Being a homeowner or renter has its challenges and sometimes difficulties. It seems that there is always some extra work or repair on your fix-it list, and they aren’t cheap at all.
Yet, you can learn a few basic home repairs and free yourself from looking for a repairman for these daunting tasks. Many of these repairs can be done in a few simple steps without the help of expensive tools or complicated instructions. So, if you’re interested in some of these repairs, read on for 6 easy home fixes you can do yourself.
Repair a Running Toilet
When you notice this seemingly small problem in your home, try to solve it quickly because this is a major water waste. For that reason, instead of hiring a pricey plumber, help yourself by using plumbing hand tools and reducing the cost of your monthly bills. These tools can help you repair the malfunction, and they include step-by-step instructions on how to get this work done easily. Once you’ve done some home repairs, it’ll be much easier for you to learn to do others, and you won’t have to worry about finding the repairman or the price of your bill.
Unclog a Slow-Draining Sink
When you notice a sluggish sink or tub, try unclogging it immediately before things get worse. Usually, the things you already have in your house will help you do that before calling a plumber for sink repair. A slow-draining sink is often caused by oil buildup, so use a plunger to dislodge the possible culprit. You can also try a trick with baking soda and white vinegar because it often works. Pour the mixture of these two into the sink and wait for fifteen minutes for it to work, then run the hot water to clean the clog. This is an easy but effective trick you can apply whenever you want.
Clean Your Washing Machine
If you notice that your washing machine gives off an unpleasant smell, it’s probably because of mildew. To get rid of this odor, read the instruction manual and follow the appropriate washing machine cleaning and draining procedures for your particular model. First, you should scrub the door and drum with an old toothbrush or cotton swabs to clean every crack and crevice.
You should also sanitize it with the help of bleach because it’s the best mold killer, but don’t forget to wear protective gloves during this step. Finish with mild white vinegar because it removes any lingering bacteria. In the end, dry everything inside and outside, and you’ll see how your machine will work better.
Patch a Hole in the Wall
There is no house that doesn’t have at least a few small holes in its walls. These holes remain after screws are used for hanging pictures, TVs, or shelves and look ugly if we don’t fix them. Therefore, you can make your walls look new with some sandpaper, a putty knife, spackle, and matching paint. The hole should be filled with spackle, and the excess should be scraped off with a putty knife. After that, let it dry, and paint the patch with a matching color.
Repair a Leaky Faucet
We all know how annoying leaking faucets can be and how they can waste a lot of water, which consequently means higher water bills. Leaky faucets are usually caused by a worn-out washer because if it’s cracked, water will escape and cause dripping.
The important thing is that this type of leak is easy to fix by yourself, and you can buy the necessary parts at any hardware store. If you don’t know how to fix it, follow easy online instructions from reliable sources. However, if your faucet continues to leak after a repair, it’s best to call the plumber.
Secure a Loose Floor
If your house is older, then with time, the flexing of the floorboards can loosen nails, and they can be potentially dangerous. For that, drive the nails deeper with the help of a nail set or use stainless steel screws and cover the heads with wood filler. Before you start this work, check if there aren’t pipes or electrical cables under the floor, and make sure you’re safe while doing this work. This isn’t a difficult task; it can facilitate you a lot and make your floors look stable and new.
There are plenty of tips on how you can do your own repairs, and these are the basic ones. You can see that with a little patience and will, you can learn a bunch of useful and practical things that’ll save you money as well. Still, you need to know when to call a professional, so don’t do repairs you aren’t qualified for or that are potentially dangerous. In that way, you save your time and nerves.
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