How Stuff Works
What is the name of that doo-hickey? A house can be a bewildering assemblage of parts. It pays to know what those parts are called and how they work when making repairs, hiring help, or visiting the home center. Written by Don Vandervort, author of the book “How Your House Works” (published by Ballantine, a Division of Random House) these articles and diagrams will demystify your home.
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How Things Work
How a Central Air Conditioner Works
How does an air conditioning system work? This expert article, along with diagrams and video, clearly explains how a central air conditioner cools a house
How to Wire a Standard Light Switch
A standard single-pole light switch is the type where you flip the switch’s toggle or paddle up or down to turn lights on and off.
How Home Water Supply Works
An expert guide about how home water supply systems work, with information and detailed diagrams that explain how water is distributed through your home. In
How Floor Framing & Floor Structure Work
This illustrated guide offers diagrams to show how a typical wood-frame floor is built, from floor joists to subfloor and the sill plate. In This
How More Stuff Works
Common Roofing Terms | An Illustrated Glossary
Roof framing involves a lexicon all its own. As you can see in the illustration below, roofs have hip rafters, ridge boards, jack rafters, and
House Foundation Types and Diagrams
How basic foundations are built, including slabs, perimeter foundations, concrete blocks, and piers A house needs a foundation to shoulder its considerable weight, provide a
How a Toilet Works & Toilet Plumbing Diagrams
A helpful explanation on how a toilet works, with toilet plumbing diagrams and definitions of toilet parts. Start by familiarizing yourself with the basic workings
How Sink and Drain Plumbing Works
Diagrams and helpful advice on how kitchen and bathroom sink and drain plumbing works In This Article: How a Sink Drain Works What Is a
How Home Ventilation Works
A little humidity is important to comfort in a home, particularly in winter. But too much vapor, combined with fumes from synthetic materials, pesticides, cleansers,
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Featured: Electrical Systems
The Main Electrical Panel & Subpanels
Types of Electrical Receptacles
