The updated and highly illustrated guide to understanding how just about everything in your house works!
The revised and updated third edition of How Your House Works is a hands-on guide that gives you the low-down on why your faucet is leaking, your dishwasher is overflowing, or your furnace is on the fritz. This comprehensive book is your reference to virtually everything in your house with richly illustrated explanations of electrical systems, heating and air conditioning, plumbing, major household appliances, foundation, framing, doors, and windows. This must-have book answers most questions homeowners face when repairs are needed or when a new house or addition is in your future.
How Your House Works is filled with easy-to-understand illustrations that show how things should be put together and how they function. The book also highlights issues outside the house as well as clock thermostats, ventless gas heaters, moisture and mold, and passive solar heating. Using the illustrations and the author’s clear explanations might save you the expense of calling a professional. This invaluable guide:
- Offers a colorful resource to home electrical systems, HVAC, plumbing, major household appliances, foundation, framing, doors and windows, sustainability, and much more
- Includes easy-to-follow information for troubleshooting problems
- Contains dozens of new full-color illustrations
- Presents new chapters on solar power and smart home technologies
- Helps homeowners save money on many common household repairs
Written for homeowners with little or no knowledge of home maintenance or repair, How Your House Works is your illustrated and updated guide to understanding how appliances, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and more work!
Table of Contents
Introduction xi
About the Author xiii
A Note from the Author xv
Chapter 1. Plumbing 1
The Supply System 2
The Waste System 4
The Vent System 6
Private Septic System 8
Lavatory Pop-up Drain 10
Sink Drain 11
Plunger-Type Tub Drain 12
Pop-up Tub Drain 13
Older Gravity Flow Toilet 14
Water-Saving Toilet 16
Traps & Vents 18
Ball-Type Faucet 20
Cartridge-Type Faucet 21
Disk-Type Faucet 22
Compression-Type Faucet 23
Tempering Valve 24
Tub/Shower Control 25
Hose Bibbs 26
Pitcher (Hand) Pump 27
Jet Pump 28
Submersible Pump 30
Sump Pump 32
Pressure Tank 33
Electric Water Heater 34
Gas Water Heater 35
Electric Tankless Heater 36
Gas Tankless Heater 37
BoilerMate™ Water Heater 38
Charcoal Cartridge Filter 39
Tank Filter 40
Reverse Osmosis Filter 41
Water Softener 42
UV Purifier 44
Fire Sprinkler 45
Chapter 2. Wiring 47
Electrical Circuit 48
Ohm’s Law 49
Using a Test Meter 50
120 & 240 VAC 52
Circuit Breakers & Fuses 53
Service Drop 54
Electromechanical Meter 55
Smart Meter 56
Circuit Grounding 57
Electrical Panels 58
Receptacle 60
GFCI 62
AFCI 63
Single-Pole Switch 64
3- & 4-Way Switches 66
Ceiling Fan/Light Switch 68
Dimmer Switch 70
Motion-Activated Switch 72
Flush-Mount Light Fixture 74
Hanging Ceiling Fixture 75
Floor & Table Lamps 76
Fluorescent Lamps 77
Compact Fluorescent Lamp 78
LED Lamp 79
CO Detector 80
Battery Smoke Detector 81
Wired Smoke Detectors 82
The Smart Home 84
Chapter 3. Heating 87
Gas Warm Air Furnace 88
Gas Hot Water Boiler 89
Oil Warm Air Furnace 90
Oil Hot Water Boiler 91
Oil Burner 92
Fuel Oil Filter 93
Air-Source Heat Pump 94
Ground-Source Heat Pump 96
Ventless Gas Heater 98
Direct-Vent Gas Heater 100
Direct-Vent Gas Fireplace 101
Pellet Stove 102
Air-Tight Wood Stove 104
Electric Baseboard 105
Hydronic Distribution 106
Warm Air Distribution 107
Hot Water Radiant Heat 108
Bimetallic Thermostat 109
Digital Clock Thermostat 110
Chapter 4. Cooling 111
Natural Ventilation 112
Ceiling Fan 113
Whole-House Fan 114
Window Air Conditioner 115
Central Air Conditioner 116
Ductless Air Conditioner 117
Evaporative Cooler 118
Chapter 5. Air Quality 119
Moisture & Mold 120
Humidifier 122
Dehumidifier 123
Furnace Filter 124
Electronic Air Cleaner 125
Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger 126
Chapter 6. Appliances 127
Dishwasher 128
Front-Loading Washer 130
Top-Loading Washer 132
Electric Dryer 134
Gas Dryer 135
Electric Range/Oven 136
Gas Range/Oven 138
Coffee Makers 140
Microwave Oven 142
Garbage Disposer 143
Refrigerator/Freezer 144
Icemaker 146
Trash Compactor 147
Vacuum Cleaners 148
Chapter 7. Windows & Doors 151
Double-Hung Window 152
Low-E Windows 154
Window Insulating Panel 156
Cylinder Lock 158
Deadbolt & Keyed Knob 159
Garage Door Opener 160
Chapter 8. Foundation & Frame 161
Footing 162
Drainage 163
Radon Abatement 164
Slab Foundation 165
Crawl Space Foundation 166
Grade Beam Foundation 167
Full Foundation 168
Pier Foundation 169
Forces on the Frame 170
Beams in Bending 172
Framing Members 174
Post & Beam Frame 176
Plank & Beam Frame 177
Balloon Frame 178
Platform Frame 179
Advanced (OVE) Frame 180
Chapter 9. Outdoor Equipment 181
4-Cycle Gasoline Engine 182
2-Cycle Gasoline Engine 184
Gasoline Chain Saw 186
Gasoline Lawn Mower 188
Gasoline String Trimmer 190
Gasoline Leaf Blower 191
Cordless Equipment 192
Lithium-ion Batteries 194
Pool Pump & Filter 195
Lawn Sprinkler System 196
Chapter 10. The Solar Home 199
Passive Solar Heating 200
Solar Pool Heater 202
Solar Water Heater 203
Photovoltaic (PV) Power 204
A Homeowner’s Tool Bag 209
Index 215
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