How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Home (RSMeans) Paperback – July 18, 2018

Good book if you still have a “library” in your home. I do, so it is helpful to me. Thank you.

This book, "How Your House Works", is excellent for first-time homeowners and anyone who didn't grow up learning plumbing, electrical, etc.There is a full-color illustration on every page of the book, along with text that explains how each thing in your house works. While it doesn't go into detail on how to fix every single thing that might go wrong with each part of your house, it does tell you "what to look for" before calling a plumber or electrician for service.I like that it explains the name of every part of something like a toilet, so when I talk to the plumber, I can describe the problem more accurately by using the correct terms rather than just say "the thingy that goes up and down", which makes it harder for the plumber to understand the problem and give me a quote for service.There is even a chapter on outdoor equipment that explains lawnmowers, chain saw, etc.My one suggestion/request is for the author to include more information about pool equipment, beyond the page on pool pump and solar heating. I would love an entire chapter about how an inground pool/spa works, and all of the different pumps and valves that go along with it. (Or maybe write a second book just about that topic!)

Great easy to follow graphics. More of a picture book than a text book. Only issue is not available for all kindles.

Doesn’t really go into a lot of detail

This is a great book. Fascinating look behind the scenes of your house. Great for when I'm explaining things to the kids. Helps them understand why some of their habits are bad for the house.

I got this for my daughter who just bought her own home. It explains things in the simplest of terms with lots of diagrams and images. This way, if she decided to fix things herself, she knows how they work. Or, if she hires someone, she has some basic background info that will help her to determine the honesty of some companies. Just a little knowledge can save you thousands. I definitely recommend this book.

The illustrations in this book, and the associated text, are fantastic. If you know 'know nothing' about how your house works and want to start learning, this is the book I recommend. Sophisticated enough that you get important nuances - like how plumbing is constructed to avoid siphoning water out the traps - but simple enough that you can grasp what is happening easily. There are also tips for simple repairs or things to check before calling a repair person. I know a fair bit about home repair, but I found myself often learning useful things as I read it.On related note, if you have a child who is interested in home repair or construction or just how things work, this book makes it much easier to explain how/why things work in the home. Toilets, sinks, wells, light switches, etc. Although it is written for adults, most of the content is understandable by a child with an adult assisting in the explanation. I bought the book to read with my son, and he has greatly enjoyed it.

This seems like an essential book to keep around. I love how straight forward it is and that it had diagrams that are super easy to understand. It’s filled with basic information that any homeowner should know.