As a homeowner, household repairs can become increasingly costly, especially if you neglect to fix them in a timely manner. Learning how to make common repairs, and only calling the handyman for major crises, can save hundreds of dollars.
Skip the handyman by learning how to fix these five common household issues.
Clean Your Refrigerator Coils
If your fridge isn’t cooling as well as you think it should, check the temperature dial and cooling coils before hollering for the professionals. Sometimes the dial gets bumped or otherwise accidentally changed, so you just have to move the temperature dial to a cooler setting. If that doesn’t do it, pull the unit out, grab a flashlight, and check out the cooling coils on the bottom or back of the unit.
The coils could easily be covered in pet hair and dust, which could cause the unit to act sluggish. To prevent this from happening in the future, make a conscious effort to clean this part of the refrigerator each month as part of a cleaning routine.
Repair Drywall Holes
As sturdy as it is, drywall can only withstand so much abuse. Doors flung open with too much verve can easily leave a doorknob-shaped hole, for instance. Heavy artwork or mirrors can fall off the wall, taking a chunk of the wall with it, not to mention quite the sharp mess to carefully sweep up.
The easiest way to tackle repairing these mishaps is to pick up a drywall repair kit at your local hardware store. If one of these isn’t available, all you’ll need is a scrap of drywall, a leftover piece of window screening, a container of joint compound, and a putty knife, and you’re in business. If you see issues like this while you’re looking into home buying, don’t let it deter you from the property; you’ll easily fix that in no time. On the other hand, of course, you could still use it for leverage in the negotiation process.
Fix a Faulty Faucet
Before calling the handyman for this one, check the aerator on the faucet in question. The aerator is the round attachment at the end of the faucet that has a mesh filter. Over time, these things can get clogged with minerals and other gunk from the water, as well as debris that can break loose inside the piping.
Remove the aerator by turning it counter-clockwise, using a set of pliers to grip it. Now you can clean it and any other parts of the faucet that could be causing a backup. Sometimes it’s better to simply replace it. Take it to the hardware store to make sure you choose the correct size, and screw the new one in place.
Check the Pilot Light on a Water Heater
If you’re noticing that your hot water isn’t so hot, don’t call the plumber just yet. Take off the metal cover on the water heater unit and check to see if the pilot light has gone out. If the flame isn’t there, follow the instructions on the user manual to re-light it.
If you have a high-efficiency water heater, the pilot light won’t be lit all the time. If that’s the case, thoroughly read through the owner’s manual for FAQs or troubleshooting guidance before reaching for the phone and calling your resident handyman.
Clean the Power Source on a Gas Stove
Every now and then, gas stoves require certain maintenance measures, but it’s something you could potentially handle yourself. Before calling in reinforcements that can cost you a pretty penny, take a good look at the problem.
Can you hear or smell gas coming out of the burner when you turn it on? If so, it’s likely an issue with the lighter. Check to see if there’s been a power interruption (even gas stoves need electricity). Lastly, if you can tell that gas is coming out and the unit has power, clean the ignition near the burner and the ignition hole with a dry toothbrush.
If you don’t hear or smell any gas coming out, check the gas supply to make sure there hasn’t been an interruption there.
According to the home insurance map, some states can pay up to $1,500 for home insurance. This is great to protect your home if anything were to go wrong, however there will inevitably always be other expenses you’ll need to cover top keep your home safe. Knowing how to identify which ones are easily fixed and which ones need a professional’s touch will save you a lot of money. No matter your financial situation, knowing these basic tips will come in handy, whether you’re trying to avoid paying a handyman, or if it’s a holiday or weekend and they aren’t available. Next time you run into repair issues around your home, remember these simple tips.
