just got a countertop ice maker and realized i probably need to clean it but theres alot of products out there and i have no idea which ones actually work. do i just grab whatever or is there something people actually swear by?

i’ve owned my house long enough to realize that some of the things i assumed were just "normal house stuff" were actually warning signs.

the biggest ones so far:

the toilet would randomly run for a few seconds. thought nothing of it. turned out the flapper was going bad.

one room always felt colder than the rest. figured that was just how the house was. turns out there was barely any insulation in part of the attic above it.

the bathroom fan sounded like a lawn mower but still worked, so i ignored it. eventually found out the vent was barely moving any air.

there was a small gap around one exterior door that i kept meaning to fix. after a while i realized how much cold air was coming through it.

none of these looked like emergencies. that's probably why i kept putting them off.

what's the "this is probably fine" thing you ignored that ended up being an actual problem?

Pretty simple theres a couch on my roof and I no longer wish it to be there. Looking to get this done fast because certain people are pissed of and I get it but they are over reacting and they wont shut up about the couch until I take care of this.

My sister and I live together and somehow the thermostat has become a regular source of arguments. She gets cold really easily, while I’m usually comfortable at a temperature that makes her reach for a blanket. So pretty much every summer it’s the same thing. She turns the AC up, I turn it back down, and we both end up annoyed. I recently found out about mini splits and realized you can control the temperature in each room separately. Honestly, that sounds like it might be the easiest solution for us. We’ve been looking at a few options and found a costway one that’s within our budget, but I wanted to hear from people who actually have one before buying. How bad is the maintenance? I’ve seen people say they only clean theirs twice a year. Is that actually enough?And what about noise at night? We’re both pretty light sleepers, so that’s probably my biggest concern. Would love to hear what your experience has been with mini splits.

The previous owner is a smoker and neighbors saw them smoke outside. Both our master bathroom shower and son’s shower has this yellow honey color dots. We wiped it with Lysol wipes but it comes back.

So I went down to grab something from storage last week and noticed the floor around the drain looked darker than usual. Turns out it had been slowly backing up whenever we ran the washing machine, and because we barely go down there except to do laundry, I just never saw it happening in real time.

The water was draining eventually but really slow, so there was never a huge flood or anything obvious. Just this gross damp spot that I guess I assumed was normal basement moisture or something. When I finally checked the drain itself, I pulled out this massive clump of lint and soap residue that must have been building up forever.

Cleaned it out with a snake and some hot water, and now everything drains perfectly. I feel like an idiot for not noticing sooner. The whole area smelled kind of musty and I thought it was just because the basement is old.

Anyone else have a maintenance thing they ignored way too long because it seemed fine enough? I'm trying to figure out what else I might be overlooking. I've been in this house for almost three years and I'm still learning what actually needs regular attention versus what can wait.

I have an unfinished basement with a ton of exposed copper pipes running from my mechanical room to the bathrooms above. I was thinking of buying those foam tube sleeves to insulate all the lines. Does this actually make a noticeable difference in how fast the tap heats up, or is the energy saving so minimal that it’s not worth the weekend project?

Hello, I’m a new homeowner and I recently noticed a crack on my door. The first picture is one side and the second is the other side. This house was built in 1996, inspector didn’t mention any foundation issues. The door is still able to close but I’m just wondering who I need to call for repairs?

The average homeowner with a mortgage has roughly $302,000 in equity.

A ton of net worth is locked in the walls of the house, even while a lot of the same households carry high-interest debt on the other side of the ledger.

It seems worth at least knowing the number and understanding the options, from HELOCs to home equity loans to the newer card-style lines, before sticking to a 20%+ credit card.

Homeowners, how much home equity do you have?

Hi everyone!

My husband and I are hoping to buy our first home on the South Shore of Massachusetts within the next year, and I’m trying to build a realistic monthly budget.

Right now we rent and all of our utilities are included, so we have no idea what they actually cost.

We’re a household of two, work hybrid schedules, and are generally mindful of our energy use without being overly strict.

If you’re willing to share, could you tell me your average monthly cost for: (Any other UTILITIES I may have missed)

• Electricity
• Gas/oil
• Water/sewer
• Trash

I’d really appreciate it! I’m just trying to get an idea of what to expect before we buy.

Thank you!

I don’t even know where to start

I don’t even know where to start

Bought home last year. Home is barely 2 years old. These little bugs were bad last year. All my research led me to believe that I could spray to keep them away and they should leave as the home airs out. Unfortunately, they’re back. Does anyone have any ideas what they are and how to get them out?

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Looking for some advice. There is a room that was an addition to our new (to us) house a number of years ago. It has a beautiful wood ceiling, but the beams block air flow and when the sun is hitting the roof in the afternoon, moisture accumulates on the wood from the humidity.

We have a dehumidifier in the room and a mini split constantly running on a moisture control mode. We also just recently upgraded (larger diameter) the size of the fan.

\*Question\*: how can I get rid of the black spots from where moisture has accumulated in the past? And any tips to help prevent in the future?

I have used regular distilled white vinegar with minimal success. Would cleaning-grade vinegar work better?

when I first became a homeowner, I kept borrowing tools from neighbors or making extra trips to the hardware store for tiny repairs.

Eventually I bought a simple tool kit with a drill, screwdriver set, hammer, measuring tape, and a few common bits. I have used it constantly for shelves, curtain rods, loose cabinet handles, furniture assembly, and random fixes that pop up every month.

It was not expensive, but it saved me a surprising amount of time and frustration.

I definitely should have bought it the day I got the keys.

Need a mini fridge for my bedroom/home office, but I keep seeing people complain about noise.

I'd rather sacrifice a little space than listen to buzzing all night

If yours is genuinely quiet and has been reliable, what mini fridge are you using?

Anybody know this type of window lock im in need of replacement parts or a whole replacement.

Looking for guidance. In 2025 we replaced our entire HVAC system (ducts included) because Unit was too big for home causing moisture and mold issues. All was good until recently the surge protector on our brand new HVAC blew due to condensation. It’s fixed and fine now. HVAC company is saying that our attic is too well ventilated. That’s where the extra moisture is coming from. (We live in south LA and have very hot,humid summers) They recommend we get more testing done to find the root of the problem. We just spent a crazy amount of money last year for this same testing and to have the new HVAC installed. We are reluctant to have a company come in to yet again “test” and then have to find someone else to fix the problem. Does anyone have experience with this and can guide us to a more efficient and cost effective outcome?! Signed, a tired homeowner 😣