What's going on with your home?
Start with the symptom, not the trade. Every answer covers likely causes, how urgent it is, what it should cost and who to call.
Central air conditioning
About this systemWhy is my AC not cooling?
An air conditioner that runs but doesn't cool is most often caused by a dirty air filter, a blocked outdoor unit, low refrigerant from a leak, or a frozen evaporator coil. Start by checking the filter and the outdoor unit — those two account for a large share of calls and cost nothing to rule out.
Why is water dripping from my AC?
Water around an indoor AC unit is usually a clogged condensate drain line. Your AC pulls humidity out of the air, and that water has to drain somewhere — when the line clogs with algae or sludge, it backs up and overflows the drain pan. A frozen coil thawing, or a cracked pan, can cause the same thing.
Why is my AC making a loud noise?
The sound tells you a lot. Screeching often means a failing motor bearing or belt, banging suggests a loose or broken part inside the compressor, clicking that repeats points to a relay or capacitor issue, and buzzing is usually electrical. A hissing sound can indicate a refrigerant leak and should be checked promptly.
Why won't my AC turn on?
Start with power and settings before assuming the worst. A tripped breaker, a thermostat with dead batteries or set to the wrong mode, a blown fuse, or a safety switch that's done its job all stop the system entirely — and several of those you can check yourself in a few minutes.
Why is my AC freezing up?
Ice on an air conditioner almost always comes down to restricted airflow or low refrigerant. A dirty filter, blocked return vents, a failing blower, or a refrigerant leak lets the coil get cold enough to freeze condensation. Turn the system off and let it thaw before anything else — running it while frozen can damage the compressor.
Water heater
About this systemWhy do I have no hot water?
On a gas water heater, no hot water usually means the pilot light or igniter has failed, or the gas supply is interrupted. On an electric unit, it's most often a tripped breaker or a burned-out heating element. If you have some hot water but it runs out fast, that's a different problem — usually a failed lower element or heavy sediment.
Why is my water heater leaking?
Where it leaks tells you how serious it is. Leaks at the fittings, valves or the T&P discharge pipe are often repairable. Water coming from the bottom of the tank itself usually means the tank has corroded through — that isn't repairable, and the unit needs replacing before it fails completely.
Why is my water heater making popping or rumbling noises?
Popping, rumbling or crackling from a water heater is almost always sediment. Minerals settle to the bottom of the tank, water gets trapped underneath and boils through the layer, and that's the sound you hear. Flushing the tank usually resolves it, and doing it yearly prevents it.
What does a water stain on my ceiling mean?
A ceiling stain means water has been somewhere it shouldn't. If there's a bathroom above, suspect plumbing first; if it's the top floor, suspect the roof. Either way, water travels — the stain is often not directly below the source. A stain that's growing, damp, or sagging needs attention now.
How do I find and fix a roof leak?
Roof leaks usually start at penetrations and joints rather than in the open field of shingles — flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights and valleys is where most begin. Water can travel far along rafters before it drips, so the interior wet spot rarely sits directly under the entry point. Don't climb onto a wet or steep roof to investigate.
Drains & sewer
About this systemWhy does my bathroom smell like sewage?
A sewer smell usually means the water barrier that normally blocks gas has failed somewhere. The most common causes are a dried-out P-trap in a rarely used fixture, a failed wax ring under the toilet, or a blocked plumbing vent. If the smell is strong and persistent throughout the house, have it checked — sewer gas shouldn't be entering living space.
How do I fix a slow or clogged drain?
A single slow drain is usually a local clog of hair, soap or grease you can often clear yourself. Several slow drains at once is a different and more serious signal — that points to the main line, and it's worth calling a plumber before it backs up. Skip chemical drain cleaners; they damage pipes and rarely fix the cause.
Why is my water pressure low?
If it's one fixture, the aerator or cartridge is probably clogged with mineral deposits — a ten-minute fix. If it's the whole house, look at the main shutoff valve being partly closed, a failing pressure regulator, or a leak. A sudden whole-house drop deserves prompt attention because it can indicate a leak somewhere you can't see.
Electrical panel & wiring
About this systemWhy do my lights keep flickering?
One flickering fixture is usually a loose bulb or a dimmer that doesn't match the bulb type. Flickering across multiple rooms is a different matter — that can indicate a loose connection at the panel or main service, which is a genuine fire risk and should be inspected by a licensed electrician rather than lived with.
Why does my breaker keep tripping?
A breaker trips to protect you — it's doing its job. The usual causes are an overloaded circuit, a short circuit, a ground fault, or a breaker that has worn out. Reset it once. If it trips again, stop resetting and get it diagnosed: repeated tripping means there's a fault, and forcing it defeats the safety device.
Yard drainage & gutters
About this systemWhy does water stand in my yard after it rains?
Water stands in a yard when it has nowhere to go: the ground is flat or slopes the wrong way, the soil is dense clay that soaks up water slowly, downspouts are dumping roof water into one spot, or the water table is already high. Puddles that clear within a day are normal after a big storm. Water that sits for days, or that collects against the house, needs fixing.
Why is there water under my house?
Water under a raised house usually comes from outside: rain draining toward the house instead of away, downspouts emptying next to the foundation, or a high water table after heavy rain. A leaking supply pipe, drain line or AC condensate line can also be the cause. On a slab home, water shows up as damp floors or wet carpet along an outside wall. Find out whether it's rainwater or a plumbing leak first, because the fix is completely different.
Why are my gutters overflowing?
Gutters overflow when they're clogged with leaves and roof grit, when a downspout is blocked, when the gutter is sagging or sloped the wrong way, or when the gutter is simply too small for the roof in a hard downpour. Most of the time a cleaning fixes it. If they overflow even when clean, the gutters or downspouts need resizing or rehanging.
Why is my foundation cracking?
Many foundation cracks come from the soil, not the concrete. Clay soil swells when it's wet and shrinks when it dries out, so long wet spells followed by droughts push and pull on a slab or piers. Poor drainage makes it worse by soaking one side of the house more than the other. Thin hairline cracks are common and often harmless. Wide cracks, cracks that keep growing, or sticking doors and sloping floors mean the house is moving and needs a foundation specialist.