Start Here: Understanding This Site
Welcome to Avalanche Contractor. If you're new to home maintenance or just want to understand what this site offers, this page will help you get oriented.
What This Site Is (And Isn't)
This site is: An editorial informational resource that helps you understand your home's systems, recognize common situations, and make informed decisions about when to call licensed professionals.
This site is NOT: A how-to manual, a repair guide, or a step-by-step instruction site. We help you understand situations and recognize warning signs—we don't teach you to perform repairs yourself.
Why This Site Exists
Many beginner homeowners feel overwhelmed by their homes. They encounter situations they don't understand, hear sounds they can't identify, and see things that worry them. This site exists to help you understand what's happening in your home at a high level, so you can make better decisions about when situations are normal versus when they require professional attention.
We believe that understanding your home reduces anxiety and helps you recognize when licensed professionals are needed. We don't believe in teaching dangerous DIY work—we believe in helping you understand situations.
Good Starting Points
If you're new to home maintenance, these articles can help you understand fundamental concepts:
Understanding When Professional Help Is Needed
Always Call Licensed Professionals For
You should always call licensed professionals for:
- Any electrical work beyond basic understanding or visual observation
- Gas line work of any kind
- Structural modifications or load-bearing changes
- Plumbing work involving main lines, gas connections, or requiring permits
- HVAC system repairs beyond basic understanding
- Any situation you're unsure about
This site helps you understand situations and recognize when professional help is needed. It does not enable you to perform these tasks yourself.
How to Use This Site
This site is organized to help you understand topics at different levels:
- Topic Hubs: Visit our Topic Hubs to understand broad categories like plumbing, electrical, or HVAC. Hubs explain context and decision-making, not actions.
- Articles: Browse our article library to understand specific situations, common issues, and what they usually mean.
- Maintenance Calendar: Check our 2026 Maintenance Calendar for high-level seasonal awareness of what your home typically needs throughout the year.
- Glossary: When you encounter unfamiliar terms, check our Glossary for conceptual explanations in plain language.
What Beginners Often Misunderstand
Many beginners misunderstand that home maintenance means doing repairs themselves. In reality, much of home maintenance is about:
- Understanding what's happening in your home
- Recognizing when situations are normal versus concerning
- Knowing when to call professionals
- Understanding what professionals might need to know
- Preventing problems through awareness and basic maintenance
This site focuses on understanding and decision-making, not on performing repairs yourself.
Next Steps
To get the most from this site:
- Read the three articles above to understand fundamental concepts
- Explore the Topic Hubs that interest you most
- Bookmark the 2026 Calendar for ongoing reference
- Use the Glossary when you encounter unfamiliar terms
- Read articles as you encounter specific situations or questions
Remember
Understanding your home is a journey. This site is here to help you understand situations, recognize warning signs, and make informed decisions about when to call licensed professionals. We're not here to teach you to perform repairs yourself—we're here to help you understand what's happening in your home.