Home problems, decoded
61 common problems by area of the house, each with causes, urgency, typical costs and who fixes it.
Area
Kitchen
Sinks, disposals, dishwashers, leaks under the cabinet.
This weekPlumbing
Kitchen sink clogged
Water sits in the sink or drains very slowly; the dishwasher may back up into it.
$100–$800
This weekPlumbing
Garbage disposal humming or not working
The disposal hums but doesn't spin, does nothing at all, or leaks underneath.
$100–$250
This weekPlumbing
Leak under the kitchen sink
Water in the cabinet, a warped cabinet floor or a musty smell under the sink.
$150–$850
This weekPlumbing
Dishwasher leaking water on the floor
Water around the front or under the dishwasher after a cycle.
$150–$850
Area
Bathroom
Toilets, showers, tubs, faucets and remodel projects.
Plan itPlumbing
Toilet keeps running
The toilet refills on its own or never stops running.
$130–$300
Fix nowPlumbing
Toilet clogged or overflowing
The bowl fills up or overflows when you flush.
$130–$300
This weekPlumbing
Toilet leaking at the base
Water around the base after flushing, or the toilet rocks.
$130–$300
Plan itPlumbing
Shower or tub draining slowly
Water pools around your feet in the shower or tub.
$100–$800
Plan itPlumbing
Dripping faucet
A steady drip from a sink, tub or shower faucet.
$120–$300
Plan itBathroom
Want a walk-in shower instead of a tub
The tub rarely gets used, or stepping over it is getting hard.
$2,000–$12,000
This weekBathroom
Cracked tile or moldy shower
Cracked grout, loose tiles, soft spots or mold that keeps coming back.
$3,000–$8,000
Plan itBathroom
Dated bathroom ready for a remodel
Worn fixtures, tired tile, not enough storage, or a layout that doesn't work.
$3,000–$15,000+
Plan itBathroom
Bathroom getting hard to use safely
Getting in and out of the tub is hard, or you're planning to age in place.
$1,000–$8,000 prefab · $3,500–$15,000 tiled
Area
Basement & Floors
Water on the floor, sump pumps, wet carpet, musty smells.
Fix nowWater Damage
Standing water on the floor
Water across a floor, carpet squishing, or water creeping under walls.
$2,000–$6,000 typical (extraction $4–$12 per sq ft)
Fix nowWater Damage
Flooded basement
Inches of water in the basement after rain, a pipe burst or a pump failure.
$2,000–$6,000 typical (extraction $4–$12 per sq ft)
Fix nowPlumbing
Sump pump not working
The sump pit is filling and the pump isn't running, or it runs nonstop.
$45–$150 per hour, plus a $50–$200 service call
Fix nowWater Damage
Wet carpet or soaked floors
Carpet that's soaked, hardwood cupping, or water under laminate.
$2,000–$6,000 typical (extraction $4–$12 per sq ft)
This weekWater Damage
Musty smell after a leak
A damp, musty smell days after water got in, or spots on walls.
$2,000–$6,000 typical (extraction $4–$12 per sq ft)
Fix nowWater Damage
Sewage backing up into drains
Dirty water coming up through a floor drain, tub or toilet.
$200–$500 (hydro jetting $600–$1,400)
Area
Water Heater & Pipes
No hot water, leaks, burst and frozen pipes, water pressure.
Plan itPlumbing
Low water pressure
Weak flow from one faucet or the whole house.
$150–$850
This weekPlumbing
No hot water
Showers run cold, or hot water runs out fast.
$150–$700
Fix nowPlumbing
Water heater leaking
Water around the base of the tank, or dripping from the pipe on the side.
$150–$700
Fix nowPlumbing
Burst or broken pipe
Water spraying or pouring from a pipe, often after a freeze.
$400–$2,000
Fix nowPlumbing
Frozen pipes (no water from a faucet)
A faucet gives a trickle or nothing on a very cold morning.
$400–$2,000
This weekPlumbing
High water bill or a hidden leak
The water bill jumped, or the meter moves with everything off.
$150–$850
Area
Heating & Cooling
No heat, furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, AC.
Fix nowPlumbing
Gas smell in the house
A rotten-egg smell near the stove, furnace, water heater or meter.
$45–$150 per hour, plus a $50–$200 service call
Fix nowHeating & Cooling
No heat
The furnace or heat pump won't come on, or the house keeps getting colder.
$125–$480 (ignitor $100–$250, flame sensor $80–$250, blower motor $300–$900)
This weekHeating & Cooling
Furnace blowing cold air
Air comes from the vents but it isn't warm.
$125–$480 (ignitor $100–$250, flame sensor $80–$250, blower motor $300–$900)
This weekHeating & Cooling
Furnace keeps turning on and off
The furnace starts, runs a few minutes and shuts off, over and over.
$125–$480 (ignitor $100–$250, flame sensor $80–$250, blower motor $300–$900)
This weekHeating & Cooling
Furnace making loud noises
Banging, booming, squealing, rattling or grinding from the furnace.
$125–$480 (ignitor $100–$250, flame sensor $80–$250, blower motor $300–$900)
Fix nowHeating & Cooling
Carbon monoxide alarm going off
A CO alarm sounding, especially with headaches or nausea.
$125–$480 (ignitor $100–$250, flame sensor $80–$250, blower motor $300–$900)
Plan itHeating & Cooling
Old furnace and rising heating bills
A furnace over 15 years old, repairs every winter and higher bills.
$3,500–$7,500+
This weekHeating & Cooling
Heat pump iced over
Thick ice on the outdoor unit that doesn't clear, and the house cooling down.
$150–$650 minor (major parts up to $2,500+)
This weekHeating & Cooling
Heat pump blowing cool air in heat mode
The heat pump runs but the air feels cool or lukewarm.
$150–$650 minor (major parts up to $2,500+)
This weekHeating & Cooling
Radiators cold or boiler not heating
Some or all radiators stay cold, or the boiler keeps locking out.
$150–$700
This weekHeating & Cooling
Thermostat blank or not working
A blank screen, or the system doesn't respond to the thermostat.
$150–$450
Plan itHeating & Cooling
Some rooms always too cold or too hot
One room never warms up in winter or cools down in summer.
$150–$450
Plan itHeating & Cooling
Furnace tune-up before winter
The furnace hasn't been checked in over a year and winter is coming.
$70–$200
This weekHeating & Cooling
AC running but not cooling
The AC runs but the air is warm, or the house won't cool down.
$150–$650
This weekHeating & Cooling
AC leaking water indoors
Water around the indoor unit or furnace in summer.
$150–$650
Plan itHeating & Cooling
Old AC that needs replacing
An AC over 12–15 years old, repairs every summer or rooms that never cool.
$2,500–$7,500
Plan itHeating & Cooling
Room without heating or cooling
An addition, garage or sunroom that's always uncomfortable.
$10,000–$25,000+
Area
Roof & Ceilings
Roof leaks, missing shingles, ceiling stains.
This weekRoofing
Water stain on the ceiling
A brown ring or spot on the ceiling, sometimes growing after rain.
$150–$1,000 minor · $1,000–$3,000 larger
Fix nowWater Damage
Sagging ceiling or water dripping through
A bulging section of ceiling, or water dripping from a light fixture.
$2,000–$6,000 typical (extraction $4–$12 per sq ft)
Fix nowRoofing
Roof leaking when it rains
Drips inside during rain, wet attic insulation or a spreading ceiling stain.
$150–$1,000 minor · $1,000–$3,000 larger
This weekRoofing
Shingles missing after a storm
Shingles in the yard, bare spots on the roof, or dents after hail.
$150–$1,000 minor · $1,000–$3,000 larger
Plan itRoofing
Old roof that may need replacing
Curling or cracked shingles, granules everywhere, repeated leaks or a roof over 20 years old.
$5,700–$12,000
This weekRoofing
Icicles and ice dams on the roof edge
Big icicles, a ridge of ice at the roof edge, or water stains inside in winter.
$150–$1,000 minor · $1,000–$3,000 larger
Area
Gutters & Outside
Overflowing or sagging gutters, downspouts, foundation puddles.
This weekPlumbing
Wet spot in the yard or main water line leak
A soggy patch or water bubbling up in the yard, often with low pressure.
$400–$2,000
This weekGutters
Gutters overflowing when it rains
Water pours over the front of the gutters instead of out the downspouts.
$100–$250
This weekGutters
Gutters full of leaves
Plants growing in gutters, leaves piled up, or water spilling over.
$100–$250
This weekGutters
Gutters sagging or pulling away
A gutter run droops, holds water or has pulled off the roof edge.
$100–$450
Plan itGutters
Gutters leaking at seams and corners
Drips from joints and corners during rain, stains below.
$100–$450
This weekGutters
Water pooling by the foundation
Puddles against the walls, soil washing out or a wet basement corner.
$100–$450
Plan itGutters
House without gutters
No gutters at all, or only on part of the house.
$2,200–$5,000 ($12–$25 per foot)
This weekGutters
Heavy icicles on gutters
Large icicles hanging from gutters, gutters pulling down in winter.
$100–$450
Area
Storms & Floods
Flooding, storm damage, hurricane and freeze aftermath.
Fix nowWater Damage
House flooded after a storm
Floodwater inside after heavy rain, a river rising or a hurricane.
$2,000–$6,000 typical (extraction $4–$12 per sq ft)
This weekRoofing
Roof damaged by wind or hail
Shingles torn off, dents from hail or a branch on the roof.
$150–$1,000 minor · $1,000–$3,000 larger
Fix nowWater Damage
After a hurricane: water inside
Water came in through the roof, windows or doors during a hurricane or tropical storm.
$2,000–$6,000 typical (extraction $4–$12 per sq ft)
Fix nowWater Damage
Pipe burst in a freeze and soaked the house
A frozen pipe split when it thawed and water spread through rooms.
$2,000–$6,000 typical (extraction $4–$12 per sq ft)
Fix nowHeating & Cooling
Heat out during a freeze
No heat while temperatures are near or below freezing.
$125–$480 (ignitor $100–$250, flame sensor $80–$250, blower motor $300–$900)