Want to know how to solve home-repair problems? Look for the cause instead of just treating the symptom. Learn to concentrate on the proverbial donut instead of the hole. For most pesky home malfunctions, the trouble usually can be traced to where it began and to what’s causing the problem. Take a door that sticks, for instance. It does so for only one reason; the uniform gap between it and the gap has changed, and now, for some reason, it binds when opening and closing. You can either sand and plane to regain clearance, adjust hinges and pins to readjust the fit or get to the root of the problem and figure out why your door now performs differently. Did the house shift? Has the wood frame been affected by not enough humidity -- or maybe too much? Treating the symptom only sets you up for a repeat problem. Getting to the cause makes for a completed job. And that’s the On The House tip for today.