The indispensable reference guide for every homeowner, guaranteed to help you maintain and improve your home while saving time and money. Covering everything from replacing faulty faucets and showerheads to curing the quirks of an air conditioner, this book provides step-by-step illustrated instructions, plus a comprehensive chapter on tools.
The indispensable reference guide for every homeowner, guaranteed to help you maintain and improve your home while saving time and money. Covering everything from replacing faulty faucets and showerheads to curing the quirks of an air conditioner, this book provides step-by-step illustrated instructions, plus a comprehensive chapter on tools. Includes more than 3,000 instructional photographs, illustrations, charts, and diagrams. Let New Fix-It-Yourself Manual guide you through: * Fixing a broken dryer by testing the thermostat, thermal fuse, heating coils, etc. * Troubleshooting electric and gas range problems and fixing them * Reupholstering and reweaving chair seats * Stocking up on the proper tools and supplies for fixing electronics * Installing, testing, and repairing speakers, including maintaining proper polarity * Repairing broken handbags and suitcases properly and professionally * Fixing small engines in yard and workshop tools * Restoring broken air conditioners, heaters, and dehumidifiers * Safely disassembling, testing, and repairing a chain saw REVIEW AUTHORBIO
Publisher : Trusted Media Brands
Publication date : June 11, 2009
Language : English
Print length : 448 pages
ISBN-10 : 0895778718
ISBN-13 : 978-0895778710
Item Weight : 4.1 pounds
Reading age : 18 years and up
Dimensions : 10.96 x 1.4 x 8.68 inches
Customers say
Customers find this manual to be an excellent reference that’s particularly helpful for small home projects, with easy-to-understand explanations and clear, vividly colored illustrations. The book serves as a great money saver, with one customer noting it pays for itself within a year, and customers appreciate that it covers nearly any issue that may arise. While customers consider it a good gift for any head of household, they note that the content is pretty outdated.
Spauldingbarb –
Great for a first time homeowner.
My son bought his first home. Bought this as a helping hand and bit of a gag gift also. His dad and I had this book when we were much younger. Of course it’s been updated (but there’s still tips on repairing a typewriter in it. Ha). It’s super easy to go to YouTube these days but still fun!
Valerie –
Never pay someone to fix your home again
This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I thought I’d take a chance. I’m glad I did. We had a hose break off of the back of the toilet in our bathroom. The water was spewing everywhere and we were going to have to spend quite a bit of money to fix it. However, we consulted this book and it walked us through how to fix it, what parts we needed, etc. We got the hose fixed easily, cost effectively and relatively quickly.This book gives basic instructions on how to fix tons of things around the home. It breaks the tasks down into basic components and walks you through the process. I am not a great fixer and easily get frustrated with tasks, but this book made things a lot simpler.At times, it can be a little too technical for me when describing parts and such, but overall it is very understandable and easy to follow.There are newer editions of this book. I’m not sure how DIY stuff has changed that much. I found the older version of the book to be very helpful.
twesjewel –
Fix It
Problem in this country is that we throw too much stuff away that could be used with a little repair. This book is really good with illustrations and details about repairs for a multitude of items. This is my second copy in 15 years and it worth every dollar. It will pay for itself in one year or less. You do not have to be a rocket expert to fix stuff; just jump it and try it. For example, we had a washer and the pump went out. To get a plumber or repair person would cost at least $150.00 service call; plus the cost of the pump – $50.00; plus labor and tax. Interestingly Amazon had the part for 4.99 and the book guide me through the removal and installation process. O yes! Invest in this book and save your dollars. Consider the cost of a new washer. This is a no brainer.
Old School –
An excellent book but it should be updated.
I have found the Reader’s Digest books of this type to be indispensable. I bought a similar book back in the late 70s and I still use it to this day. This book has excellent and vividly colored pictures and it covers just about anything you can imagine around your house that you may want to fix but, understandably, it doesn’t go into great detail due, simply, to the incredible number of things it covers. But, for most people, that’s fine. Most people are probably buying this book to help them make basic repairs. There is one problem with this book, though. That is, that it is outdated. It was published in 1996 and it shows. In fact, some you may laugh when you see some stuff included. For example, it tells you how to repair typewriters including manual typewriters. Who uses a typewriter these days? And some of the appliances it shows look like they are from the 50s or 60s. But that’s OK because basic repairs for mechanical things are very much the same as they were then. However, when it comes to electronics, this book really is dated. It shows basic repairs to cassette players, VCRs, and boom boxes but, of course, MP3 players are not mentioned because they didn’t exist when this book was published. But fixing an MP3 player would be way beyond the scope of this book anyway. That minor criticism aside, most of the information in this book should be very helpful. Having many decades experience fixing all kinds of things, I’m not sure that I will get much from this book but I bought it anyway as as a reference and as an addition to my library.
DB –
Great instrctional book.
I am a 71 yr old woman and have some electrical mechanical training from when I was much younger, so I am not afraid to take repairs on. I wasn’t trained in all trades so this book is nice. It save me a service call to fix my toilet that was running. The illustrations are really helpful and the explanations are easy to understand.I recommend this book not only for women who want to attempt to repair a few things themselves and save some money but for anyone who would like to do the same.
The Thin Tow Man –
Recommended to learn how to fix appliances
This is my review of the “New Fix-It-Yourself Manual: How to Repair, Clean, and Maintain Anything and Everything In and Around Your Home” by Reader’s Digest.The book accomplishes showing the reader how to fix various appliances around the house. The authors are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the subject matter. It shows. The writing makes it very accessible. Additionally, through the use of clear diagrams and flowcharts, you can quickly narrow down what part is malfunctioning. I found the book’s tone clear and easy to understand.Thanks to this book, I recently fixed a oscillating fan that was spinning slowly (p.171). Also, I used it as a reference to fix a malfunctioning microwave (p.268). While I could have replaced both items for about $150, I was able to repair both items for under $20 in materials.In closing, I would highly recommend this book.
chiwi –
It’s interesting but…
Like a lot of home DIYers, I thought that this might assist my understanding of the various household fittings & appliances.I hadn’t counted on one thing… It’s primarily written for Americans.As the US accounts for less than 5% of the world’s population AND many US standards, proceedures & equipment are country specific… It means that this book is largely unsuitable for use outside the US.That’s not to say that it’s useless. Far from it. However a reader outside the US needs to take things with a grain of salt.My experience is that specific topics such as drainage, appliances, various tools etc simply do not apply outside the US. Not only are materials unavailable but installation standards vary widely and specialist tools are lacking.In short it’s probably a good book… If you’re an American.
George –
This book is a classic, and its content does not deceive. Very easy to follow manuals, with a clear indications for diagnosis and decision on whether a professional should reach to it. I’m not a mechanically inclined person, and this book allows me to take better case of my appliances and get a sense whether is worth to spend time in a repair, or whether is time for a new one.
Frederick Romanik –
great book for first home buyer
Sav –
Succinct explanations with helpful illustrations. Go for it as it will save you money in completing a couple of lasting fixes around your home.
Amazon Customer –
I was under the impression that this is a new edition. To my surprise it was the same book but with a new cover I’ve purchased many years ago.Still included how fix a computer with a CRT monitor, VCR and Cassette player…
RRR –
Very good guide for house repair appliances