Weekend Fixes: 3 AI Prompts for House & Yard Problems
Stop googling "why is my toilet running" at 11pm. These three prompts help you troubleshoot house problems, plan yard work, and identify mystery plants—no expertise required.
You know that feeling when something breaks around the house and you’re staring at it like it might fix itself if you wait long enough?
Or when you’re standing in your yard, wondering why half your lawn looks like a crime scene while your neighbor’s looks like a golf course?
Yeah. Me too.
Here’s the thing: AI can actually help with this stuff! Not in some futuristic robot way, but in a “having a knowledgeable friend who doesn’t mind answering dumb questions” way.
If you’re like me, weekends are a time for relaxing, but also for cleaning the house, mowing the yard, and doing other things you didn’t have time for during the work week.
And you can sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the projects you’ve put off “until the weekend.” 1
But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Today, I’m sharing three simple prompts with you that will:
Help you figure out household problems, such as appliances that aren’t working correctly.
Create an optimized, efficient game plan for working on your yard.
Identify unknown plants and weeds by taking a picture of them.
Let’s fix some stuff!
1. The “Why Is My House Doing This?” Troubleshooter
What it does: Helps you identify the issue with household problems without needing to call an expensive repair person (yet).
Copy this prompt into ChatGPT:
I need help troubleshooting a household problem. I’m going to describe what’s happening, and I need you to:
1. Ask me clarifying questions to understand the problem better
2. Explain what might be causing it in simple terms
3. Tell me if this is something I can fix myself or if I need to call a professional
4. If it’s a DIY fix, give me step-by-step instructions
5. Tell me what tools or supplies I might need
Here’s my problem: [describe what’s happening - be specific about sounds, smells, when it happens, etc.]Real example:
“My toilet keeps running after I flush it. It eventually stops, but it takes like 5 minutes and I can hear water running the whole time.”
AI will guide you through checking the flapper valve, adjusting the float, and determining whether any replacement is necessary. And it’ll tell you if it’s a $5 fix or a “call the plumber” situation.
Why this works: You get instant answers without scrolling through 47 forum posts from 2009 where the last reply is “never mind, I figured it out” with no explanation. 2
2. Weekend Yard Work Game Plan
What it does: Takes the guesswork out of yard maintenance by creating a smart, efficient plan.
Copy this prompt into ChatGPT:
I need help planning my yard work for this weekend. Please help me create an efficient plan by asking me:
1. What my yard currently looks like (grass length, weeds, leaves, etc.)
2. What tools I have available
3. How much time I can spend on it
4. What season it is and my location
5. Any specific problem areas
Then create a step-by-step plan that:
- Puts tasks in the most efficient order
- Explains WHY to do things in that order
- Estimates how long each task will take
- Includes any seasonal timing considerations
- Tells me what to do if I can’t finish everything
My yard situation: [describe your yard and what needs doing]Real example:
“I’ve got a half-acre lawn that hasn’t been mowed in two weeks, some weeds popping up in the flower beds, and a bunch of leaves that blew in from my neighbor’s trees. I’ve got about 3 hours on Saturday morning and basic tools - mower, rake, weed trimmer, hand tools.”
AI will tell you: mow first while the grass is dry, bag the clippings, then tackle weeds while you’re already sweaty, save the leaves for last because they’re the easiest. And it’ll explain the reasoning so you actually learn something.
Why this works: Instead of wandering around your yard wondering where to start, you’ve got an actual plan. Like having a landscaper friend walk you through it.
3. What the Heck Is Growing in My Yard?
What it does: Identifies mystery plants and tells you if they’re weeds, something useful, or something that’ll take over your entire yard in three months.
Copy this prompt into ChatGPT (with image upload):
I’m uploading a photo of a plant growing in my yard. Please help me identify it by telling me:
1. What this plant is (common and scientific name)
2. Whether it’s a weed, native plant, or something else
3. If it’s invasive or problematic
4. Whether I should keep it or remove it
5. If I’m removing it, the best way to do that
6. If I’m keeping it, how to care for it
My location is: [your city/state]
My yard type is: [full sun/shade, grass/garden bed, etc.]How to use it:
Take a clear photo of the plant (get close enough to see leaves clearly)
Go to ChatGPT
Next to the area where you type in prompts, you’ll see a ➕ button. Click that, then click Add photos & files. Choose the picture you just took of the mystery plant.
Paste the prompt above into the prompt text box on ChatGPT.
Get your answer
Real example result:
“That’s Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea), an invasive ground cover weed. It spreads aggressively and is hard to pull by hand because it roots at every leaf node. You’ll need to either use a broadleaf herbicide in fall, or manually remove it by digging up the roots - just pulling the stems won’t work.”
Why this works: No more googling “purple flower with round leaves fuzzy stems” and ending up more confused than when you started.
The Bottom Line
These aren’t magic fixes, though they certainly feel like it. But AI can’t mow your lawn or replace your toilet flapper for you.3
But it can stop you from wasting a Saturday doing things in the wrong order, or paying someone $200 to tell you to jiggle a handle.
That’s the whole point of this newsletter: giving you copy-paste prompts that actually solve real problems without making you feel like you need a computer science degree.
Try one this weekend. Let me know how it goes.
See you next time.
Jeremy
P.S. - Hit reply and tell me what household problem is driving you crazy right now. I might turn your answer into next week’s prompt.
P.P.S. - If you found this useful, forward it to someone who’s been putting off that thing around their house. They’ll thank you. Maybe.
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F O O T N O T E S
This is me. I tend to put stuff off until the weekend, and then the weekend comes and I have 1,241 things to do.
You’ll also avoid the arduous process of finding a YouTube video related to your problem…and you won’t have to sit through any dumb ads!
Not yet, anyway.