Save Money With DIY Home Repairs
Surprisingly, a lot of home repair jobs can be taken care of by the average homeowner. Doing the work on your own can help you to build your repair skills, and will also save you some money since you won’t need to call in a repair technician.
Take a look at some of the DIY home repairs that you may be able to handle on your own:
- Clogged toilets. If your toilet isn’t flushing normally, it could be a result of excess toilet paper being flushed, or it may be a foreign object. There are some people who believe they can flush just about anything down the toilet. This includes: paper towels, dental floss picks, makeup remover pads, cotton balls and so on. The only thing that should be flushed down your toilet, besides waste, is toilet paper. To take care of the clog, use a plunger or toilet auger. This should help to push the clog through the drain. If this doesn’t work, it may be time to call in a plumber.
- Low water pressure at bathroom or kitchen sink. Often, this can be the result of a worn out aerator. This part often gets clogged with minerals and from other particles that break loose inside your sink’s pipes. A replacement aerator can be purchased at your local home improvement store.
- Refrigerator isn’t cool. First, you should check the temperature setting to be sure it’s where it needs to be. Often, this knob or button can accidentally be hit when putting in or taking out items in the fridge. Also, you should regularly clean the coils on the back or underside of your refrigerator. When they get clogged with dust and dirt, they cannot properly work with other parts of the fridge to keep it cool.
- Outlet isn’t working. Many outlets in today’s homes are known as GFCI outlets. They are found in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. If you have noticed that a certain appliance or light connected to this outlet isn’t coming on, press the red reset button. This should take care of the problem. If you still don’t have power, you may need to call in an electrician.
- Puddles of water are seen on the basement floor. If puddles of water on the basement floor are a new development, then it is likely not an issue involving seepage. The problem could be a result of a leaky overhead pipe, especially if the puddle of water is seen in one area of the floor. To take care of the problem, locate the pipe above the puddle. Tighten the valve stem packing nut on the piping with a wrench. If this doesn’t resolve the problem, you may need to shut the water off and replace the part entirely.
These easy tips should help you to take care of some common problems around the house without having to call in a professional repairman who may charge you by the hour.