What's broken?

Find the fault. Fix it right.

Second way in — for people who arrived with a code on the display.

Most common emergencies

Roof leaking Find the source before you patch anything Garage door won't open Work through six common causes in order Water heater leaking Where the water comes from tells you almost everything Garage door spring broken Not a DIY repair — keep the door closed and safe Garbage disposal not working Start with the reset button underneath

Before you touch anything

Shut off power or gas before opening any panel or reaching into a machine.
Never work on a broken garage door spring yourself — it's under dangerous tension.
Don't climb a wet, icy, or steep roof. No repair is worth a fall.

Daniel Brooks checks every guide on this site before it publishes. About the author →