You don’t need to be handy to run a home well. You mostly need five small facts at your fingertips — the ones that turn a scramble into a two-minute fix.
The five to keep
Your HVAC filter size, your interior paint colors, where the main water shutoff is, your water heater’s model and age, and the breaker layout. Each is trivial to note and painful to be without.
Why these five
They’re the facts you need exactly when you’re least able to look them up — mid-leak, mid-repair, standing in a store aisle. Having them ready is the difference between a minor task and a lost afternoon.
Keep them in one place
Written on a scrap of paper, they get lost. Stored against the right item in HearthIQ, they’re a search away for you — or for whoever helps you fix things.
The 15-minute home scan that saves you a whole weekend later
Walking room to room once, on purpose, is the single best thing you can do for your home. Here is exactly what to capture — and why future-you will be grateful.
Mastering Your Home's Shutoff Valves: A Critical Guide
Knowing the location and function of your home's main and individual shutoff valves can prevent significant damage and save you from costly repairs.
Protect Your Water Heater: The Critical Role of the Anode Rod
This simple sacrificial component silently extends your water heater's life and prevents costly tank corrosion.