How Your House Works: A Visual Guide to Understanding and Maintaining Your Home, Updated and Expanded

An easy–to–understand, richly illustrated guide to how everything in a house works Why is my faucet leaking, my toilet running, or my dishwasher refusing to start? Can I fix it myself? What′s causing the heating system to smell bad or the foundation to crack? Do I need an air filtration system? Is the new "engineered lumber" as good as conventional wood? These are just a few examples of questions homeowners face when repairs are needed or when a new house or addition is being planned. This new edition of How Your House Works uncovers the mysteries behind just about every major appliance and building element in your house. Clear "exploded" drawings show you exactly how these things should be put together and how they function—what to check if they don′t work, and what you can do that might save you from calling in a professional. The easy–to–understand pictures and explanations on every page get right to the point, helping you understand how things work, what can go wrong, and how to troubleshoot a problem. Virtually everything in your house is included: Electrical – circuit breakers and grounding, service, outlets, lamps, and fixtures Heating and air conditioning – gas, electrical, and oil, ductwork and piping, thermostats, central and window AC units, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and air filtering systems Plumbing – kitchen and bath fixtures, piping, water heaters, traps and vents, septic tanks, and pumps and water softener systems (even sprinkler systems and swimming pool filters/heaters) Major household appliances – from kitchen to laundry Foundation, framing, doors, and windows – including issues like drainage and radon, types of framing and how it supports the house, and all types of doors and windows Sustainability and beyond – covers sustainability and issues outside the house, as well as clock thermostats, ventless gas heaters, moisture and mold, and¿¿passive solar heating This quick and easy guide will save you time and money, answer nagging questions, and help you keep your house running smoothly.

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 Lavatory Pop–up Drain 8 Sink Drain 9 Plunger–Type Tub Drain 10 Pop–up Tub Drain 11 Gravity Flow Toilet 12 Traps & Vents 14 Ball–Type Faucet 16 Cartridge–Type Faucet 17 Disk–Type Faucet 18 Compression–Type Faucet 19 Tempering Valve 20 Tub/Shower Control 21 Hose Bibbs 22 Pitcher (Hand) Pump 23 Jet Pump 24 Submersible Pump 26 Sump Pump 28 Pressure Tank 29 Electric Water Heater 30 Gas Water Heater 31 Electric Tankless Heater 32 Gas Tankless Heater 33 BoilerMate™ Water Heater 34 Solar Water Heater 35 Charcoal Cartridge Filter 36 Tank Filter 37 Water Softener 38 Reverse Osmosis Filter 40 UV Purifier 41 Fire Sprinklers 42 Chapter 2. Wiring 43 Electrical Circuit 44 Ohm’s Law 45 120 & 240 VAC 46 Circuit Breakers & Fuses 47 Service Drop 48 Electromechanical Meter 49 Smart Meter 50 Circuit Grounding 51 Electrical Panels 52 Receptacle 54 GFCI 56 AFCI 57 Single–Pole Switch 58 3– & 4–Way Switches 60 Ceiling Fan/Light Switch 62 Dimmer Switch 64 Flush–Mount Light Fixture 66 Hanging Ceiling Fixture 67 Floor & Table Lamps 68 Fluorescent Lamps 69 CO Detector 70 Battery Smoke Detector 71 Wired Smoke Detectors 72 Chapter 3. Heating 75 Gas Warm Air Furnace 76 Gas Hot Water Boiler 77 Oil Warm Air Furnace 78 Oil Hot Water Boiler 79 Air–Source Heat Pump 80 Ventless Gas Heater 82 Direct–Vent Gas Heater 84 Direct–Vent Gas Fireplace 85 Electric Baseboard Heat 86 Warm Air Distribution 87 Hydronic Distribution 88 Hot Water Radiant Heat 89 Bimetallic Thermostat 90 Chapter 4. Cooling 91 Natural Ventilation 92 Ceiling Fan 93 Whole–House Fan 94 Window Air Conditioner 95 Central Air Conditioner 96 Evaporative Cooler 97 Chapter 5. Air Quality 99 Moisture & Mold 100 Humidifier 102 Dehumidifier 103 Furnace Filter 104 Electronic Air Cleaner 105 Chapter 6. Appliances 107 Dishwasher 108 Top–Loading Clothes Washer 110 Electric Clothes Dryer 112 Gas Clothes Dryer 113 Electric Range/Oven 114 Gas Range/Oven 115 Microwave Oven 116 Garbage Disposer 117 Refrigerator/Freezer 118 Icemaker 120 Trash Compactor 121 Vacuum Cleaners 122 Chapter 7. Windows & Doors 125 Double–Hung Window 126 Casement Window 128 Cylinder Lock 129 Deadbolt & Keyed Knob 130 Garage Door Opener 131 Chapter 8. Foundation & Frame 133 Footings 134 Drainage 135 Radon Abatement 136 Pier Foundation 137 Slab Foundation 138 Full Foundation 139 Crawl Space 140 Grade Beam 141 Forces on the Frame 142 Beams in Bending 144 Framing Members 146 Post & Beam Frame 148 Plank & Beam Frame 149 Balloon Frame 150 Platform Frame 151 Advanced (OVE) Frame 152 Chapter 9. Outdoors 153 4–Cycle Gasoline Engine 154 2–Cycle Gasoline Engine 156 Chain Saw 158 Lawn Mower 160 Gas String Trimmer 162 Pool Pump & Filter 163 Lawn Sprinkler System 164 Septic System 166 Chapter 10. Toward Sustainability 169 Clock Thermostat 170 Air–Tight Wood Stove 171 Pellet Stove 172 Ground–Source Heat Pump 174 Passive Solar Heating 176 Natural Ventilation 178 Air–to–Air Heat Exchanger 179 Low–E Windows 180 Window Insulating Panel 182 Motion–Activated Switch 184 Compact Fluorescent Lamp 186 LED Lamp 187 Solar Pool Heater 188 Pool Cover 189 Front–Loading Washer 190 Index 191

The author of more than twenty books on home repair and improvement, Charlie Wing is perhaps the most credible house–building teacher in the world. His writing and illustrations make complex home issues understandable. An MIT graduate, he developed and hosted a national PBS energy conservation series, Housewarming with Charlie Wing , and served as primary editorial developer for Home Depot′s branded 1–2–3 books.