We all dream of owning a house, but it comes with a handful of responsibilities. It’s not all about relaxing on your couch and having fun will family and friends. To keep your home safe and running without hurdles, you must show some commitment. Intermittently fixing things across your house are part of a homeowner’s responsibility, even if you’re not a pro. Not every house appliance requires the attention of an expert; in fact, many can be done as do it yourself home repairs. As a homeowner, there are definitely several things that you need to learn to fix by yourself that can save you thousands of dollars over the time you live in your home. Keeping up with your home maintenance will also help prevent even bigger problems happening down the road.
With that said, here are the simple do it yourself home repairs everyone should know how to do. Also let me know in the comments any interesting experiences you’ve had doing any of these projects or if you’d like us to make a video with us showing how we do these.
Unclog a Toilet
Occasionally clogged toilets are strenuous to handle since most people end up making wrong decisions. A clogged toilet can pose a severe danger to the house occupants. Blocked toilets are typically characterized by water filling up and overflowing. Therefore, you need to know how to sort it out in advance when a problem emerges.
Unclogging a toilet is a no-brainer. You only need a few plumbing tools, such as a plunger, to remedy the situation. These tools are quite affordable, meaning everyone can afford it. Snake is another important plumbing tool that is used for unclogging purposes. This tool is vital in homes with kids who tend to throw objects such as toys in the toilet bowl.
With these tools, you can do the job yourself without seeking plumber help.
Hanging and Replacing Curtains
Curtains are very important components of any house. Windows and doors are the main areas where curtains are normally applied. Privacy is something homeowners embraced quite long ago. Curtains are some of the items that make it achievable. In the absence of curtains, outsiders would be able to see through the windows what is stocked in your house, thereby undermining privacy. To curb this, homeowners install curtains on windows, doors, and any other opening to make invisible for the third-parties to see and analyze everything contained in your house. Since curtains are subject to wear and tear, it is important to understand how to hang and replace them.
That’s something that requires no expertise, and for that reason, it’s categorized as a DIY. Also, hanging and replacing curtains is highly recommended in instances where you’re allured to one particular type of curtains over the other.
Tightening Doors and Cabinet Fixtures
Similar to unclogging a toilet and replacing and hanging curtains, tightening doors is a no-brainer. It doesn’t require tremendous effort and expertise. Sometimes door hinges screws can become loose, making it difficult to open and close the door. As a homeowner, to fix this problem, you need to tighten the screws with a screwdriver’s aid. If you don’t have this tool, you can purchase it from your nearest hardware shop. Adding this tool to your arsenal won’t cost you a fortune. Therefore, this is an issue you can sort out at any time of the day.
Cabinet fixtures are all the items that are classified as kitchen cabinet hinges; cabinet pulls, cabinet handles, and even cabinet knobs. Despite rendering the house a decent look, all these fixtures are prone to damage and wear and tear. Therefore, at some point, you will be required to fix or replace them. This is something you can do without spending a penny. Hence, it’s essential to have some skills to refresh your cabinet fixtures to give your house a distinctive aspect.
Replacing Locks
Security is a key element to the safety of any residence. A door lock tops the list of basic home security features. Despite having the latest bells and whistles that are part of a high-tech home security system, looks on the external doors remain the main line of defense for most homes. Though door locks are rarely changed, certain circumstances warrant an update.
If your keys go missing, you’ll have no other option other than replacing the lock. However, this should only be done if you can’t recall where you kept the keys. Lock replacement is something that you can do it yourself. It’s only under peculiar circumstances you may be forced to call a locksmith to get the lock issue remedied.
Another incident is when you suspect a third-party has a copy of your original key. This can result in unauthorized access to your house leading to theft and vandalism of personal properties. As a homeowner, there is a need to know how to replace door locks.
Basic Electric Work to Replace Sockets
Electric sockets, like any other electrical appliance, are subject to damage. This means they have to be replaced whenever they become faulty. Some electrical work is basic, meaning it can be done by a non-electrician, while the tricky bit is reserved for the electricians. So, as a homeowner, it is important to gauge the kind of electrical problems you can handle and those you can’t. In the case of a damaged socket, you can handle it if you’ve basic electrical skills; otherwise, leave it unto the professionals. The mishandling of electrical appliances has caused countless sudden demises worldwide. Therefore, if you aren’t sure of something, call an electrician.
Fix Stuck Drawers by Replacing Sliders
A drawer is a very important fixture that is used in keeping confidential and non-confidential documents. Despite their significant importance, drawers can get stuck, making it difficult for the users to pull them in and out of the desk. This problem happens occasionally, and therefore homeowners should know how to resolve it. One of the tips to remedy a stuck drawer is to replace the sliders. Faulty sliders are the main reason behind a stuck drawer and can often be replaced with a trip to your local home hardware store and an afternoon of fun handy work.
Painting and Taking Care of Walls
Painting and taking care of walls is also a no-brainer. You don’t have to be an expert in order to paint or take care of walls. Unless you envy a distinctive painting style that requires a professional painter, you can do it yourself. You can add more personality to your walls by replacing outdated decorating elements with the latest ones. You only need to research decorative items that you feel will make your home more fashionable and incorporate them onto your home. Also, you’ll need to research the best paint that’s more suitable for your home. This requires intensive research since the market is flooded with all sorts of paints and decorative elements.
Most homeowners make mistakes when choosing paint colors and only realize when it is too late. As a homeowner, you should take your time to analyze and determine what is good for you. It can be costly to rehire a painter with the intent of rectifying the mistakes which could have been avoided. Hence, research is vital when it comes to picking painting colors.
Conclusion
From the above, it is evident that there are some basic home repairs that homeowners can do themselves without hiring professionals. Like unclogging a toilet, some things don’t require one to be an expert to fix them. Hiring a plumber or any other adept at fixing basic home repairs can be very costly. Unless you have lots of money, it is good to learn how to do basic home repairs.