DIY Home Maintenance Tips
It’s tempting to hire a professional contractor for home improvements and repairs rather than doing them yourself. Home maintenance can seem intimidating to the new home owner, and the fear that your own attempts at fixing that leaky faucet or overflowing toilet will cause further damage may further discourage you from going DIY.
However, having a home maintenance plan can make a huge difference in your bank account. And, thankfully, performing proper home maintenance does not require a lot of special know-how, nor does it require a lot of time or money.
Is your home overdue for some much-needed maintenance? Learn how to tackle household emergencies and DIY projects with finesse. Here are some home maintenance tips to preserve your sanity and save some money:
1. Fix that Leaky Faucet
Most likely, a failed washer inside a handle is the cause of a leak. To replace the washer, first turn off the water supply to the sink. To avoid losing parts, stuff a rag or towel in the drain. Pop the screw cover on top, remove the screw, and pull off the handle. Use a wrench to disassemble the stem, and line the parts up on the counter in the order they came off, so you know how it goes back together. Examine rubber parts or plastic cartridges for cracks, and take the offending piece to the hardware store for an exact replacement. Reassemble the parts you’ve laid out, in reverse.
2. Locate a Stud
Want to hang a shelf or heavy object on the wall? Find a stud for the most support (and I don’t mean a handsome fella’). If you don’t have access to an electric stud finder, you can combine good old fashioned knuckling with some deductive reasoning. Most studs are placed at 16 inch intervals. Once you find one, measure to find the rest. If you need to hang a heavy object directly in drywall, use a toggle bolt. The metal bar folds or pivots to go through a hole in the wall, then flips open flat against the back of the board to brace whatever is screwed to the front of the wall.
3. Remove a stripped screw
It may take a bit of elbow grease to fix this one. Using a hand screwdriver appropriate for the screw, hammer the screwdriver gently into the head. Then use as much downward force as you can to slowly back out the screw.
4. Repair a doorbell
A doorbell consists of three parts: the switch, bell, and a transformer in between. If the doorbell is not making any noise when the button is pressed, check the switch’s wire connections. The voltage is too low to hurt you, so don’t worry about turning off the power. Try touching the wires together, if the bell rings, then you need to replace the switch. If it doesn’t ring or makes a strange noise, check the bell. Clean the bell and inspect the wiring. Make sure the hammer isn’t bent away from the bell or jammed by dirt. If it is still not working, most likely the problem is the transformer which needs to be fixed by an electrician.
5. Stop an overflowing toilet
A toilet works by gravity. The water in the tank drops down and pushes waste through the drain. The float drops, opening a valve that lets water in to refill the bowl and the tank simultaneously. The valve closes when the float rises far enough to shut off the water. If the water from the tank can’t leave the bowl fast enough, then the refill will spill over. To stop the refill action, take off the top of the tank, grab the float, and pull it up to close the valve. That should give you time to reach down and shut off the water, or at least wait for some of the water in the bowl to drain.
6. Get free advice from your local hardware store
Your local hardware store clerk is a great resource for everything from DIY tips to finding a local reputable handyman. Don’t wait until you need something to get to know them. Make the shop a regular pit stop for essentials on the way home from work or in the afternoon; avoid busy Saturday mornings. Make friends in his down time, and you’re guaranteed special attention when you need it. They will also have knowledge of who’s buying supplies for paid jobs and who does maintenance around town, if the project is beyond your DIY abilities.
Good luck in your DIY Adventures!