The Sensible Post
Straight answers on cars, tools, and keeping a house running.
We publish plain, tested guidance on the things that break around a house and a garage - cars, tools, home repair, and appliances. Every guide says what to check first, what the numbers should be, and when a job should go to a professional instead.
Latest
- Home Repair
Caulk vs Sealant: Which to Use in Bathrooms and Outdoors
Acrylic, siliconised acrylic, silicone, and polyurethane each fail in different places. Here is which to use where, and why paintability decides most of it.
- Cars & Maintenance
Oil Change Intervals: What the 3,000-Mile Rule Gets Wrong
Modern engines on full synthetic go 7,500 to 15,000 miles. Here is how to find your actual interval and the driving conditions that shorten it.
- Home Repair
Attic Insulation R-Value: How Much You Need and What It Saves
Most older houses have half the insulation they need. Here is the R-value target for your climate, and the air sealing that matters even more.
- Appliances
Garbage Disposal Humming but Not Turning: Clear the Jam Safely
A hum means the motor has power but the plate cannot turn. Here is the hex wrench fix, the reset button, and what never to put down one.
- Tools & Equipment
Jack Stands: Rating, Placement, and the Mistakes That Kill People
A trolley jack is a lifting device, never a support. Here is how to rate stands correctly, where to place them, and the redundancy that makes it survivable.
- Cars & Maintenance
Why Tyre Pressure Drops in Cold Weather (and What to Set It To)
Pressure falls about 1 psi for every 10 degrees F. Here is the physics, why the door sticker beats the tyre sidewall, and how to set it correctly in winter.
Cars & Maintenance
Diagnosing what a car is telling you, and the maintenance intervals that actually apply to yours.
-
Oil Change Intervals: What the 3,000-Mile Rule Gets Wrong
Modern engines on full synthetic go 7,500 to 15,000 miles. Here is how to find your actual interval and the driving conditions that shorten it.
-
Why Tyre Pressure Drops in Cold Weather (and What to Set It To)
Pressure falls about 1 psi for every 10 degrees F. Here is the physics, why the door sticker beats the tyre sidewall, and how to set it correctly in winter.
-
Finding a Coolant Leak: Where to Look and What the Colour Tells You
Losing coolant with no puddle usually means one of four things. Work through the pressure test, the cold inspection, and the head gasket check in order.
-
Check Engine Light: What the Ten Most Common Codes Actually Mean
A code names a symptom, not a broken part. Here is what the ten codes that come up most often are really telling you, and what to check first.
Tools & Equipment
What to buy, what the specs mean, and how to use it without damaging the tool or yourself.
-
Jack Stands: Rating, Placement, and the Mistakes That Kill People
A trolley jack is a lifting device, never a support. Here is how to rate stands correctly, where to place them, and the redundancy that makes it survivable.
-
Buying a Socket Set: Drive Sizes, 6 vs 12 Point, and What to Skip
One 3/8-inch set covers most work. Here is how drive sizes divide up, why 6-point sockets matter on rusted fasteners, and which 200-piece kits waste your money.
-
Using a Multimeter on a Car: The Five Measurements Worth Knowing
Voltage drop, continuity, resistance, current, and duty cycle. What each one diagnoses on a vehicle, and the mistakes that blow the meter's fuse.
-
Sizing an Air Compressor for a Home Garage
CFM at 90 psi is the only spec that matters, and tank size is not it. Here is how to match a compressor to the tools you actually plan to run.
Home Repair
Plumbing, electrics, insulation and finishing - where the fault usually is, and where to stop.
-
Caulk vs Sealant: Which to Use in Bathrooms and Outdoors
Acrylic, siliconised acrylic, silicone, and polyurethane each fail in different places. Here is which to use where, and why paintability decides most of it.
-
Attic Insulation R-Value: How Much You Need and What It Saves
Most older houses have half the insulation they need. Here is the R-value target for your climate, and the air sealing that matters even more.
-
Drywall Anchors: Which Type Holds What Weight
Plastic expansion anchors hold about 10 pounds. Toggle bolts hold 50 or more. Here is what each type actually carries and when to find a stud instead.
-
Toilet Running Constantly: Flapper, Fill Valve, or Float
A running toilet wastes up to 200 gallons a day and is usually a $6 part. Here is the dye test that identifies which one in five minutes.
Appliances
Working out whether an appliance is broken, blocked, or simply due for cleaning.
-
Garbage Disposal Humming but Not Turning: Clear the Jam Safely
A hum means the motor has power but the plate cannot turn. Here is the hex wrench fix, the reset button, and what never to put down one.
-
Oven Runs Hot or Cold: Testing and Calibrating the Temperature
Most ovens drift 25 to 50 degrees from their set point. Here is how to measure yours properly and recalibrate it, and when the sensor is the problem.
-
Dryer Takes Two Cycles to Dry: It Is Almost Always Airflow
A dryer that heats but takes forever has a restriction, not a heating fault. Here is how to find it, and why lint in the duct is a fire risk.
-
Refrigerator Not Cooling: Coils, Fan, or Defrost System
A fridge that runs but stays warm usually has blocked coils, a failed fan, or a frozen evaporator. Here is how to tell which, in order of likelihood.