+ after one furnace failure; draining pipes or 55F heat with an alarm prevents it.
- [What does firing up the AC in summer without a spring check cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-a-spring-ac-checkup/): Skipping a spring AC check swaps a free 20-minute startup for a $150 to $400 July emergency call, or a $1,500+ compressor when a weak part fails under load.
- [What does firing up the furnace without a fall check cost?](https://www.onotto.com/cost-of-skipping-fall-furnace-startup/): Firing the furnace up cold on the first freeze turns a $150 igniter into a $150–400 midnight no-heat call; a free fall self-check and fresh filter prevent it.

## Symptom decoder (why is my X doing Y) (hub: https://www.onotto.com/symptoms/, 162 pages)
Causes ranked by likelihood with the fix and its typical cost, what to check before calling anyone, safety callouts, and when to stop and call a pro.
- [Why does my breaker keep tripping?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-circuit-breaker-keeps-tripping/): A breaker that keeps tripping is usually a circuit overload from too many devices, not a bad breaker. Five causes ranked, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why does my GFCI outlet keep tripping?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-gfci-outlet-keeps-tripping/): A GFCI that keeps tripping is usually moisture in an outdoor or bath box, or a faulty appliance leaking to ground. Five causes ranked, with fixes and costs.
- [Why does my breaker trip right after I reset it?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-breaker-trips-right-after-reset/): A breaker that trips the instant you reset it means a dead short or ground fault on the circuit, not a nuisance. Five causes, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why is my carbon monoxide detector beeping?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-carbon-monoxide-detector-beeping/): A single chirp is a low battery or a detector past its 5- to 10-year life. Four rapid beeps mean carbon monoxide is present, so get out and call 911.
- [Why does my smoke detector keep chirping?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-smoke-detector-chirping/): A chirping smoke detector is almost always a low battery or a unit past its 10-year life. Replace the battery first, then check the date on the back.
- [Why won't my breaker reset?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-breaker-wont-reset/): A breaker that won't reset usually wasn't pushed fully to OFF first, so its latch never caught. Push hard to OFF, then ON; if it still won't hold, find the fault.
- [Why did my ceiling fan stop but the light works?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-ceiling-fan-stopped-but-light-still-works/): If your ceiling fan stopped but the light still works, the usual cause is a failed motor capacitor, a $5 to $15 part. Five causes, with fixes and costs.
- [Why does my ceiling fan wobble?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-ceiling-fan-wobbling/): A wobbling ceiling fan is almost always unbalanced or dusty blades or loose blade screws. Clean, tighten, and balance the set first, mostly for free.
- [Why is my electrical panel buzzing?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-electrical-panel-buzzing/): A buzzing electrical panel usually means a loose connection or a breaker arcing, a real fire risk. Don't open the cover; call a licensed electrician the same day.
- [Why is my breaker or panel warm?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-electrical-panel-warm-to-the-touch/): A warm breaker or panel usually means a loose connection or an overloaded circuit generating heat, a fire risk. Reduce the load and call an electrician to scan it.
- [Why won't my EV charger charge my car?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-ev-charger-not-charging/): An EV charger that won't charge is usually a tripped breaker or GFCI on its circuit. Six causes ranked, with the reset, fault code, and cost for each.
- [Why won't my GFCI outlet reset?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-gfci-outlet-wont-reset/): A GFCI that won't reset usually has no power reaching it, from a tripped upstream breaker or GFCI. Five causes, with the reset steps and cost for each.
- [Why did the outlets in one room stop working?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-outlets-in-one-room-not-working/): One room's outlets usually go dead because a tripped GFCI elsewhere on the circuit feeds them. Five causes, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why does my smoke alarm go off randomly?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-smoke-detector-going-off-for-no-reason/): A smoke alarm that goes off for no reason is usually dust in the sensor or steam and cooking nearby. Six causes, with the cleaning fix and cost.
- [Why won't my standby generator start?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-standby-generator-wont-start/): A standby generator that won't start is usually a dead or weak starter battery, its top no-start cause. Seven causes, with the fix and cost.
- [Why is my furnace short cycling?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-short-cycling/): A short-cycling furnace is usually a clogged filter starving airflow and tripping the limit switch. Six causes ranked by likelihood, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why is my central AC blowing warm air?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-central-air-conditioner-blowing-warm-air/): A central AC blowing warm air is usually a dirty filter or a stopped outdoor condenser, both free to check. Six causes ranked, with the fix and cost each.
- [Why is my AC outdoor fan not spinning?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-central-air-conditioner-fan-not-spinning/): When your AC compressor hums but the outdoor fan sits still, it is almost always a failed dual-run capacitor. Five causes ranked with the fix and cost.
- [Why is my AC freezing up?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-central-air-conditioner-freezing-up/): An AC that freezes into ice is nearly always an airflow problem: a dirty filter or coil comes first, low refrigerant second. Fixes and costs ranked.
- [Why is my AC leaking water inside?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-central-air-conditioner-leaking-water-inside/): An AC leaking water inside is a clogged condensate drain overflowing the pan about nine times in ten. Five causes ranked, with the fix and cost.
- [Why does my AC keep short cycling?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-central-air-conditioner-short-cycling/): An AC that short cycles every few minutes is usually choking on a dirty filter or condenser coil. Seven causes ranked, with the fix and cost.
- [Why is my furnace blowing cold air?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-blowing-cold-air/): A furnace blowing cold air is most often just the thermostat fan set to ON instead of AUTO. Six causes ranked, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why does my furnace light then shut off?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-lights-then-shuts-off/): A furnace that lights then dies after a few seconds is the classic sign of a dirty flame sensor. Five causes ranked, with the fix and cost.
- [Why is my heat pump blowing cold air?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-heat-pump-blowing-cold-air/): A heat pump briefly blowing cool air in winter is usually a normal defrost cycle lasting 5 to 15 minutes. Six causes ranked with fixes and costs.
- [Why is my heat pump icing up in winter?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-heat-pump-freezing-up-in-winter/): A little frost on a heat pump is normal, but a thick block of ice usually means a failed defrost cycle. Five causes ranked with the fix and cost.
- [Why is my mini-split not cooling?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-mini-split-blowing-warm-air/): A mini-split that runs but will not cool is nine times in ten just clogged mesh filters. Five causes ranked, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why is my mini-split leaking water from the indoor unit?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-mini-split-leaking-water-inside/): A leaking mini-split head is almost always a clogged condensate drain line overflowing the pan. Five causes ranked, plus the DIY flush and $75–250 pro fix.
- [Why is my thermostat screen blank?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-thermostat-screen-blank/): A blank thermostat screen is usually dead batteries, a two-minute free swap. Six causes ranked, from a tripped float switch to a blown $5 board fuse.
- [Why does my AC drain line keep clogging?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-ac-condensate-drain-line-clogged/): A drain line that keeps clogging is algae and biofilm sludge rebuilding in the warm pipe. Five causes, plus the monthly vinegar flush that prevents a $75–250 clear.
- [Why does my AC smell musty when it runs?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-central-air-conditioner-smells-musty/): A musty AC smell is mold on the damp evaporator coil and drain pan, usually with a slow drain. Four causes, plus the $150–400 coil cleaning that actually fixes it.
- [Why does my AC keep tripping the breaker?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-central-air-conditioner-tripping-breaker/): An AC that trips the breaker is usually a dirty condenser coil drawing high amps or a weak capacitor. Six causes ranked, from a $15 cap to a grounded compressor.
- [Why does my furnace pilot light keep going out?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-pilot-light-keeps-going-out/): A furnace pilot that won't stay lit is usually a dirty or failing thermocouple, a $10 part. Five causes ranked, from a clogged orifice to drafts and a bad gas valve.
- [Why is my heat pump's aux heat always on?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-heat-pump-auxiliary-heat-always-on/): Aux heat stuck on in mild weather usually means low refrigerant, and it costs two to three times more than the heat pump. Five causes ranked, with the fix for each.
- [Why does my heat pump run constantly in cold weather?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-heat-pump-running-constantly/): A heat pump running constantly below 30 to 40°F is normal and efficient. The warning sign is cool supply air. Six causes ranked, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why does my mini-split smell musty?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-mini-split-smells-musty/): A musty mini-split is mold on the damp coil and blower wheel, which a spray can't reach. Four causes, plus the $150–350 deep clean and dry-mode habit that fix it.
- [Why is my air handler leaking water?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-air-handler-leaking-water/): A leaking air handler is usually a clogged condensate drain overflowing the pan. Five causes ranked, from a $75–250 clear to a cracked pan and a frozen coil.
- [Why do some rooms get no airflow?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-airflow-uneven-between-rooms/): Uneven airflow between rooms is usually leaky or crushed ductwork or a closed damper. Six ranked causes, the DIY checks, and what a fix costs in 2026.
- [Why is my furnace blower humming but not spinning?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-blower-motor-humming-but-not-spinning/): A furnace blower that hums but won't spin is almost always a failed run capacitor, a $15–60 part. Four likely causes and how to tell them apart.
- [Why is my boiler banging (kettling)?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-boiler-banging-and-kettling/): A boiler that bangs and kettles is usually limescale on the heat exchanger, worst in hard-water homes. Descaling runs $150–500; here's the full list.
- [Why does my boiler keep losing pressure?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-boiler-losing-pressure/): A boiler that keeps losing pressure is leaking, has a waterlogged expansion tank, or a weeping relief valve. Target is 12–15 psi cold; five causes ranked.
- [Why isn't my condensate pump working?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-condensate-pump-not-pumping/): A condensate pump that won't pump is usually a stuck float or a gunk-clogged reservoir, both free to fix. Five causes, the checks, and pump costs.
- [Why is my AC condenser humming but not starting?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-condenser-unit-humming-but-not-starting/): An AC condenser that hums but won't start is most often a failed capacitor, a $15–60 part. Six ranked causes from cheap fix to seized compressor.
- [Why isn't my dehumidifier collecting water?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dehumidifier-not-collecting-water/): A dehumidifier not collecting water is usually a room below 65F frosting the coil, or a dirty filter. Six causes and when to just replace the unit.
- [Why do my air ducts bang or pop?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-ductwork-banging-and-popping/): Ducts that bang and pop are usually thin sheet metal oil-canning under pressure, worse with closed vents. Five causes and how to quiet them.
- [Why does my furnace bang when it starts?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-banging-on-startup/): A furnace that bangs on startup is usually delayed ignition from dirty burners, a real hazard. Fixes run $100–350; five causes and safety steps.
- [Why won't my furnace fan turn off?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-fan-runs-constantly/): A furnace fan that never shuts off is almost always the thermostat set to ON, not AUTO, a free fix. Four causes if AUTO doesn't stop it.
- [Why won't my furnace igniter glow?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-igniter-not-glowing/): A dark furnace igniter is usually a cracked hot-surface igniter, a $15–50 part that ages out in 3 to 5 seasons. Five ranked causes with the fix and cost.
- [Why does my furnace keep tripping the breaker?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-keeps-tripping-breaker/): A furnace that keeps tripping its breaker is usually a dirty filter or blower pulling high amps, not a bad breaker. Five causes ranked, with fix and cost.
- [Why is my high-efficiency furnace leaking water?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-leaking-water/): Water under a furnace is usually a clogged condensate drain on a high-efficiency unit backing up. Five causes ranked, each with the fix and a real cost.
- [Why does my furnace smell like burning?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-furnace-smells-like-burning/): A first-run burning smell is harmless dust burn-off that clears in an hour; a lingering acrid or electrical smell is not. How to tell danger from dust.
- [Why is my heat pump short cycling?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-heat-pump-short-cycling/): A short-cycling heat pump is usually a dirty filter or coil choking airflow, then a refrigerant issue. Six causes ranked, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why is my mini-split flashing an error light?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-mini-split-flashing-error-light/): A flashing mini-split light is an error code, most often a dirty filter that clears after a cleaning and power cycle. How to decode it, six causes ranked.
- [Why is my radiator cold at the top?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-radiator-not-heating-up/): A radiator cold at the top is trapped air you bleed for free; cold at the bottom is sludge needing a flush. Five causes ranked, with the fix and cost.
- [Why does my thermostat click but nothing happens?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-thermostat-clicking-but-no-heat/): A thermostat that clicks but gives no heat is usually a blown board fuse or a tripped condensate float switch. Five causes ranked, with the fix and cost.
- [Why won't my house reach the thermostat setting?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-thermostat-not-reaching-set-temperature/): A house that never reaches the thermostat setting is usually restricted airflow: dirty filter, leaky ducts, or an undersized system. Six causes ranked.
- [Why does my AC capacitor keep failing?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-ac-capacitor-keeps-failing/): An AC capacitor that keeps failing usually points to heat, a cheap part, or a hard-starting compressor, not bad luck. Five causes ranked with fix and cost.
- [Why is my dishwasher leaking from the bottom?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dishwasher-leaking-from-the-bottom/): A dishwasher leaking from the bottom is usually a worn or dirty door gasket, or too much detergent oversudsing. Six ranked causes with the fix and cost.
- [Why isn't my dishwasher cleaning well?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dishwasher-not-cleaning-dishes/): Dishes coming out gritty or filmy usually means clogged spray-arm jets and a dirty filter starving the wash. Six causes ranked with each fix and cost.
- [Why won't my dishwasher drain?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dishwasher-not-draining/): A dishwasher that won't drain is usually a clogged filter and food trap the pump can't clear. Six causes ranked from free fixes to a drain-pump job, with costs.
- [Why is my refrigerator leaking water?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-refrigerator-leaking-water-on-the-floor/): A refrigerator leaking water on the floor is usually a clogged defrost drain overflowing the pan. Five ranked causes with the fix and cost, plus how to flush it.
- [Why is my fridge warm but the freezer is cold?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-refrigerator-not-cold-but-freezer-works/): A fridge that's warm while the freezer stays cold is usually blocked airflow: frost on the coil or a stuck damper. Five ranked causes, fixes, and costs.
- [Why won't my gas stove burner light?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-gas-stove-burner-wont-light/): A gas burner that will not light is usually a clogged port or a wet, misaligned cap. Five ranked causes with the fix, plus the gas-safety steps to take first.
- [Why isn't my ice maker making ice?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-ice-maker-not-making-ice/): An ice maker not making ice is usually a frozen fill tube or an overdue water filter. Six ranked causes with the fix and cost, from free thaws to a new valve.
- [Why isn't my oven heating?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-oven-not-heating-up/): An oven that will not heat is usually a burned-out bake element (electric) or a weak igniter (gas). Five ranked causes with parts costs and the safety steps.
- [Why is my refrigerator freezing food?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-refrigerator-freezing-food/): A fridge freezing food is usually a too-low setting or a stuck-open air damper. Five ranked causes with the fix and cost, plus the right temperature to set.
- [Why aren't my dishes drying?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dishwasher-not-drying-dishes/): Dishes staying wet is usually an empty rinse-aid dispenser on a condensation-drying unit. Five ranked causes with the fix, from a $5 refill to a failed heater.
- [Why does my dishwasher smell?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dishwasher-smells-bad/): A smelly dishwasher is almost always rotting food trapped in the filter and sump. Clean the filter monthly, run a hot vinegar cycle, then rule out a drain clog.
- [Why won't my electric stove burner heat?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-electric-stove-burner-not-heating/): An electric burner that won't heat is usually a burned-out coil element or a corroded plug-in socket. Swap in a known-good coil to test before buying parts.
- [Why isn't my freezer freezing?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-freezer-not-freezing/): A freezer that won't freeze is usually dirty condenser coils, a worn door gasket, or a dead evaporator fan. Clean the coils and test the seal before calling a pro.
- [Why does my gas oven click but not light?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-gas-oven-clicking-but-not-lighting/): A gas oven that clicks or glows but never lights is usually a weak igniter that no longer opens the gas safety valve. Expect $40–80 for the part, more installed.
- [Why does my gas stove keep clicking?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-gas-stove-clicking-constantly/): A gas stove that keeps clicking is almost always moisture or debris under a burner cap keeping the spark firing. Dry and reseat the cap to stop it, usually for free.
- [Why won't my induction cooktop detect my pan?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-induction-cooktop-not-detecting-pans/): An induction cooktop that won't detect a pan is usually the cookware, not the unit. If a fridge magnet won't grip the base, the pan won't heat. Test the pan first.
- [Why does my microwave run but not heat?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-microwave-not-heating-food/): A microwave that runs but stays cold is usually a failed magnetron or high-voltage diode. Repairs run $100–200, but replacing a $150–400 unit is often smarter.
- [Why is my microwave sparking inside?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-microwave-sparking-inside/): A microwave sparking inside is usually metal or foil in the cavity, or a burnt, greasy waveguide cover arcing. Remove the metal and replace the $5–15 mica cover.
- [Why won't my oven hold the right temperature?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-oven-wont-hold-temperature/): An oven that won't hold temperature is usually a failing temp sensor or a drifted calibration. Check the real temp with a $10 thermometer before you blame the oven.
- [Why isn't my range hood pulling smoke?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-range-hood-not-venting-smoke/): A range hood that won't vent is usually a grease-clogged filter and duct, or a stuck exterior damper flap. Degrease the filter monthly and confirm it vents outside.
- [Why is frost building up in my freezer?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-refrigerator-building-up-frost/): A frosty freezer is usually a worn or dirty door gasket letting humid air in. Five ranked causes with the fix and cost, from a $20 seal to a $300 defrost repair.
- [Why is my refrigerator so loud?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-refrigerator-buzzing-loudly/): A loud refrigerator is usually dirty condenser coils straining the fan and compressor. Six ranked causes with the fix and cost, free coil cleaning to a new motor.
- [Why does my refrigerator run all the time?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-refrigerator-running-constantly/): A fridge that runs constantly is usually choked by dust-clogged condenser coils. Seven ranked causes with the fix and cost, plus what nonstop running costs you.
- [Why isn't my fridge water dispenser working?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-refrigerator-water-dispenser-not-working/): A dead fridge water dispenser is usually a clogged, overdue water filter starving flow. Four ranked causes with the fix and cost, from a $40 filter to a frozen line.
- [Why is my dryer not heating?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dryer-not-heating/): A dryer that won't heat is usually a thermal fuse blown by a clogged vent, then a burned-out heating element. Six causes ranked, each with its fix and cost.
- [Why does my dryer take two cycles to dry?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dryer-taking-too-long-to-dry/): A dryer that needs two cycles almost always has a clogged lint vent trapping moisture. Ranked causes, the yearly cleaning that fixes it, and repair costs.
- [Why won't my washing machine drain?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-washing-machine-not-draining/): A washer that will not drain usually has a clogged drain-pump filter full of coins and lint. Six causes ranked, how to bail the tub, and what each repair costs.
- [Why won't my washer spin?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-washing-machine-wont-spin/): A washer that will not spin is usually an unbalanced load or water it cannot drain. Six causes ranked, from a bad lid switch to a worn belt, with fixes and costs.
- [Why does my dryer shut off mid-cycle?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dryer-shutting-off-mid-cycle/): A dryer that shuts off mid-cycle is usually overheating from a blocked vent that trips the thermal cutoff. Ranked causes, fixes, and why it is a fire warning.
- [Why does my dryer smell like burning?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dryer-smells-like-burning/): A dryer that smells like burning is usually lint scorching near the element or vent: stop it now. Ranked causes, fixes, costs, and the fire-safety steps.
- [Why is my washing machine leaking?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-washing-machine-leaking-water/): A leaking washer is usually a loose fill hose or a torn front-load door boot. Ranked causes, why braided hoses matter, and what each repair costs to fix.
- [Why does my washing machine shake and walk?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-washing-machine-shaking-violently/): A washer that shakes and walks is usually an unbalanced load or an unlevel machine. Ranked causes, how to level it, and what worn shocks and bearings cost.
- [Why does my front-load washer smell moldy?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-washing-machine-smells-musty/): A front-loader that smells moldy has biofilm in the door gasket folds and drawer. Ranked causes, the monthly clean that fixes it, and how to keep it gone.
- [Why is my dryer squealing?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dryer-squealing-and-grinding/): A squealing dryer usually has worn drum rollers or glide bearings, both cheap parts. Ranked causes, how to pinpoint the noise, and DIY versus pro repair costs.
- [Why is no air coming out my dryer vent outside?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-dryer-vent-not-blowing-outside/): No air at the outside dryer vent hood is almost always a lint-clogged duct or a stuck exterior flapper. Six ranked causes, each with its fix and cost.
- [Why won't my washing machine fill with water?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-washing-machine-not-filling/): A washer that won't fill is usually clogged inlet-valve screens or a shut-off supply hose, not a dead machine. Five likely causes with the DIY fix and price.
- [Why does my mower start then die?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-lawn-mower-starts-then-dies/): A mower that starts then dies after a minute is almost always a gummed carburetor or a blocked fuel-cap vent starving the engine. Six causes, ranked with fixes.
- [Why won't my lawn mower start in spring?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-lawn-mower-wont-start-in-spring/): A mower that won't start in spring is usually choking on stale, gummed fuel that varnished the carburetor over winter. Five causes ranked, with fixes and costs.
- [Why won't my sprinkler heads pop up?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-sprinkler-heads-not-popping-up/): Sprinkler heads that won't pop up usually mean low zone pressure or a clogged nozzle screen. Six causes ranked cheapest to costliest, with the fix for each.
- [Why won't one sprinkler zone turn on?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-sprinkler-zone-not-turning-on/): One sprinkler zone that won't turn on is almost always a failed solenoid on that valve or a broken wire to it. Five causes ranked, with the fix and cost.
- [Why does my faucet drip when it's off?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-faucet-dripping-when-turned-off/): A faucet that drips when off is usually a worn cartridge, washer, or O-ring that no longer seals, a $5–25 fix. Five ranked causes, with the fix and cost.
- [Why is my garbage disposal completely dead?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garbage-disposal-completely-dead/): A garbage disposal that is completely dead is usually just a popped reset button on its underside, a free fix. Five ranked causes, each with fix and cost.
- [Why is my garbage disposal humming but not spinning?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garbage-disposal-humming-but-not-spinning/): A garbage disposal that hums but won't spin is almost always a jammed flywheel you free with the hex wrench in seconds. Ranked causes, fixes, and costs.
- [Why won't my sump pump turn on?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-sump-pump-not-turning-on/): A sump pump that will not turn on is usually a stuck float switch pinned against the pit wall, a free fix. Five ranked causes, with the fix and cost.
- [Why does my sump pump run constantly?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-sump-pump-running-constantly/): A sump pump that runs constantly is usually a stuck float or a failed check valve letting water fall back into the pit. Ranked causes, fixes, and costs.
- [Why does my toilet keep running?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-toilet-keeps-running/): A toilet that keeps running is usually a worn flapper that no longer seals, a $5–15 fix that stops 200-plus wasted gallons a day. Ranked causes and costs.
- [Why is my toilet leaking at the base?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-toilet-leaking-at-the-base/): A toilet leaking at the base is usually a failed wax ring, a $5–15 part to re-seat or $150–250 with a plumber. Ranked causes, fixes, and water-damage risk.
- [Why won't my toilet flush completely?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-toilet-wont-flush-completely/): A toilet that will not flush completely usually has scaled-over rim and siphon jets choking the flow. Five ranked causes, with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why is my water heater leaking from the bottom?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-heater-leaking-from-the-bottom/): Water leaking from the bottom of a water heater usually means a rusted-through tank that needs replacing, $1,200–2,500 installed. Ranked causes and costs.
- [Why is my water heater popping or rumbling?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-heater-making-popping-noises/): A water heater popping or rumbling is almost always sediment on the tank bottom, fixed by a flush. Five ranked causes, with the fix, cost, and prevention.
- [Why does my hot water run out so fast?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-heater-running-out-of-hot-water-fast/): Hot water running out fast is usually sediment on the tank bottom stealing capacity. Six causes ranked, with the flush, part, and cost for each.
- [Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-heater-smells-like-rotten-eggs/): Rotten-egg hot water is hydrogen sulfide from the magnesium anode reacting with tank bacteria. Swap to an aluminum-zinc rod and chlorine-shock the tank.
- [Why does one faucet have low pressure?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-faucet-has-low-water-pressure/): Low pressure at one faucet is almost always a clogged aerator. Unscrew and rinse it, then check the cartridge, shutoff, and supply line.
- [Why are all my drains slow at once?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-sewer-line-clogged/): Every drain slow at once means the main sewer line, usually tree roots, grease, or a collapsed pipe. Snaking runs $150–500, jetting $350–600.
- [Why is my tankless water heater showing an error code?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-tankless-water-heater-showing-error-code/): A tankless error code is most often hard-water scale in the heat exchanger. Descale it first, then check ignition, gas supply, and venting.
- [Why does my toilet fill up then drain slowly?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-toilet-fills-then-drains-slowly/): A toilet that fills then drains slowly has a partial clog in the trap. Plunge or auger it, and check the vent stack if it gurgles.
- [Why won't my water heater pilot stay lit?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-heater-pilot-wont-stay-lit/): A water heater pilot that dies when you release the knob is almost always a bad thermocouple, a $10–20 part. Clean the intake screen too.
- [Why is my water softener not using salt?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-softener-not-using-salt/): A softener that never uses salt usually has a salt bridge, a hard crust over an air gap. Break it with a broom handle, then check the timer.
- [Why does my well pump keep cycling on and off?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-well-pump-short-cycling/): A well pump short cycling on and off is almost always a waterlogged pressure tank. Recharge the air or replace the tank, $200–600.
- [Why do my drains smell like sewage?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-drains-smell-like-sewage/): Drains that smell like sewage usually have a dried-out P-trap letting sewer gas up. Run water to refill it, then check the wax ring and vent.
- [Why is my garbage disposal leaking?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garbage-disposal-leaking-water/): A leaking garbage disposal is usually a dried-out sink flange up top, a $5 putty fix; a leak from the bottom center means a failed seal and a new unit.
- [Why does my garbage disposal smell?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garbage-disposal-smells-bad/): A smelly garbage disposal is almost always rotting food stuck under the rubber splash baffle; a monthly grind of ice and citrus peel clears it for free.
- [Why is my heat pump water heater leaking water?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-heat-pump-water-heater-leaking-water/): A leaking heat pump water heater is usually a clogged condensate drain, not the tank; these hybrids make several gallons of water a day like an AC does.
- [Why isn't my heat pump water heater making hot water?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-heat-pump-water-heater-not-heating/): A hybrid water heater making weak hot water is usually set to a slow economy mode or has a clogged air filter, not a broken compressor. Here is the fix.
- [Why is my outdoor faucet leaking?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-hose-bib-leaking/): A leaking outdoor faucet is usually worn packing or a bad washer, a $5–20 fix; a freeze-cracked frost-free bib leaks inside the wall and needs replacing.
- [Why won't my main water shutoff valve turn?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-main-shutoff-valve-wont-turn/): A main water shutoff that will not turn is usually an old gate valve seized with mineral scale; do not force it, and plan a quarter-turn ball valve swap.
- [Why is my sink P-trap leaking?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-p-trap-leaking-under-the-sink/): A leaking sink P-trap is usually just loose slip nuts or a worn $5 washer at the joints; dry the cabinet, run water, and snug or replace the connections.
- [Why do my pipes bang when the water shuts off?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-pipes-banging-when-water-shuts-off/): Pipes that bang when the water shuts off are almost always water hammer; add $15–40 arrestors at the washer, dishwasher, and toilet valves to stop it.
- [Why is my well pressure tank waterlogged?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-pressure-tank-waterlogged/): A waterlogged water pressure tank almost always means a ruptured bladder; replacement runs $200–600, though a lost air pre-charge you can pump back for free.
- [Why is my septic system draining slowly?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-septic-system-draining-slowly/): A septic system draining slowly usually means a tank overdue for its 3–5 year pumping; gurgling and yard odor point to a full tank or a failing drain field.
- [Why is sewage backing up into my basement?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-sewer-line-backing-up/): Sewage backing up in the basement is usually a main sewer-line clog from roots or grease. Six ranked causes, with snaking at $150–500 and line-repair costs.
- [Why won't my shower get hot?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-shower-not-getting-hot/): A shower that won't get hot while other taps do is usually a failed mixing cartridge stuck toward cold. Ranked causes, with the $20–80 part and $150–300 pro cost.
- [Why does my shower go hot and cold?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-shower-water-going-hot-and-cold/): A shower that swings hot and cold usually has a worn pressure-balancing cartridge. Ranked causes, with the $20–80 cartridge swap and when to suspect the heater.
- [Why does my showerhead have low pressure?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-showerhead-has-low-pressure/): A weak showerhead is usually limescale clogging the spray nozzles. Ranked causes, with a free overnight vinegar soak that restores flow in hard-water homes.
- [Why does my sump pump turn on and off rapidly?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-sump-pump-cycling-on-and-off/): A sump pump that cycles on and off rapidly usually has a failed check valve letting water fall back into the pit. Ranked causes, with the $15–40 valve fix.
- [Why is my sump pump so loud?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-sump-pump-making-loud-noise/): A loud sump pump is usually check-valve slam as flow reverses. Ranked causes, with a $20–50 quiet check valve and a pit clean-out that hush the racket.
- [Why can't my tankless water heater keep up?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-tankless-water-heater-not-keeping-up/): A tankless heater that can't keep up is usually undersized for the flow, or scaled. Ranked causes, with a $150–250 descale that restores lost output.
- [Why does my toilet gurgle?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-toilet-bubbling-and-gurgling/): A gurgling toilet is usually a blocked vent stack or a developing main-drain clog pulling air through the trap. Ranked causes, with $150–500 to snake it.
- [Why does my toilet flush by itself?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-toilet-flushing-by-itself/): A toilet that flushes on its own is almost always a leaking flapper draining the tank. Ranked causes, with the $5–15 flapper swap and a dye test.
- [Why does my electric water heater trip the breaker?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-heater-tripping-the-breaker/): An electric water heater that trips the breaker usually has a shorted heating element. Ranked causes, with the $150–300 element swap and a 240V safety warning.
- [Why is my house water pressure too high?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-pressure-too-high/): Water pressure over 80 psi almost always means a failed pressure-reducing valve; a $10 gauge confirms it and a swap runs $250–450. Aim for 50–60 psi.
- [Why is my water still hard with a softener?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-water-softener-not-softening-water/): Still-hard water with a softener is usually a salt bridge, an open bypass valve, or spent resin. Check the bridge and bypass first; resin lasts 10–15 years.
- [Why is my well water pressure dropping?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-well-pump-losing-pressure/): Falling well pressure is usually a waterlogged pressure tank or a clogged sediment filter, not a dying pump. Check the tank, filter, and 40/60 switch first.
- [Why is my well pump running but no water?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-well-pump-running-but-no-water/): If your well pump runs but no water comes out, the level has usually dropped below the intake, or the pump is worn. Fixes range from free to $800–2,500.
- [Why is my toilet running?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-toilet-running/): A running toilet is usually a worn flapper that no longer seals, a $5–25 part. Five ranked causes, plus the dye test that finds a silent leak.
- [Why won't my garage door close?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garage-door-wont-close/): A garage door that won't close is almost always dirty or misaligned photo-eye safety sensors near the floor. Five ranked causes, each with the fix and cost.
- [Why won't my garage door open?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garage-door-wont-open/): A garage door that won't open is usually a broken torsion spring the opener can't lift. Six ranked causes, from dead remotes to snapped cables, with costs.
- [Why does my basement leak when it rains?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-basement-leaking-when-it-rains/): A basement that leaks only when it rains is usually surface water from poor grading and downspouts, not the wall. Ranked causes with fixes from $15 up.
- [Why does my garage door go back up before closing?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garage-door-reversing-before-it-closes/): A garage door that reverses before closing is usually dirty photo eyes or a close-force setting off. Timing tells you which. Ranked causes and fixes.
- [Why do my gutters overflow when it rains?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-gutters-overflowing/): Overflowing gutters are almost always clogged with leaves and debris. Clean them twice a year. Five ranked causes with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why does my roof only leak in heavy rain?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-roof-only-leaks-in-heavy-rain/): A roof that leaks only in heavy rain usually has failed flashing at valleys, chimneys, or vents. Five ranked causes with fixes from $150 to $1,000.
- [Why is my attic wet or frosty in winter?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-attic-frosty-or-wet-in-winter/): A wet or frosty attic in winter is warm indoor air condensing on the cold deck, not a roof leak. Air-seal and vent it. Ranked causes with costs.
- [Why is my attic so hot in summer?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-attic-too-hot-in-summer/): A too-hot attic in summer usually has inadequate soffit-to-ridge ventilation. Balanced airflow and insulation cut it. Five ranked causes with costs.
- [Why is there a water stain on my ceiling?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-ceiling-stained-after-heavy-rain/): A ceiling stain after heavy rain usually means a roof leak at flashing or worn shingles. The stain is often offset from the leak. Ranked causes and fixes.
- [Why is my chimney leaking?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-chimney-leaking-water/): A leaking chimney is usually a cracked crown, missing cap, or failed flashing. Six ranked causes with the fix and cost for each, from $150 up.
- [Why does smoke come into the room from my fireplace?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-fireplace-smoke-coming-into-the-room/): A fireplace smokes the room mostly from a partly closed damper or a creosote-clogged flue. Five ranked causes with the fix, the cost, and the CO safety you need.
- [Why is my foundation cracking?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-foundation-cracking/): Most foundation cracks are harmless settling and shrinkage hairlines; horizontal or widening cracks over 1/4 inch are the serious ones. Ranked causes, fixes, costs.
- [Why is my garage door so loud?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garage-door-loud-and-shaky/): A loud, shaky garage door usually just needs its rollers, hinges, and springs lubricated, a $10 twice-a-year fix. Ranked causes with the fix and cost for each.
- [Why does my garage opener run but the door won't move?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-garage-door-opener-runs-but-door-wont-move/): When the opener runs but the door won't move, the emergency-release trolley is usually disconnected, a free two-minute fix. Ranked causes with fixes and costs.
- [Why are my gutters sagging or pulling away?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-gutters-pulling-away-from-the-house/): Gutters pull away when trapped debris and water overload the hangers and rot the fascia. Clean, upgrade to hidden hangers, fix the fascia. Ranked causes and costs.
- [Why does my roof keep forming ice dams?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-roof-forming-ice-dams/): Roofs form ice dams when attic heat melts snow that refreezes at the cold eaves. The fix is a sealed, insulated attic, not just raking. Ranked causes and costs.
- [Why does my roof have black streaks?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-roof-getting-black-streaks/): Black roof streaks are Gloeocapsa magma algae, not dirt, feeding on shingle limestone. Soft-wash it ($250–600) and add zinc strips. Never pressure-wash the shingles.
- [Why are my roof shingles curling?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-roof-shingles-curling/): Shingles curl from age near the end of a 15–30 year life or from poor attic ventilation cooking them below. Ranked causes with fixes, costs, and when to reroof.
- [Why are my shingles losing granules?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-shingles-losing-granules/): Shingles shed granules mostly from normal aging near the end of a 15–30 year life; grit in the gutters is the tell. Ranked causes with fixes, costs, and hail claims.
- [Why are my windows so drafty?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-windows-drafty/): Drafty windows come from worn weatherstripping and cracked caulk, not the glass, a $10–40 fix. Ranked causes with fixes and costs, plus the DOE energy-loss figure.
- [Why are my windows foggy between the panes?](https://www.onotto.com/why-is-my-windows-foggy-between-the-panes/): Fog trapped between the panes means a failed insulated-glass seal, not dirt you can wipe, and replacing just the glass unit runs $150–500 versus a whole window.

## Repair or replace? (hub: https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace/, 81 pages)
The 50% rule plus age thresholds applied to one thing at a time, with a decision table by situation. Costs below are typical repair against typical replacement installed.
- [Should you repair or replace your electrical panel?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-electrical-panel/): $150–300 repair vs $1,500–4,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your standby generator?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-whole-house-generator/): $150–1,500 repair vs $5,000–12,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your home battery?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-battery-storage/): $500–2,000 repair vs $8,000–15,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your ceiling fan?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-ceiling-fan/): $10–60 repair vs $150–350 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your circuit breaker?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-circuit-breaker/): $150–300 repair vs $1,500–4,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your EV charger?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-ev-charger/): $100–300 repair vs $700–2,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your portable generator?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-portable-generator/): $20–200 repair vs $500–1,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your solar inverter?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-solar-inverter/): $150–400 repair vs $1,500–3,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your solar panels?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-solar-panels/): $200–500 repair vs $15,000–25,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-water-heater/): $150–600 repair vs $1,200–2,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your central air conditioner?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-central-air-conditioner/): $150–650 repair vs $5,000–10,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your furnace?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-furnace/): $150–1,500 repair vs $4,000–8,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your heat pump?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-heat-pump/): $200–1,500 repair vs $5,500–12,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your AC compressor?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-ac-compressor/): $1,500–2,800 repair vs $5,000–10,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your furnace blower motor?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-blower-motor/): $300–1,200 repair vs $4,000–8,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your boiler?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-boiler/): $200–1,200 repair vs $5,000–10,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your evaporator coil?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-evaporator-coil/): $900–1,800 repair vs $5,000–9,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace a cracked heat exchanger?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-heat-exchanger/): $1,500–3,000 repair vs $4,000–8,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your mini-split?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-mini-split/): $150–800 repair vs $3,000–5,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your air handler?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-air-handler/): $300–1,500 repair vs $2,000–3,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your AC condenser unit?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-condenser-unit/): $150–600 repair vs $5,000–10,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your dehumidifier?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-dehumidifier/): $150–500 repair vs $200–350 (portable), $1,500–2,500 (whole-house) replace
- [Should you repair or replace your ductwork?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-ductwork/): $1,000–3,000 repair vs $3,000–8,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your radiator?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-radiator/): $10–200 repair vs $300–1,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your thermostat?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-thermostat/): $5–50 repair vs $15–50 DIY, $100–300 installed replace
- [Should you repair or replace your dishwasher?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-dishwasher/): $150–500 repair vs $600–1,400 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your refrigerator?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-refrigerator/): $100–600 repair vs $800–2,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your microwave?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-microwave/): $100–300 repair vs $300–700 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your range?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-range/): $100–350 repair vs $600–2,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your cooktop?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-cooktop/): $100–350 repair vs $500–2,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your freezer?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-freezer/): $100–400 repair vs $250–900 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your ice maker?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-ice-maker/): $70–500 repair vs $1,500–3,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your induction range?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-induction-range/): $200–700 repair vs $1,000–3,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your wall oven?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-oven/): $150–500 repair vs $1,500–4,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your range hood?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-range-hood/): $80–250 repair vs $350–1,800 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your dryer?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-dryer/): $50–350 repair vs $600–1,300 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your washing machine?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-washing-machine/): $150–450 repair vs $600–1,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your lawn mower?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-lawn-mower/): $20–150 repair vs $250–600 push, $1,800–4,000 rider replace
- [Should you repair or replace your gas grill?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-grill/): $20–120 repair vs $300–1,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your pool pump?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-pool-pump/): $20–400 repair vs $500–1,500 installed replace
- [Should you repair or replace your hot tub?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-hot-tub/): $200–700 repair vs $4,000–12,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your pool filter?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-pool-filter/): $50–300 repair vs $300–1,200 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your pool heater?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-pool-heater/): $150–800 repair vs $2,000–4,500 gas, $3,000–6,000 heat pump replace
- [Should you repair or replace your pressure washer?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-pressure-washer/): $30–120 repair vs $120–400 electric, $300–800 gas replace
- [Should you repair or replace your snow blower?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-snow-blower/): $5–150 repair vs $600–1,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your sprinkler system?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-sprinkler-system/): $5–300 in parts, plus $75–150 per hour labor repair vs $2,500–6,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your faucet?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-faucet/): $10–40 repair vs $150–400 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your garbage disposal?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-garbage-disposal/): $0–40 repair vs $150–400 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your sump pump?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-sump-pump/): $20–150 repair vs $400–750 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your toilet?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-toilet/): $10–50 repair vs $250–600 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your heat-pump water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-heat-pump-water-heater/): $200–700 repair vs $2,000–3,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your sewer line?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-sewer-line/): $1,500–5,000 repair vs $5,000–15,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your tankless water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-tankless-water-heater/): $150–600 repair vs $2,500–4,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your water softener?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-water-softener/): $150–400 repair vs $1,000–2,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your well pump?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-well-pump/): $75–400 repair vs $1,000–2,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your well pressure tank?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-pressure-tank/): $0–150 repair vs $400–900 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your septic drain field?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-septic-drain-field/): $500–2,000 repair vs $5,000–20,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your septic tank?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-septic-tank/): $150–1,200 repair vs $3,000–7,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your sewage ejector pump?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-sewage-ejector-pump/): $50–200 repair vs $600–1,400 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your shower valve?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-shower-valve/): $20–150 repair vs $300–800 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your asphalt shingle roof?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-asphalt-shingle-roof/): $300–1,200 repair vs $6,000–15,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your deck?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-deck/): $1,000–5,000 repair vs $5,000–20,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your fence?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-fence/): $150–1,000 repair vs $2,000–8,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your garage door opener?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-garage-door-opener/): $60–250 repair vs $300–600 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your gutters?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-gutters/): $100–500 repair vs $1,000–3,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your windows?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-windows/): $150–400 repair vs $400–1,200 per window replace
- [Should you repair or replace your chimney?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-chimney/): $500–2,500 repair vs $4,000–15,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your driveway?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-driveway/): $200–1,500 repair vs $3,000–10,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your foundation?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-foundation/): $500–3,000 per repair repair vs $20,000–100,000 (rare) replace
- [Should you repair or replace your garage door?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-garage-door/): $100–350 repair vs $800–2,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your vinyl siding?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-vinyl-siding/): $300–1,000 repair vs $8,000–20,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your attic insulation?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-attic-insulation/): $1,000–2,500 repair vs $2,000–6,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your fascia board?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-fascia/): $200–600 repair vs $300–1,500 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your fiber-cement siding?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-fiber-cement-siding/): $300–1,200 repair vs $12,000–25,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your flat roof?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-flat-roof/): $300–1,200 repair vs $5,000–12,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your metal roof?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-metal-roof/): $300–1,500 repair vs $10,000–30,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your retaining wall?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-retaining-wall/): $500–5,000 repair vs $3,000–15,000 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your skylight?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-skylight/): $150–600 repair vs $600–1,800 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your stucco?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-stucco/): $500–3,000 repair vs $8,000–25,000 replace
- [Should you recharge or replace your fire extinguisher?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-fire-extinguisher/): $15–40 repair vs $20–60 replace
- [Should you repair or replace your security system?](https://www.onotto.com/repair-or-replace-security-system/): $5–250 repair vs $300–1,500 replace

## The homeowner's glossary (what is X) (hub: https://www.onotto.com/glossary/, 150 pages)
Plain definitions of the parts and ratings behind every system: where it lives, what it does, how it fails, its maintenance interval, and what replacing it costs.
- [What is a circuit breaker?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-circuit-breaker/): A circuit breaker is a resettable switch in your panel that cuts power when a circuit draws more current than its wiring can safely carry. Breakers cost $5–15.
- [What is a GFCI outlet?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-gfci-outlet/): A GFCI outlet has Test and Reset buttons and cuts power in about 1/40 of a second when current leaks to ground. Test monthly; replace every 10–15 years.
- [What is an AFCI?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-afci-outlet/): An AFCI is a breaker that detects the erratic arcing from damaged or loose wiring and cuts the circuit before it starts a fire. AFCI breakers run $40–60.
- [What is an electrical panel?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-electrical-panel/): An electrical panel splits incoming utility power into your home's circuits, each behind its own breaker. Most run 100–200 amps and last 25–40 years.
- [What is an EV charger?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-ev-charger/): An EV charger, or EVSE, feeds power to an electric car. Level 1 adds 3–5 miles of range per hour; Level 2 adds 20–40 and costs $400–800.
- [What is a carbon monoxide detector?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-carbon-monoxide-detector/): A carbon monoxide detector alarms when the odorless gas from a furnace, water heater, or car reaches unsafe levels. The sensor expires in 5–7 years.
- [What is a home battery?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-home-battery/): A home battery stores 10–16 kWh from solar or off-peak grid power to run your house during outages and peak-rate hours. Installed: $10,000–18,000.
- [What is a smoke detector?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-smoke-detector/): A smoke detector sounds an alarm when it senses smoke. Ionization models react faster to flames, photoelectric to smoldering. Replace the unit every 10 years.
- [What is a solar inverter?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-solar-inverter/): A solar inverter converts the DC power from your panels into the AC your house uses. It lasts 10–15 years, far less than the panels, and costs $1,500–3,000.
- [What is a solar panel?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-solar-panel/): A solar panel turns sunlight into DC electricity with silicon cells. They lose about 0.5% output a year and carry 25-year warranties. Systems run $15,000–30,000.
- [What is a whole-house surge protector?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-surge-protector/): A whole-house surge protector mounts at the electrical panel and clamps voltage spikes before they reach your wiring. Parts run $100–300 plus install.
- [What is a whole-house generator?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-whole-house-generator/): A standby generator is a permanent unit that starts within seconds of an outage and powers the whole home on natural gas or propane. Installed: $5,000–15,000.
- [What is 200 amp service?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-200-amp-service/): 200-amp service means the utility feed, meter, and panel can carry 200 amps at 240 volts, roughly 48 kW. Upgrading from 100 amps costs $2,000–4,000.
- [What is a ceiling fan (and how does it save energy)?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-ceiling-fan/): A ceiling fan cools people, not rooms: it moves air across skin so you can raise the thermostat about 4 degrees. Reverse it on low in winter.
- [What is a doorbell transformer?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-doorbell-transformer/): A doorbell transformer steps 120-volt power down to the 16–24 volts a wired chime or video doorbell needs. Undersized ones cause flicker; $10–30.
- [What is a Federal Pacific panel?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-federal-pacific-panel/): A Federal Pacific panel is a 1950s-1980s breaker box whose Stab-Lok breakers can fail to trip on an overload, a known fire risk. Replacement: $1,500–4,000.
- [What is a GFCI breaker?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-gfci-breaker/): A GFCI breaker puts ground-fault protection at the panel instead of the outlet, guarding every device on the circuit. It trips at 5 mA and costs $40–70.
- [What is a portable generator?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-portable-generator/): A portable generator is a wheeled gas or dual-fuel engine you run outdoors during an outage. Never backfeed it into an outlet. Units cost $500–2,000.
- [What is a subpanel?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-subpanel/): A subpanel is a secondary breaker box fed from the main panel to serve a garage, addition, or shop. Neutrals and grounds must stay separate. $500–1,500.
- [What is a transfer switch?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-transfer-switch/): A transfer switch links a generator to house circuits and isolates them from the grid, so power cannot backfeed onto utility lines. $500–1,500 installed.
- [What is aluminum wiring?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-aluminum-wiring/): Aluminum wiring is solid aluminum branch-circuit wire run in US homes built 1965–1975. Connections loosen and overheat; approved pigtail fixes cost $50–150 each.
- [What is knob and tube wiring?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-knob-and-tube-wiring/): Knob and tube wiring is the pre-1950s method of running separate hot and neutral wires on ceramic knobs, with no ground. A full rewire runs $8,000–20,000.
- [What is a double-pole breaker?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-double-pole-breaker/): A double-pole breaker spans two panel slots and feeds 240 volts to one circuit: range, dryer, water heater, AC, or EV charger. Breakers cost $10–40.
- [What is an anode rod?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-anode-rod/): An anode rod is a sacrificial metal rod inside a water heater that corrodes so the steel tank does not. Check it every 3–5 years; the part is $20–50.
- [What is a condensate drain line?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-condensate-drain-line/): A condensate drain line is the white PVC pipe that carries water off the AC evaporator coil to a drain. Flush it each spring: clearing a clog runs $75–250.
- [What is a flame sensor?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-flame-sensor/): A flame sensor is a thin metal rod that sits in the furnace burner flame and proves it lit. A dirty sensor causes short no-heat cycles; cleaning runs $80–250.
- [What is a furnace igniter?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-furnace-igniter/): A furnace igniter is the brittle silicon-carbide element that glows orange to light the gas burners. It cracks every 3–7 years; replacement runs $150–350.
- [What is a heat pump?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-heat-pump/): A heat pump is an electric system that heats and cools by moving heat instead of burning fuel. It lasts 12–15 years and costs $5,000–12,000 installed.
- [What is a mini-split?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-mini-split/): A mini-split is a ductless heat pump: a wall-mounted indoor head linked to an outdoor unit through a 3-inch hole. Installed cost runs $3,000–8,000 per zone.
- [What is an evaporator coil?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-evaporator-coil/): An evaporator coil is the indoor AC coil where refrigerant absorbs heat and air gets cold. Freeze-ups and leaks are the failures; replacement runs $900–2,500.
- [What is an HVAC capacitor?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-hvac-capacitor/): An HVAC capacitor is the cylinder that stores the jolt of energy the AC compressor and fan motors need to start. The part costs $10–40; installed, $150–400.
- [What is a blower motor?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-blower-motor/): A blower motor is the fan motor in your furnace or air handler that pushes heated and cooled air through the ducts. Replacement runs $450–1,200 installed.
- [What is a central air conditioner?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-central-air-conditioner/): Central air is a split system: an outdoor condenser and an indoor coil that cool the whole house through ducts. Expect 12–17 years and $4,500–9,000 to replace.
- [What is a contactor?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-contactor/): A contactor is the electrically operated switch in the AC outdoor unit that sends 240 volts to the compressor and fan. Replacement runs $150–350.
- [What is a furnace?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-furnace/): A furnace is a forced-air heater that burns gas or uses electric elements and blows warm air through your ducts. Most last 15–20 years; $4,000–8,000 to replace.
- [What is a heat exchanger?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-heat-exchanger/): A heat exchanger is the sealed metal chamber that moves burner heat into your air while keeping combustion gases out. A crack can leak CO: $1,500–3,500 to replace.
- [What is a MERV rating?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-merv-rating/): MERV rates how well an air filter traps particles, on a 1 to 16 scale. Most homes run best at MERV 8–13; higher ratings can choke airflow in older systems.
- [What is a SEER rating?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-seer-rating/): SEER measures how much cooling an AC or heat pump delivers per unit of electricity across a season. New units are rated in SEER2, typically 14–20+.
- [What is a thermostat?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-thermostat/): A thermostat senses room temperature and tells your furnace, AC, or heat pump when to run. Models range from $20 dials to $120–300 smart Wi-Fi units.
- [What is an air handler?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-air-handler/): An air handler is the indoor cabinet that holds the blower and evaporator coil and pushes conditioned air through your ducts. It pairs with a heat pump or AC.
- [What is an HVAC filter?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-hvac-filter/): An HVAC filter is the pleated panel in your return duct that catches dust before it reaches the blower and coil. Standard 1-inch filters cost $10–25.
- [What is a boiler?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-boiler/): A boiler heats water and circulates it through radiators or radiant floor loops instead of blowing hot air. Most last 15–30 years; $4,000–9,000 to replace.
- [What is a condensate pump?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-condensate-pump/): A condensate pump is a small basin and pump that lifts AC or furnace condensate to a drain when gravity cannot. Units cost $40–100, $150–300 installed.
- [What is a condenser unit?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-condenser-unit/): A condenser is the outdoor box of a split AC or heat pump, holding the compressor, coil, and fan. It dumps indoor heat outside and lasts 12–17 years.
- [What is a whole-house dehumidifier?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-dehumidifier/): A whole-house dehumidifier ties into your ductwork and pulls moisture from every room, holding indoor humidity near 45–50%. Installed $1,500–3,000.
- [What is a draft inducer motor?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-draft-inducer/): A draft inducer is the small fan that clears combustion gas from a furnace before the burners light. It runs on every cycle. Replacement runs $300–600.
- [What is a pilot light?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-pilot-light/): A pilot light is a small standing gas flame that lights a furnace, water heater, or fireplace burner on demand. Why it goes out and what a fix costs.
- [What is a radiator?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-radiator/): A radiator is the metal unit that releases a boiler's heat into a room from hot water or steam. How to spot the type you have, bleed it, and what parts cost.
- [What is a ton of cooling?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-ton-of-cooling/): A ton of cooling is 12,000 BTU per hour of heat removal, not a weight. Homes need roughly one ton per 400–600 sq ft, and oversizing hurts comfort.
- [What is a whole-house humidifier?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-whole-house-humidifier/): A whole-house humidifier mounts on furnace ductwork and adds moisture to heated air, holding winter humidity at 30–40%. Pads cost $15–30 a year to swap.
- [What is an AFUE rating?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-afue-rating/): AFUE is the share of fuel a furnace turns into usable heat: 80% for standard models, 90–98% for condensing ones. What the rating changes on your gas bill.
- [What is an HRV?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-hrv/): An HRV, or heat recovery ventilator, brings filtered outdoor air into a sealed home while keeping 60–85% of the heat in the air it exhausts. Costs inside.
- [What is a BTU?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-btu/): A BTU is the heat needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. HVAC gear is rated in BTU per hour: 12,000 BTU/hr equals one ton of cooling.
- [What is an induction range?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-induction-range/): An induction range is a stove that heats magnetic cookware directly with an electromagnetic field: faster boils, a cool surface, and a 240V, 40–50A circuit.
- [What is a convection oven?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-convection-oven/): A convection oven is an oven with a fan that circulates hot air, so food browns evenly and cooks faster. Drop the temperature 25F or cut the time by a quarter.
- [What is a range hood?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-range-hood/): A range hood is the canopy over the cooktop that captures grease, smoke, and steam. Ducted hoods exhaust it outside; recirculating hoods filter and return it.
- [What is a refrigerator water filter?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-refrigerator-water-filter/): A refrigerator water filter is the carbon cartridge that cleans the water feeding the dispenser and ice maker. Replace it every 6 months; cartridges run $30–60.
- [What is a dishwasher air gap?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-dishwasher-air-gap/): A dishwasher air gap is the chrome cylinder on the sink deck that stops dirty water from siphoning back into the dishwasher. If it spits, a drain line is clogged.
- [What is a refrigerator compressor?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-refrigerator-compressor/): A refrigerator compressor is the sealed pump that circulates refrigerant to move heat out of the fridge. Replacing one runs $300–600 installed.
- [What is an ice maker?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-ice-maker/): An ice maker is the automatic unit in a freezer that fills a mold, freezes it, and ejects cubes into the bin. Most produce 3–5 pounds of ice a day.
- [What is an induction cooktop?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-induction-cooktop/): An induction cooktop is a glass cooking surface with coils that heat only magnetic pans. Test yours with a fridge magnet. Expect $1,000–2,500 plus a 240V circuit.
- [What is a downdraft vent?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-downdraft-vent/): A downdraft vent pulls smoke and steam down at the cooktop and ducts it out under the floor. Used on islands, it costs $600–2,000 and needs a short duct run.
- [What is a dryer vent?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-dryer-vent/): A dryer vent is the duct that carries hot, moist air and lint from the dryer outdoors. Clean the whole run yearly; a pro charges $100–200.
- [What is a heat pump dryer?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-heat-pump-dryer/): A heat pump dryer is a ventless dryer that condenses moisture out of recycled air instead of blowing it outside. It uses about half the energy; $1,000–1,800.
- [What is a washing machine supply hose?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-washer-supply-hose/): A washer supply hose is one of the two pressurized hoses feeding the washing machine. Replace rubber hoses every 5 years; braided stainless costs $10–20.
- [What is a lint trap?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-lint-trap/): A lint trap is the removable screen that catches lint from each dryer load. Empty it every cycle and wash the film off it 2–4 times a year.
- [What is a washing machine drain pan?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-washing-machine-drain-pan/): A washing machine drain pan is a shallow tray under the washer that catches drips and slow leaks. Pans cost $20–50 and hold roughly 5–8 gallons.
- [What is a dryer vent booster fan?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-dryer-vent-booster-fan/): A dryer vent booster fan is an inline duct fan that adds airflow when the vent run is too long for the dryer. Expect $150–400 plus wiring.
- [What is a pool pump?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-pool-pump/): A pool pump is the motor and impeller that pushes water through the filter and heater. Life is 8–12 years; replacement runs $500–1,500 installed.
- [What is a pool filter?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-pool-filter/): A pool filter strains dirt out of circulating water. Sand catches 20–40 microns, cartridge 10–15, DE 3–5. Clean it when pressure climbs 8–10 PSI.
- [What is a hot tub (spa system)?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-hot-tub/): A hot tub is a heated, jetted tub of 300–500 gallons run by a pump, heater, filter, and control pack. Drain it every 3–4 months; spas last 10–20 years.
- [What is a pool heater?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-pool-heater/): A pool heater warms pool water to stretch the swim season. Gas heats fast; a heat pump costs less to run. Installed, expect $2,000–6,000.
- [What is a pressure washer?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-pressure-washer/): A pressure washer forces hose water through a narrow nozzle at 1,300–4,000 PSI to clean hard surfaces. Home units cost $100–500.
- [What is a salt water chlorinator?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-salt-water-chlorinator/): A salt water chlorinator makes chlorine from dissolved salt as pool water flows through a cell. Cells last 3–7 years and cost $200–800.
- [What is a sprinkler head?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-sprinkler-head/): A sprinkler head is the pop-up nozzle that waters one slice of lawn. Sprays throw 5–15 feet, rotors 20–45. Heads cost $5–15 each.
- [What is a sprinkler valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-sprinkler-valve/): A sprinkler valve is the solenoid-operated valve that opens and closes one irrigation zone. Repair parts run $10–30; a new valve $75–150.
- [What is a garbage disposal?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-garbage-disposal/): A garbage disposal is the motorized grinder under a kitchen sink that shreds food scraps for the drain line. Life 8–12 years; $150–400 installed.
- [What is a heat pump water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-heat-pump-water-heater/): A heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air to warm the water, using about a third the power of a standard electric tank. $1,800–3,500 installed.
- [What is a main shutoff valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-main-shutoff-valve/): The main shutoff valve stops every drop of water entering the house. It usually sits where the supply line comes in, near the meter. Replacement runs $150–400.
- [What is a P-trap?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-p-trap/): A P-trap is the U-shaped bend under a sink, tub, or shower that holds a plug of water to block sewer gas. A PVC replacement kit costs $8–20.
- [What is a pressure reducing valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-pressure-reducing-valve/): A pressure reducing valve drops high street water pressure to a safe 50–60 psi before it reaches your fixtures. PRVs last 7–12 years; $250–450 installed.
- [What is a sewer cleanout?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-sewer-cleanout/): A sewer cleanout is the capped access port that lets a plumber snake or camera your sewer line directly. Adding one where none exists runs $600–2,000.
- [What is a sump pump?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-sump-pump/): A sump pump sits in a pit at the low point of a basement and pumps groundwater out before it floods the floor. Life 7–10 years; $400–1,200 installed.
- [What is a tankless water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-tankless-water-heater/): A tankless water heater heats water only while a tap runs, so nothing sits hot in a tank. It lasts 18–20 years and needs a yearly descale. $2,500–5,000 installed.
- [What is a TPR valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-tpr-valve/): A TPR valve is the water heater safety valve that opens if the tank passes about 210°F or 150 psi. Test it yearly; the part is $15–30, or $150–250 installed.
- [What is a water softener?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-water-softener/): A water softener swaps calcium and magnesium for sodium by ion exchange, so scale stops forming in pipes and appliances. $800–2,500 installed.
- [What is a wax ring?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-wax-ring/): A wax ring is the doughnut of wax that seals a toilet base to the floor drain flange, blocking water and sewer gas. Parts run $5–15; plumbers charge $150–300.
- [What is an expansion tank?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-expansion-tank/): An expansion tank is a small bladder tank near the water heater that absorbs the pressure surge from heated water in a closed system. Budget $150–350 installed.
- [What is a backflow preventer?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-backflow-preventer/): A backflow preventer is a valve assembly that stops contaminated water from siphoning back into your drinking supply. Annual testing runs $75–150 in most cities.
- [What is a hose bib?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-hose-bib/): A hose bib is the outdoor faucet you screw a garden hose onto. Standard bibs must be drained before winter or the pipe bursts inside the wall. $150–350 installed.
- [What is a septic tank?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-septic-tank/): A septic tank is a buried 1,000–1,500 gallon tank where solids settle and bacteria digest household waste. Pump it every 3–5 years for $300–600.
- [What is a sewer line?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-sewer-line/): A sewer line is the buried lateral pipe that carries all household waste to the city main. Camera inspections run $150–350; replacement costs $3,000–10,000.
- [What is a shower valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-shower-valve/): A shower valve is the mixing valve behind the wall that blends hot and cold water. A worn cartridge causes most drips; swaps run $50–150 and a full valve $350–800.
- [What is a toilet flapper?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-toilet-flapper/): A toilet flapper is the rubber seal in the tank that lifts to flush and drops to hold water back. A worn one wastes 200+ gallons a day; the part costs $5–15.
- [What is a water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-water-heater/): A water heater heats and stores the hot water for a house, running on gas or electricity. A 40–50 gallon tank lasts 8–12 years; replacement runs $1,200–2,200.
- [What is a well pump?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-well-pump/): A well pump is the motor that draws water from a private well into the house. Submersibles hang deep in the casing; jet pumps sit above ground. $400–3,000.
- [What is a battery backup sump pump?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-battery-backup-sump-pump/): A battery backup sump pump is a second pump on a deep-cycle battery that runs when the power fails or the main pump quits. $150–500 for the unit plus battery.
- [What is a dip tube?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-dip-tube/): A dip tube is the plastic tube inside a water heater that sends incoming cold water to the bottom of the tank. A cracked one turns hot water lukewarm.
- [What is a faucet aerator?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-faucet-aerator/): A faucet aerator is the screened tip that screws onto a spout and mixes air into the stream. A clogged one, not low house pressure, is why flow drops.
- [What is a faucet cartridge?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-faucet-cartridge/): A faucet cartridge is the replaceable valve inside a single-handle faucet that sets flow and temperature. A worn one drips. The part costs $10–40.
- [What is a frost-free sillcock?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-frost-free-sillcock/): A frost-free sillcock is an outdoor faucet with its valve seat 6–12 inches inside the heated wall, so no water sits in the exposed pipe. $150–350 installed.
- [What is a plumbing vent?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-plumbing-vent/): A plumbing vent is the pipe that lets air into the drain system and gas out through the roof, so water flows and traps stay full. Clearing one: $150–400.
- [What is a pressure tank?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-pressure-tank/): A pressure tank stores well water under air pressure so the pump does not start at every tap. A waterlogged tank burns out pumps. $400–800 installed.
- [What is a septic drain field?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-septic-drain-field/): A septic drain field is the grid of perforated pipe and gravel trenches where liquid from the tank soaks into the soil. A new field runs $5,000–20,000.
- [What is a sewage ejector pump?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-sewage-ejector-pump/): A sewage ejector pump lifts waste from a basement bathroom or laundry up to the main sewer line above it. Life 7–10 years; $400–1,200 installed.
- [What is a shower cartridge?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-shower-cartridge/): A shower cartridge is the replaceable core inside a shower valve that mixes hot and cold and controls flow. The part runs $20–80; a plumber charges $150–300.
- [What is a sump pump check valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-sump-pump-check-valve/): A sump pump check valve is a one-way valve on the discharge pipe that stops pumped water from draining back into the pit. The part costs $10–25.
- [What is a toilet fill valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-toilet-fill-valve/): A toilet fill valve is the tower in the tank that refills it with clean water after a flush and shuts off at the set level. The part costs $10–20.
- [What is a whole-house water filtration system?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-water-filtration-system/): A whole-house water filtration system treats every gallon entering the home, usually a sediment pre-filter plus a carbon tank. Installed cost runs $800–3,000.
- [What is a water hammer arrestor?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-water-hammer-arrestor/): A water hammer arrestor is a sealed air-cushion device that absorbs the shock when a fast valve closes, stopping the bang in your pipes. Parts cost $10–25.
- [What is an angle stop?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-angle-stop/): An angle stop is the small shutoff valve under a sink or behind a toilet that cuts water to that one fixture. The valve costs $8–20, or $100–200 installed.
- [What is a brine tank?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-brine-tank/): A brine tank is the shorter tank beside a water softener that holds the salt and mixes the brine that recharges the resin. Clean it once a year.
- [What is a flush valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-flush-valve/): A flush valve is the large opening at the bottom of a toilet tank, capped by the flapper, that dumps water into the bowl. The kit costs $15–30.
- [What is a chimney cap?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-chimney-cap/): A chimney cap is the metal cover over the flue opening that keeps rain, snow, and animals out while smoke escapes. Installed cost runs $150–500.
- [What is a crawl space?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-crawl-space/): A crawl space is the shallow void under a house, usually 18 inches to 4 feet tall, that holds ducts, pipes, and wiring. Encapsulation runs $3,000–8,000.
- [What is a French drain?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-french-drain/): A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that carries groundwater away from a wet basement or soggy yard. Installed: $1,500–6,000.
- [What is a gutter guard?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-gutter-guard/): A gutter guard is a mesh, screen, or reverse-curve cover that blocks leaves while letting rain into the gutter. Cost: $1–40 per foot installed.
- [What is a ridge vent?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-ridge-vent/): A ridge vent is a continuous vent along the roof peak that lets hot, humid attic air escape while soffit vents pull cool air in. Retrofit: $300–650.
- [What is a garage door opener?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-garage-door-opener/): A garage door opener is the ceiling-mounted motor that raises, lowers, and holds a garage door closed. Chain, belt, or screw drive; $200–600 installed.
- [What is a metal roof?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-metal-roof/): A metal roof is steel or aluminum panels that shed water and snow and resist fire. Standing seam lasts 40–70 years; exposed-fastener panels need screw service.
- [What is an asphalt shingle roof?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-asphalt-shingle-roof/): An asphalt shingle roof is overlapping fiberglass-and-asphalt shingles, the default US roof. 3-tab lasts 15–20 years, architectural 25–30.
- [What is an R-value?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-r-value/): R-value measures how well insulation resists heat flow; higher is better. The DOE calls for R-38 to R-60 in most attics, roughly 13–20 inches of blown fill.
- [What is fiber cement siding?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-fiber-cement-siding/): Fiber cement siding is a cement, sand, and cellulose board that mimics wood but resists fire, rot, and insects. It lasts 30–50 years at $10–16 per square foot.
- [What is flashing?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-flashing/): Flashing is thin sheet metal installed at roof joints, chimneys, valleys, and wall transitions to shed water. Most roof leaks start there, not at the shingles.
- [What is vinyl siding?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-vinyl-siding/): Vinyl siding is interlocking PVC panels, the most common US cladding: no painting, a 20–40 year life, and it must hang loose or it buckles.
- [What is a chimney crown?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-chimney-crown/): A chimney crown is the sloped concrete slab on top of a masonry chimney that sheds rain off the brick. Sealing cracks costs $150–400; a rebuild is $800–2,500.
- [What is a chimney flue?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-chimney-flue/): A chimney flue is the lined passage that carries smoke and combustion gases out of the house. Sweep at 1/8 inch of creosote; relining runs $2,000–5,000.
- [What is a deck ledger board?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-deck-ledger/): A deck ledger board is the framing member bolting a deck to the house and carrying half its load. Bad ledger attachment causes most deck collapses.
- [What is a downspout?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-downspout/): A downspout is the vertical pipe that carries gutter water to the ground. It should discharge 4–6 feet from the foundation, or it fills your basement.
- [What is a drip edge?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-drip-edge/): A drip edge is the L-shaped metal strip along roof eaves and rakes that sends runoff into the gutter instead of behind it. Retrofits run $2–4 per foot.
- [What is a fascia board?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-fascia-board/): Fascia is the horizontal board capping the rafter ends at the roof edge; it is what your gutters screw into. Repairs run $6–20 per linear foot.
- [What is a flat roof?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-flat-roof/): A flat roof is a low-slope roof waterproofed with a membrane, not shingles; it still pitches to drain. Membranes last 15–25 years.
- [What is a garage door (system)?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-garage-door/): A garage door system is the panels plus springs, cables, tracks, and rollers; the springs do the lifting, not the opener. New doors run $600–2,500.
- [What is a garage door torsion spring?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-garage-door-torsion-spring/): A torsion spring is the wound steel spring above your garage door that counterbalances its weight. Rated for about 10,000 cycles; $150–350 installed.
- [What is a radiant barrier?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-radiant-barrier/): A radiant barrier is reflective foil in the attic that bounces roof heat away and cuts cooling load in hot climates. Installed: $0.15–0.75 a square foot.
- [What is a retaining wall?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-retaining-wall/): A retaining wall holds back a slope of soil. Drainage decides how long it stands: without gravel backfill and weep holes, expect leaning by year 10.
- [What is a roof boot?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-roof-boot/): A roof boot is the rubber collar sealing where a plumbing vent pipe exits the roof. The rubber cracks in 10–15 years; replacement runs $150–400.
- [What is a skylight?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-skylight/): A skylight is a roof window, fixed or venting. Leaks come from tired flashing, not glass: reflashing runs $300–800, a new unit $900–2,500 installed.
- [What is a soffit?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-soffit/): The soffit is the finished underside of your roof overhang, from wall to fascia. It hides the rafter tails and vents the attic. Repair: $6–20 per foot.
- [What is a soffit vent?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-soffit-vent/): Soffit vents are the slotted openings under the roof overhang that feed cool air into the attic. Blocked by insulation, they cause mold and ice dams.
- [What is a vapor barrier?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-vapor-barrier/): A vapor barrier is sheeting that stops moisture from moving through a wall, floor, or crawl space. Put it on the wrong side and it traps the damage.
- [What is caulk?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-caulk/): Caulk is the flexible sealant that closes gaps around windows, doors, trim, and tubs. It cracks in 5–10 years, so re-sealing is routine maintenance.
- [What is stucco?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-stucco/): Stucco is cement plaster applied in coats over lath. Hairline cracks are normal; wide cracks let water behind the wall. Patching runs $8–20 a square foot.
- [What is weatherstripping?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-weatherstripping/): Weatherstripping is the flexible seal around doors and operable windows that blocks drafts. Replacing a worn strip costs $10–30 per door and takes 20 minutes.
- [What is a fire extinguisher?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-fire-extinguisher/): A fire extinguisher is a pressurized cylinder that smothers a fire. Keep an ABC-rated unit on every floor, check the gauge monthly, and replace it at 10–12 years.
- [What is a radon mitigation system?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-radon-mitigation-system/): A radon mitigation system vents radioactive soil gas from under the slab to above the roof through a pipe and fan. Install cost runs $800–2,500 in 2026.
- [What is a water leak sensor?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-water-leak-sensor/): A water leak sensor is a battery puck that alarms the moment its contacts touch water. Put one under each appliance; basic units cost $15–50 each in 2026.
- [What is a smart water shutoff valve?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-a-smart-water-shutoff/): A smart water shutoff valve mounts on the main line and closes the water automatically when it senses a leak, freeze, or abnormal flow. Units run $150–500.
- [What is an egress window?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-egress-window/): An egress window is a window big enough to escape through in a fire: 5.7 sq ft of clear opening, 20 in wide, 24 in high. Cutting one in runs $2,500–6,000.
- [What is an ice dam?](https://www.onotto.com/what-is-an-ice-dam/): An ice dam is a ridge of ice at the roof edge that traps meltwater until it seeps under the shingles. The cause is attic heat loss, not cold. Steaming: $300–600.

## Step-by-step how-tos (hub: https://www.onotto.com/how-tos/, 60 pages)
DIY walkthroughs with the tools, the safety, and the exact order of operations, plus an honest price for hiring it out. Times and difficulty below.
- [How do you reset a GFCI outlet?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-reset-a-gfci-outlet/): 5 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you reset a tripped circuit breaker?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-reset-a-tripped-circuit-breaker/): 5 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you balance a wobbly ceiling fan?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-balance-a-wobbly-ceiling-fan/): 20–30 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you test and maintain a standby generator?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-exercise-a-standby-generator/): 30 minutes monthly, Moderate DIY
- [How do you map and label a circuit breaker panel?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-label-your-electrical-panel/): 1–2 hours, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace a GFCI outlet?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-gfci-outlet/): 20–30 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you replace a hardwired smoke detector?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-hardwired-smoke-detector/): 15–20 minutes per unit, Easy DIY
- [Which way should a ceiling fan spin in winter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-reverse-a-ceiling-fan-for-winter/): 5 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you drain a water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-drain-a-water-heater/): 45–60 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean a furnace flame sensor?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-furnace-flame-sensor/): 20–30 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean the condenser coils on an outdoor AC unit?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-ac-condenser-coils/): 30–45 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clear a clogged AC condensate drain line?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clear-a-clogged-ac-condensate-drain-line/): About 30 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you install a smart thermostat yourself?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-install-a-smart-thermostat/): 30–45 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean a ductless mini-split head?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-mini-split/): 60–90 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you bleed a hot-water radiator?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-bleed-a-radiator/): 15–20 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean a furnace-mounted whole-house humidifier?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-whole-house-humidifier/): About 30 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace a furnace hot surface igniter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-furnace-igniter/): 30–45 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you replace a start/run capacitor in an AC?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-an-ac-capacitor/): 30–45 minutes, Advanced DIY
- [How do you seal leaky HVAC ductwork?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-seal-leaky-ductwork/): 2–3 hours, Easy DIY
- [How do you recaulk a bathtub or shower?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-recaulk-a-bathtub/): 45–60 minutes (plus a 24-hour cure), Easy DIY
- [How do you clean a dishwasher filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-dishwasher-filter/): 5–10 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean refrigerator condenser coils?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-refrigerator-coils/): 15 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace a refrigerator water filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-refrigerator-water-filter/): 5–10 minutes, Easy DIY
- [Why is there water in my dishwasher, and how do I drain it?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-fix-a-dishwasher-that-wont-drain/): 30–45 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you defrost a freezer?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-defrost-a-freezer/): 2–4 hours, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace a refrigerator door seal?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-refrigerator-door-gasket/): 45–60 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you clean a dryer vent duct?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-dryer-vent/): 30–60 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean the rubber gasket on a front-load washer?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-front-load-washer-gasket/): 20–30 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace washing machine supply hoses?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-washing-machine-supply-hoses/): 15–20 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean a washing machine's drain pump filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-washer-drain-pump-filter/): 10–15 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you stop a washing machine from shaking and walking?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-level-a-shaking-washing-machine/): 15–20 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you winterize a lawn mower for storage?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-winterize-a-lawn-mower/): 45 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you winterize an in-ground sprinkler system?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-winterize-a-sprinkler-system/): 1 hour, Moderate DIY
- [How do you clean a pool filter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-pool-filter/): 30–45 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you close an in-ground pool for winter?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-close-a-pool-for-winter/): 2–3 hours, Moderate DIY
- [How do you deep-clean a gas grill?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-deep-clean-a-gas-grill/): 45–60 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you sharpen a lawn mower blade?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-sharpen-a-lawn-mower-blade/): 30 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you fix a toilet that keeps running?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-fix-a-running-toilet/): 15–30 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you reset a garbage disposal?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-reset-a-garbage-disposal/): 5 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you test a sump pump?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-test-a-sump-pump/): 15 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you free a jammed garbage disposal?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-unjam-a-garbage-disposal/): 10–15 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean a sink P-trap?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-sink-p-trap/): 15–20 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you descale a tankless water heater?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-descale-a-tankless-water-heater/): 60–90 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [Where is my home's main water shutoff valve?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-find-your-main-water-shutoff-valve/): 15 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace a faucet cartridge?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-faucet-cartridge/): 30–40 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you replace a toilet fill valve?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-toilet-fill-valve/): 20–30 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace a water heater's anode rod?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-water-heater-anode-rod/): 45–60 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you change a whole-house water filter cartridge?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-change-a-whole-house-water-filter/): 15–20 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you clean a clogged showerhead?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-a-showerhead/): 10 minutes plus an overnight soak, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace a toilet wax ring?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-a-toilet-wax-ring/): 60–90 minutes, Moderate DIY
- [How do you clean out gutters safely?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-clean-gutters/): 1–2 hours, Easy DIY
- [Why won't my garage door close, and how do I fix the sensors?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-fix-garage-door-safety-sensors/): 15–20 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you lubricate a garage door?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-lubricate-a-garage-door/): 15 minutes, Easy DIY
- [How do you sealcoat an asphalt driveway?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-seal-an-asphalt-driveway/): 4–6 hours plus 24–48 hours of cure, Moderate DIY
- [How do you seal a crack in a foundation?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-seal-foundation-cracks/): 1–2 hours plus 24 hours of cure, Moderate DIY
- [How do you stain and seal a wood deck?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-stain-and-seal-a-deck/): 1–2 days including drying, Moderate DIY
- [How do you fill cracks in an asphalt driveway?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-fill-driveway-cracks/): 1–2 hours, Easy DIY
- [How do you recaulk around exterior windows and doors?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-recaulk-exterior-windows-and-doors/): 1–2 hours, Easy DIY
- [How do you replace weatherstripping on an exterior door?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-replace-door-weatherstripping/): 30–45 minutes, Easy DIY
- [Where should you put water leak sensors in a house?](https://www.onotto.com/how-to-install-water-leak-sensors/): 20–30 minutes, Easy DIY

## Blog and migrated how-to posts (https://www.onotto.com/blog/)
Longer how-to guides and deep-dive checklists, served at root-level slugs:
- https://www.onotto.com/homeowners-maintenance-checklist/
- https://www.onotto.com/home-deep-cleaning-checklist/
- https://www.onotto.com/lawn-and-garden-checklist/
- https://www.onotto.com/pool-and-spa-maintenance-checklist/
- https://www.onotto.com/rural-and-off-grid-systems-checklist/
- https://www.onotto.com/starter-pack-household-chores-checklist/
- https://www.onotto.com/what-should-i-fix-before-selling-my-home/
- https://www.onotto.com/why-power-bill-high-checklist-lower-fix/
- https://www.onotto.com/how-to-fix-rotting-wood-fence-posts/
- https://www.onotto.com/fix-a-door-making-popping-and-cracking-sounds/
- https://www.onotto.com/upgrading-your-halogen-floodlight/

## Legal
- https://www.onotto.com/privacy/ (privacy policy)
- https://www.onotto.com/terms/ (terms of service)