⌂Roof & Lawn

Roof & Lawn Videos

Small checks. Useful fixes.

Short videos for the house and yard, with a little humor along the way.

Home projects · 48 seconds · Animated cartoon

The Hardware Store Marathon

When a small project turns into repeated trips to the hardware store. A little home-project humor from Roof & Lawn.

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Plumbing · 53 seconds · Cartoon

The toilet leak that hides in plain sight

I don't mind paying for water I actually use. Water sneaking down the toilet? That's where I draw the line.

Read the check
  1. Carefully lift the tank lid and set it somewhere safe.
  2. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water in the tank, not the bowl.
  3. Wait about 20 minutes without flushing.
  4. If color appears in the bowl, water is leaking from the tank.
  5. Check the flapper or flush-valve seal, and whether the handle or chain prevents it from closing.
  6. Flush the coloring away when finished.

Match any replacement part to your toilet. If you cannot stop the leak or safely close the supply valve, contact a plumber.

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Plumbing · 59 seconds · Cartoon

The shutoff valve nobody can find

Find and label the main water shutoff before a leak turns finding it into a treasure hunt.

Remember the essentials
  1. Locate the main water shutoff for your home.
  2. Keep a clear path to the valve and label it.
  3. Show other people in the household where it is.
  4. If the valve is corroded, stuck or leaking, ask a plumber for help. Do not force it.
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Heating & cooling · 60 seconds · Animated cartoon

The furnace filter that became a pet

If your filter needs grooming, you waited too long. A dusty little character helps explain better filter care.

Read the steps
  1. Before changing yours, follow the instructions to turn off power.
  2. Find the filter and slide it out carefully.
  3. For a disposable filter, use the correct size and type for your system.
  4. For a reusable filter, follow its cleaning instructions. If washable, let it dry completely before reinstalling.
  5. The airflow arrow points in the direction the air flows.
  6. Slide the clean filter in, close everything up and restore power.
  7. Check monthly and follow replacement or cleaning instructions. Pets, dust and heavy use may mean servicing sooner.
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