Maintenance in Cars

Only Maintenance: the latest headlines first, then BRO’s own Maintenance stories and video. All of Cars →

How a Car Engine Actually Works, Stroke by Stroke

Four moves, a few thousand times a minute, and a gallon of gas becomes forward motion. What's happening, and what actually kills engines.

GuideHomeWes DunbarSep 23, 20266 min

What to Ask Before You Sign for a Furnace or Heat Pump

The tablet with three shiny tiers isn't the decision. Sizing, ductwork and install quality are, and three questions tell you who's guessing.

Ask BRO

What should I wear to this?

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GuideCan You Fix ItWes DunbarSep 23, 20266 min

Your Mower Won't Start. Check Spark, Fuel, Air In That Order

Most no-start mowers come down to five dollars of parts and forty minutes. Work the order and you'll find it before lunch.

Coconut.com — Tell us when. We find where the sun is.

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Preparedness6 min read

Flood Prep Starts Thirty Days Before the Rain

Flood insurance has a waiting period, sandbags have a limit, and a foot of water will float your truck. Sort all three now, while it's dry.

Poll

When did you last ask for a raise?

GuideHomeWes DunbarSep 23, 20266 min

Your Wet Basement Starts On The Roof

Before you spend five figures on waterproofing, fix the four cheap things outside that are putting the water there in the first place.

GuideCan You Fix ItWes DunbarSep 23, 20267 min

Reglue a Wobbly Chair So It Outlasts the Rest of the Set

Squirting glue into a loose joint buys you about four months. Taking the chair apart and cleaning it properly buys you thirty years.

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GuidePreparednessDean ShawSep 23, 20266 min

Build a Car Emergency Kit That Works in January and July

The $29 pouch from the checkout aisle is mostly bandages and a whistle. Here's what belongs in your trunk, what swaps out by season, and what to check twice a year.

Quiz

Is your money actually in order?

Six questions. No email required, no sales pitch at the end.

GuideHomeWes DunbarSep 23, 20266 min

The Mold You Can Scrub and the Mold That Needs a Pro

Ten square feet is the line most people have never heard of. Cross it wrong and you turn a Saturday job into a five-figure one.

GuideCan You Fix ItDean ShawSep 23, 20266 min

Fix a Dryer That Runs But Never Gets Hot

Three parts cause almost every no-heat dryer, and one of them costs twelve bucks. Diagnose in the right order and you'll be dry by dinner.

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Rewrite my CV so it actually gets read

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GuidePreparednessDean ShawSep 23, 20266 min

Locks, Lights and Cameras That Actually Do Something

Start with the three-inch screws in your strike plate, then work outward. Most of what makes a house hard to break into costs less than dinner out.

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GuideHomeWes DunbarSep 23, 20266 min

Find the Roof Leak Before It Takes the Ceiling With It

Water enters high and shows up low, which is why most people fix the wrong spot twice. Start in the attic, not on the roof.

Poll

Where does your best time with your kids happen?

GuideCan You Fix ItWes DunbarSep 23, 20266 min

A Dripping Faucet Tells You Which Part Failed

Where the water shows up decides whether you need a 50-cent washer, a $6 seat kit or a $28 cartridge. Diagnose before you buy anything.

GuidePreparednessWes DunbarSep 23, 20266 min

Get the House and the Truck Ready Before the Ice Comes

Your gas furnace still needs electricity, your freezer has 48 hours, and your tires lost air last week. Fix all three this weekend.

Delicious.com — Nine thousand recipes and a plan for tonight

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GuideGarden & YardDean ShawSep 23, 20265 min

How to Pick Between a Push Mower, a Rider and a Zero Turn

Lot size, slope and your gate width decide this, not horsepower. Run the numbers before you spend $4,000 on the wrong machine.

Quiz

Does your wardrobe actually fit you?

Five questions, honestly answered, and a plan for the next two weeks.

Can You Fix It6 min

Patching Drywall Without Making It Worse

Preparedness6 min

Twenty Feet From the House and Other Generator Rules

Ask BRO

Give me something to do with my kids this weekend

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GuideGarden & YardDean ShawSep 23, 20266 min

Garden Tools Worth Buying Once and the Ones That Aren't

A snapped shovel handle in frozen clay costs more than the shovel did. Which tools earn a lifetime purchase, and which ones you should buy cheap on purpose.