Chapter 0819 questions

Home & Car

The DIY you can't avoid forever

The maintenance no one taught you, the leaks worth fixing yourself, and the noises in your car that mean 'pull over now'.

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01
What home maintenance do I actually need to do?
Quarterly: test smoke and CO detectors, clean range-hood filter, run hot water in unused drains. Twice a year: clean the dryer vent (a real fire risk), service HVAC, flush water heater, check exterior caulking. Yearly…
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02
How do I fix a leaky tap?
Turn off the water at the isolator valves under the sink (or the main if there's none). Plug the drain. Pop the decorative cap, unscrew the handle, lift out the cartridge or washer, and take it to a hardware shop to m…
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03
How do I unclog a drain?
Skip the harsh chemicals on the first try — they damage pipes and rarely work better. Boiling water, then a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar down the drain, cover for 15 minutes, flush with more boiling water.…
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04
What car maintenance do I actually need to do?
Monthly: check tyre pressure (cold), check oil level if your car has a dipstick. Every 10,000–15,000 km: oil and filter. Every 30,000 km: cabin and engine air filters. Brake pads usually 40,000–80,000 km depending on…
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05
What does the check engine light mean?
Anything from a loose petrol cap to a dying catalytic converter. If it's steady, you can usually drive to a garage soon (this week). If it's flashing, pull over — that's an active misfire that can wreck the engine in…
car
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06
How do I change a flat tyre?
Park flat, hazards on, handbrake hard. Loosen the nuts a half-turn before jacking. Jack at the manufacturer's marked point only. Remove nuts, swap the wheel, hand-tighten the nuts in a star pattern, lower the car, the…
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07
What tire pressure should I use?
Use the number on the sticker inside the driver's door jamb — not the one on the tire sidewall (that's the maximum, not the recommended). For most cars, that's 32–35 psi cold. Check monthly; tires lose ~1 psi per mont…
car
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08
How do I paint a room properly?
Clean the walls, fill holes with spackle, sand smooth, tape edges, prime any stains or bare patches. Cut in the corners and edges with a brush, then roll the walls in W-shaped strokes. Two thin coats beat one thick on…
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09
What's the easiest way to clean an oven?
Make a paste of baking soda and water, coat the inside (avoid heating elements), leave overnight, then wipe with vinegar spray. Skip the toxic sprays and self-clean cycle if you can.
cleaning
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10
What is the correct way to load a dishwasher?
Plates face the spray arm, cups upside down on the top rack, knives handle-up, big items on the sides so they don't block spray. Don't pre-rinse — modern detergent needs food to grip.
kitchen
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11
How do I remove hard water stains?
White vinegar dissolves calcium deposits. Soak faucet aerators in a bag of vinegar overnight; use a paste of vinegar plus baking soda on shower glass; a pumice stone works on toilet bowl rings.
cleaningplumbing
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12
How do I get rid of mold?
Small patches: spray with a 1:10 bleach-to-water solution (or vinegar for porous surfaces), scrub, dry. Anything bigger than a plate, or in the HVAC, calls for professionals. Fix the moisture source or it will come back.
cleaning
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13
How can I get better gas mileage?
Slow down (efficiency drops sharply above 100 km/h), inflate tires, remove roof racks, drop the excess weight, and avoid jackrabbit starts. Idling more than 30 seconds burns more than restarting.
car
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14
How often should I replace smoke alarms?
Every 10 years — the sensors degrade even if the alarm chirps fine. Test monthly. Batteries in battery-only units annually. Combine smoke and CO alarms for full coverage.
safety
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15
How does home EV charging work?
A Level 2 charger on a 240V circuit adds 20–30 miles of range per hour — enough to fully charge overnight. Level 1 (regular outlet) tops out around 5 mph and is only fine for plug-in hybrids.
car
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16
How often should I change my HVAC filter?
Every 60–90 days for a standard 1-inch filter, every 6–12 months for a 4-inch pleated filter. Pets, allergies, and dust push you toward the shorter end.
home
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17
How do I stop shrinking my clothes?
Wash cold, tumble dry low or hang dry, and read the label — anything wool, cashmere, or 'do not tumble dry' means it. Heat is what shrinks fibres; agitation is what felts wool.
homeclothes
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18
How do I jump-start a car?
Red to the dead battery's positive, red to the good battery's positive, black to the good negative, and black to bare metal on the dead car's engine block — never its negative terminal. Run the working car for a few m…
carmaintenanceemergency
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19
How do I lower my energy bill?
Heating and cooling are usually over half the bill. Dropping the thermostat one degree, sealing draughts around doors and windows, and washing clothes cold typically save more than replacing any single appliance.
homeenergysaving
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What home maintenance do I actually need to do?

How do I fix a leaky tap?

How do I unclog a drain?

What car maintenance do I actually need to do?

What does the check engine light mean?

How do I change a flat tyre?

What tire pressure should I use?

How do I paint a room properly?

What's the easiest way to clean an oven?

What is the correct way to load a dishwasher?

How do I remove hard water stains?

How do I get rid of mold?

How can I get better gas mileage?

How often should I replace smoke alarms?

How does home EV charging work?

How often should I change my HVAC filter?

How do I stop shrinking my clothes?

How do I jump-start a car?

How do I lower my energy bill?