The following is a guest post by Rodney Southern.
Hiring a contractor to repair every little thing that goes wrong in your home can become expensive, so learning these five simple home repairs that you can do yourself can save you a lot of money. Here are the easiest repairs to do on your own.
Troubleshoot a Running Toilet
For many homeowners, nothing is more irritating than a toilet that won’t flush. This often happens because the toilet won’t stop running. You can troubleshoot and repair this by doing the following:
- Check to make sure that the chain is still attached to the lever inside the tank.
- Check the flapper at the bottom of the tank to make sure it is opening and closing properly.
- Check to see that there is water reaching the water line in the tank.
The first two issues can be handled by replacing the broken components. The last problem can be solved by making sure that the water valve is turned to the “on” position. If problems persist, you can then call a plumber.
Repair a Broken Garbage Disposal
Usually, when a garbage disposal stops working, people assume it needs to be replaced. This isn’t always the case. If your disposal stops working, you can troubleshoot it by first checking for the reset button. Sometimes, when a garbage disposal stops working, it simply needs to be reset.
If it is clogged, you can disable the power and use a dowel rod to remove the clog. Once complete, plug the unit back in, and run water through it.
Patch a Hole in Your Drywall
Patching a hole in your drywall is a simple repair you can do yourself. Depending on the size of the hole, you can use a patching kit, or you can use a small scarp of drywall.
Larger holes will require a piece of drywall, which means you will need to cut a square around the hole so you can put the cut-to-size scrap in its place. A drill, a few screws, a putty knife, and some joint compound are all you need to finish this repair.
Replacing a Light Fixture
You don’t have to be an electrician to repair a light fixture. While you might want some help replacing a chandelier or fan so you don’t fall off the ladder, replacing the actual fixture itself is easy. You will need to make sure you turn off the breaker that delivers power to the area first, then simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installing the new fixture once the old one is removed.
Repair a Clogged Bathtub Drain
Bathtubs can get clogged from time to time, but there is rarely a need to call a plumber. Usually the clog is caused by hair, which can be easily removed. Snake kits are available at most hardware stores, and they can be used to remove a clog in just a few minutes. Follow this up with a healthy dose of drain cleaner, and your tub will be as good as new.
Once you master these five simple home repairs you can do yourself, you won’t be in a rush to call a home repair contractor for those tiny problems anymore.
You might also like…
- Using Baking Soda to Unclog Drains
- Dishwasher Utensil Basket Repair
- Are Home Warranties Worth It?
- How Much Water is Your Home Wasting?
Rodney Southern is a long time content writer specializing in a wide array of niches both online and in print. His work has been featured on sites such as Yahoo.com, The Sporting News and numerous others over an eleven plus year career. He also runs his own website on diabetes called Dashing Diabetes. He was the National Call for Content Winner for 2008. Southern resides in Greensboro, NC with his wife, Julie, and identical twin daughters, Valerie and Brooke.
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