What r/homeowners keeps coming back to
Complaints raised here by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
144 recurring problems · 308 threads read · read since September 2026 · Reddit
Raised more than once here
Most people first.
- 71How do I identify if these bugs are bed bugs?“My country doesn't have a culture of professional pest control services. Pretty much a DIY situation, I looked up to the internet on methods of pest control, first protected the essentials and food and then sprayed pesticide all over the place but damm these bugs are tough, What could be a permanent solution or prevention?”
- 52How to handle a bad contractor who won't fix poor work“It looks way different from his video.”
- 49How to fix a leaking water pipe in a tight space“Now, years later, the caulking breaks, and water seeps down and stays in the foam between the flashing and the deck board.”
- 44How to get rid of creeping weeds without breaking roots“Every year the weeds come up in my driveway like this in thick mats. No amount of weed killer or fire seems to make a difference.”
- 35How do I know if a contractor quote is fair?“My mother recently noticed a few cracks in the foundation for her home. Fearful the house would come down crumbling she got some people to take a look and they said it would be $10k in total to repair.”
- 33Why are contractor and window replacement quotes so absurdly high?“half a dozen $25k quotes because "whole door gotta be replaced, bud". after dozens of calls, finding a GC, and carpenter, got a guy who did fantastic work for $1.2k.”
- 29How to find reliable contractors who actually show up“The problem is all the guys who say they'll show up and never do. Or the guys who finish half the job and never come back.”
- 24How to clear a clogged AC condensate drain line“I discovered a leak coming from outside my house on the roof. Should I call a plumber or is there any way it could be fixed?”
- 22How to tell if a damaged roof needs replacing before winter“This roof is supposed to be only 10 years old, but the ridge seems to be in rough shape. Do we need to replace it at this time?”
- 22How to choose between different HVAC replacement quotes“I'm trying to decide between: Lennox Elite Heat Pump, Model #EL18KSLV-036... and BOSCH Variable Capacity Heat Pump, Model #BOVB-36RTB-M20S”
- 21How to fix previous owner DIY nightmares“We bought our first house last fall and I am slowly realizing the previous owner was that DIY guy from YouTube who thinks he is a master contractor. At first it looked cute and "updated". Now every week I find one more cursed project.”
- 18Why does flushing one toilet pull water out of another?“Previous homeowners left this old pipe uncapped. Our basement intermittemtly reeks of ammonia, and on cool nights, the smell rises into the house.”
- 18How to find hidden home defects after buying“do you recommend contract a inspector to check the all house so if find any problem i can claim warranty?”
- 18Water keeps getting in the house during heavy rain“Ever since the 2nd or 3rd (out of five) year we have lived here, we have dealt with water issues when it has rained hard enough at our back door on the ground floor, front door on the ground floor, and also with our garage with water getting in under the garage doors as our driveway slopes down from the street to our garage doors.”
- 17How to get a contractor to fix damage they caused“Fence company hit, and broke not one, but two of our lines from our well.”
- 17Should I use foam or caulk to seal gaps in exterior walls?“I have several holes in the side of the house I just bought that surround the basement windows. I know they need to be sealed, and was hoping for some advice on how to do this.”
- 15Neighbor is encroaching on my property line to sell their house“The neighbor now cuts approximately 50 feet into our yard in an attempt to sell their house as a “spacious backyard “.”
- 14Water dripping from electrical switches behind walls“Last spring I wanted to hang a heavy mirror on that wall. Knew exactly where the studs were, and more to the point, exactly where the water line ran behind them. Didn't have to guess or trust a stud finder.”
- 14Water heater going hot and cold with weird refill noises“Noticed this small amount of water coming from the bottom of the water heater.”
- 12How to figure out weird quirks in a new house“Im trying to get my grandma’s house in order but I have no clue what Im looking at.”
What this forum worries about more than the rest
How much more often a topic shows up here than across every forum we read.
structural integrity18.2×house repairs18.2×contractor pricing18.2×structural repairs18.2×