Not every home’s a fixer-upper, but all houses need occasional repairs and maintenance. While certain repairs require a professional, many maintenance jobs can be handled on your own.
Learn these basic repair and upkeep skills to be a better homeowner.
Clearing Out the Gutter
Even the ladder-averse can clean the gutters twice a year to prevent pests and ice dams. Remove leaves by hand or with the assistance of a leaf blower, garden hose, or wet-dry vac. When you’re up on a ladder, be sure to use a stabilizer. If sticking to ground level is more your style, you can still get the job done if you have special attachments for your leaf blower or wet-dry vac.
Stopping the Drips
Leaky faucets can be fixed with a little elbow grease and know-how. First, turn off the water to the sink and stop the drain with a rag so you don’t lose any small parts while you’re dismantling the faucet. A compression faucet needs a new rubber washer to seal the valve, and a drippy washerless faucet can be stopped up with a new O-ring.
Warming Up to Furnace Filters
The simplest way to maximize furnace efficiency is quick, easy, and all-to-often forgotten: Make sure to change your furnace filter every two months. Choose the right filter for your model, turn off your furnace, and remove the service panel to swap out the old filter for the new one. Each furnace is different, so consult your manual first.
Caring for Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are often a home’s most inviting feature. You can keep them that way with proper care. Use cleaning products designed for hardwood—other cleansers can cause damage. A little water on a cloth works wonders on spills, but too much water will damage the wood. For fabulous floors, vacuum frequently using a hardwood floor attachment to grab dust from between boards without scratching.
Replacing a Shower Head
Replacing a shower head is a small project with a big impact. Remove the existing shower head, then lay thread seal tape at the base of the shower arm before screwing in the new piece. Don’t fasten it too tightly. Replace the shower arm if you like—they’re often sold separately.
Installing a New Thermostat
A programmable thermostat is a big step toward energy efficiency, and it’s easy to install. Turn off the breaker to your furnace and air conditioner, then remove the old thermostat, leaving the wires in place. The number of wires (two or four) will help determine which type of thermostat you should buy. Either way, you’re on the road to easier heating and cooling.
Toilet Triage
In the life of every homeowner, there will be some clogged toilets. But they’re simple to fix with a plunger, an auger, rubber gloves, and a bucket. If the bowl is in danger of overflowing, shut off the water supply valve behind the toilet and empty out half of the water. Try a plunger first, but if that doesn’t work, grab an auger.
Building a Low-Cost Trellis
A rustic trellis can be fashioned from green saplings, dry wood, or bamboo poles fastened together with garden twine. You can make a trellis in whatever dimensions are necessary to accommodate your garden’s climbing plants, but for a larger trellis, you’ll need to figure out how to stake it securely into the earth.
Creating Window Boxes
The perfect project for a beginner woodworker, a window box should be cut to the inside width of the window frame, plus 1½ inches. Fit the pieces together with a simple butt joint. Screw the boards together and drill drainage holes on the bottom. Attach the box using heavy-duty screws or brackets to make sure that your favorite flowers have a secure home.
Locating Wall Studs
Hanging a shelf or a heavy mirror? It’s best to know where your wall studs are before you start—to save your time and your walls! When you knock on a wall, a spot with the stud behind it will sound solid. Alternatively, use a magnetic stud finder that beeps when it locates the nails in the boards. Happy hunting!
Getting Tiles Sparkling Clean
For squeaky-clean porcelain tiles, sweep and vacuum twice a week. Soak with a water-vinegar mixture for 5 to 10 minutes once a month for a deep clean, and scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Dry with a microfiber cloth. To keep tiles looking new, avoid bleach, wax, oil-based cleansers, and hard scrubbers.
Planting Shrubs
Whether or not you have a green thumb, you should be able to plant shrubs. Increase your odds of success by picking a plant that will fare well in your climate, and plan on getting it in the ground in early spring or fall. Test the soil drainage (higher ground means faster drainage) before planting, and dig a hole twice as big as the root ball and deep enough so the ball is level with grade.
Hanging Up Shelves
Need some vertical storage? You can put up shelves, but make sure they’re attached to the wall studs for a supportive base. Otherwise, use wall anchors that can support the amount of weight you’d like the shelves to hold. Always use a level before you drill. If you don’t have a traditional or laser level, you can download a level app to your smartphone.
Unclogging a Sink
If you have a clogged sink, skip the chemical drain cleaners—they probably won’t fix anything. Your problem may be a blocked P-trap. Check this U-shaped pipe under the sink by first placing a bucket underneath it and then unscrewing the pipe.
Replacing a Faucet
Replacing a faucet might sound impressive, but it’s not too tough. Choose a new fixture that has holes in the same locations as the old one to ensure that it will fit properly on the sink. Before working under the sink, snap a picture so you know how to put everything back together. Shut off the water, drain the faucet, then follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
