North Texas homeowner guides
Fix it, or know who to call.
Plain-English answers to the home problems Dallas–Fort Worth homeowners run into most, written for North Texas heat, storms and clay soil.
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Popular guides
Dallas–Fort Worth
AC Running but Not Cooling in Texas? What to Check
Slab Leak Signs in Texas Homes
Scorpions in Your House in North Texas
North Texas Lawn Care Calendar
Written for DFW homes
- AC running but not cooling? What to check firstYour AC is on but the house is still warm. Five quick checks North Texas homeowners can do safely before calling an HVAC company, and the signs you need a pro.Read the guide
- Signs of a slab leak in a Texas homeWarm floors, a jumping water bill or the sound of running water can mean a slab leak. Here's how North Texas homeowners can spot one and what to do next.Read the guide
- Scorpions in your house in North Texas: what to doWhy scorpions get into DFW homes, where they hide, and how to keep them out, plus when it is time to call a pest control company.Read the guide
- North Texas lawn care calendar: what to do each seasonWhen to mow, fertilize, aerate and prevent weeds for Bermuda and St. Augustine lawns in Dallas–Fort Worth, season by season.Read the guide
- How to keep pipes from freezing in a Texas freezeHard freezes are rare in DFW but serious. A simple checklist to protect your pipes, and what to do if a pipe freezes or bursts.Read the guide
- Sticking doors and wall cracks in a Texas home: what they meanWhy doors stick and drywall cracks appear in North Texas homes, which signs are normal, and when to call a handyman versus a foundation pro.Read the guide
- How to get rid of fire ants in a North Texas yardWhy fire ant mounds keep popping up in DFW yards, the two-step method that works best, and when a pest control company is worth it.Read the guide
- When to replace your water heater in North TexasHow long water heaters last, the warning signs it's time to replace yours, and what North Texas hard water does to a tank.Read the guide
- Spring AC tune-up checklist for North Texas homesWhat a spring AC tune-up should include, what you can check yourself, and why booking before the first heat wave matters in DFW.Read the guide
- Cleaning up after a hail or wind storm in DFWAfter a North Texas storm: what to do first, how to document damage for insurance, and when to call a junk removal company for debris.Read the guide
- Termite swarmers in your Texas home: what they meanSeeing winged insects near windows in spring? How to tell termite swarmers from flying ants, and why it's worth an inspection in North Texas.Read the guide
- Pressure washing vs soft washing: which does your house need?When high pressure is right, when it causes damage, and which method North Texas homeowners should ask for on driveways, siding, roofs and fences.Read the guide
- Dallas bulk trash pickup: rules, limits and scheduleHow brush and bulky trash pickup works in the City of Dallas: how much you can set out, how to find your week, fifth-Monday gaps and what to do with the rest.Read the guide
- Fort Worth bulk trash pickup: how it worksHow monthly bulk trash pickup works in Fort Worth: set-out times, keeping brush separate, drop-off stations and when to hire a hauler.Read the guide
- Dallas watering schedule: which days you can waterThe City of Dallas twice-weekly watering schedule by address, the 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. summer ban, and what it means for your lawn.Read the guide
- How to check an AC contractor's license in TexasHow to verify a Texas air conditioning contractor's license with TDLR, what the license types mean, and what to do if a tech isn't licensed.Read the guide
- How to check a plumber's license in TexasHow to verify a Texas plumber with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, what your estimate should show, and tips before you hire.Read the guide
- Best thermostat setting for a Texas summerWhat thermostat setting Texas grid and utility officials recommend in summer, how much each degree costs, and how to stay comfortable.Read the guide
- Mosquito season in Dallas: West Nile and how to protect your yardWhen West Nile mosquito season runs in Dallas County, the 4 Ds of prevention, and how to cut mosquitoes around your home.Read the guide
- Brown recluse spiders in North Texas homesWhere brown recluse spiders hide in North Texas homes, how to spot them, and what Texas A&M experts recommend for control.Read the guide
- When to apply pre-emergent in DFWWhen to put down pre-emergent weed control in North Texas, based on soil temperature, with Texas A&M timing for spring and fall.Read the guide
- Best time to paint a house exterior in DFWWhen to paint the outside of a house in North Texas: heat, sun, dew and what paint makers say about temperature.Read the guide
- Cleaning for DFW allergy seasonWhen pollen peaks in Dallas–Fort Worth and how to time deep cleaning, filter changes and laundry to keep pollen out of the house.Read the guide