What r/HomeImprovement keeps coming back to
Complaints raised here by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
183 recurring problems · 643 threads read · read since September 2026 · Reddit
Raised more than once here
Most people first.
- 74How do I identify if these bugs are bed bugs?“I just bought a house and of course, the weekend we move in, we see - during the day - a huge skunk that was falling over every time it tried to take a step.”
- 54How to handle a bad contractor who won't fix poor work“We hired a guy three weeks ago to tile our bathroom shower.”
- 51How to fix a leaking water pipe in a tight space“The tub faucets leaks. And if I pull up the diverter(which is attached to the top of faucet) so that the water goes to the shower head, then the showerhead starts leaking.”
- 50Landlord built a fence around the AC and it broke“our ac had been acting a little off for a while, but the house was still cool so i figured it could wait.”
- 37How do I know if a contractor quote is fair?“Does this quote seem fair for replacing a concrete driveway in Southeast Michigan?”
- 36Why are contractor and window replacement quotes so absurdly high?“I was just quoted $146,000 for 2 12' sliders, 1 6' slider, 2 small windows and 8 large windows including installation.”
- 30How to find reliable contractors who actually show up“The day comes and he doesn't show. When I call him he claims has no idea who I am, but can send someone over right away.”
- 30Should I pay for appliance repair or fix it myself?“Every time the water heater kicks on, I hear this popping and crackling sound from the basement.”
- 27How to remove a stripped recessed retaining screw“I’m trying to remove this very rusty screw, but it’s completely stuck, WD-40 didnt do anything,”
- 26How do I know if I can DIY a repair or need a pro?“Should I hire a electrician or handy man.”
- 26How to find replacement parts for discontinued hardware“In the process 24 tiles were destroyed. We are now 3 tiles short.”
- 23How to fix previous owner DIY nightmares“Well I had convince my roofer to create opening at the soffits which were totally closed,and he questioned it but ultimately did it.”
- 22How to choose between different HVAC replacement quotes“Is anyone familiar with Goodman brand hvac equipment? We have to replace a 25 yr old Trane unit. One of the bids was for this brand and the price is attractive.”
- 21How to tile over an uneven subfloor without tearing it up“It’s just so easy to tell it’s laid over tile, unsure how to describe it but it moves around in a way the LVP in other rooms doesn’t.”
- 20Electrician installed an outlet instead of a generator inlet box“Plumber swapped shower valve, put outlet back in original spot ( I think ) and the hot water line is touching the box. Good or no good?”
- 20Sump pump dumping water back near the foundation“Whenever we get a lot of rain in a short period of time, this is what will happen. If the rain keeps going, then I will have A LOT of water down in the entire basement that I will have to squeegee all of it towards the floor drain and let dry.”
- 19Why do small bathroom remodels cost so much?“I'm planning to remodel my bathroom around 5x7 or 6x8 with basic updates like shower, tiles, and fixtures, nothing high-end or complex, but the quotes I’m getting are between $15K and $30K+ which feels way higher than expected for such a small space.”
- 19How to get dried paint stripper off hardwood floors“Ive been trying to scrape this off, someone told me to hold off and check for asbestos. Does this look like it’s asbestos to anyone ? Additionally , any tips to get this shit off efficiently i’d love to hear.”
- 19How to decorate outdoor space under stairs without permanent changes“I have this empty space in front of my house under the stairs, and I really don't know what can I do with it.”
- 19Water keeps getting in the house during heavy rain“Water coming up between our first floor slab and outer brick wall... No idea where to turn at this point”
What this forum worries about more than the rest
How much more often a topic shows up here than across every forum we read.
permits15×basement finishing15×safety equipment15×contractor pricing15×