There are some things that as a homeowner, you should know. These include how to perform simple maintenance tasks around the house. Now, why would you need to know that? It’s pretty simple – money. It just isn’t worth it having someone do them for you, as you will pay thrice or fourfold as much as you would if you were buying the materials yourself.
Obviously, you should leave the more complicated jobs to the professionals – however, when it comes to things like unclogging drains or knowing how to replace garage door springs, nothing is stopping you from doing a little DIY. What are some other tasks that you could do yourself? Keep on reading to find out.
Unclogging a Drain
Another thing that you should learn how to do is how to unclog a drain. It’s useful knowledge, especially if you have a lot of hair in your sink. Just throw a little bit of hair removal cream down the drain, and all of that hair will be gone in no time.
Cleaning the Garbage Disposal
You need to clean the garbage disposal once in a while because it will start to smell, and it might also have some mold on it. To clean it, put some baking soda down the disposal and cover it with cold water. You will need to run it for a few minutes and then dump the water. Dry the disposal with a cloth, and you are done!
Fixing a Leaky Faucet
The first thing you should learn how to do is how to fix a leaky faucet. It is rather easy to do, and you should be able to do it in no time. Before you do anything, remember to turn off the water supply. The last thing you want is a big wet mess. After turning off the faucet, you need to plug the drain and remove each of the handles. Then, use a wrench to remove the nut which will open up the mechanism and reveal the stem. The leak is likely due to damage to the stem so check it for any cracks. If all is well, you can reassemble the faucet. If not, you’ll need to purchase a new one.
Hanging Pictures
Do you want to decorate your house but don’t know where to start? Well, why not dress up any empty walls that you may have with pictures or artwork? Just find out the right size for the nail, and hammer it in. Hang your picture, and it’s ready!
Replacing a Broken Light Bulb
If your light bulb is broken, then you will have to replace it. If you are replacing a 100 watt bulb, then you just need to get a 100 watt bulb. It really is that simple! However, if you are replacing a bulb that is hard to reach, then we suggest you get a long-nosed pair of pliers and use those to replace it.
Fixing Furniture
When you have a piece of furniture that’s broken, you can make the most of it by fixing it yourself. Chances are, that if this particular piece of furniture is pretty expensive, you won’t need to worry about spending money on getting a replacement! The only thing you will need to fix it is nails and wood glue – once you glue everything together, the furniture will be as good as new!
Changing a Light Fixture or Ceiling Fan Light Bulbs
Another thing that you should know how to do is changing light bulbs and light fixtures. When changing the light bulbs for ceiling fans, you have to take off the cage first. In the case where your light bulbs won’t come out, grab a pair of pliers to pry them out. If your light bulbs are too hot, then grab an oven mitt so you won’t burn yourself! To be on the safe side, you should also switch off the electricity.
Installing a New Thermostat
If your thermostat is not working properly anymore, then you need to buy a new one. Once you buy a new thermostat, just remove the old one from its place and install the new one in its place.
Replacing a Broken Door Knob
A door knob is something that can break very easily – but don’t worry, because you can just replace it yourself just as easily! Just grab your new door knob, unscrew the old door knob from the door, put the new one in its place, and screw it back on again! If you find that hard to do, then we suggest that you go online and watch YouTube tutorials on how to do that!
Replacing A Doorknob Lock
If your doorknob lock is broken, too, then you need to replace it! Just unscrew the lock from the door, put the new one in its place, and screw it back on again! There you go – your lock is replaced!
Installing a Light Fixture
Installing a light fixture is very easy to do. First, you have to take the old one out. If you can’t take it out, then use a screwdriver to unscrew it. Next, you need to put the chain around the new light fixture, and then hang the new one. Last, but not least, you need to put the old piece of chain on the new light fixture.
Replacing a Light Switch
Replacing a light switch is a lot like replacing a doorknob lock. You just need to unscrew the light switch from the wall, put the new one in its place, and screw it back on again! But remember, when dealing with any electrical appliances, safety always comes first. It’s really important that you turn off the electricity in your house before you replace a light switch.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this article has helped you learn how to perform some maintenance tasks on your house. This way, you will not have to worry about paying a handyman or plumber to do menial tasks that you could easily do yourself with a few simple tools.