As
a homeowner, you should be committed to keeping your home safe and in proper
order. But sometimes, no matter how much you take good care of things, the
inevitable could happen. Whether it's a leaky faucet, broken pipe or damaged
chair, each and every homeowner should know how to handle some of the most
common DIY home repairs. Here are some of them. Others, such as a leaking
roof,
might be better left to professional contractors, if chances of getting hurt
are too great.
Wobbly Table and
Chairs
It
can be annoying to be sitting on a chair that's wobbling and most certainly if
the table is also having the same problem. But here's a simple DIY remedy when
it comes to unsteady chairs and tables - take the legs apart and make sure you
label each of them so you could easily put them back together. Use a chisel to
remove the glue or adhesives that were used to join the parts. Once the area is
cleaned, reapply adhesives and put back the parts together. Use a rope to hold
the part until such time that the glue or any adhesive you use will dry up.
Prevent Water Leaks
One
of the most common problems that several homeowners are faced with all over the
world is a water leak. The solution to this dilemma is to simply install a
device called the water shut off valve. This device can be used for shutting
off the water in the event of an emergency leak, although you obviously want to avoid an
emergency.
Before you start with installing the valve, make sure you turn
off your water's main supply and decide where you wanted to install the
shut off valve. Clean the insides of your water pipe and you can then attach
the valve.
Hard To Open
Drawers
Another
common and annoying problem that you could have at home is a drawer that often
gets stuck each time you open it. But don't worry, for there's an effective
solution on how you can make your drawers to be sliding smoothly again. Simply
rub an old candle at the part of the drawer that touches the dresser. You
should also do the same thing for the dresser itself. After this, the drawer
should be back to working smoothly and you should be able to get things out of
your drawer quickly and without any difficulty.
Dealing with
Squeaking Doors
If
your door is squeaking or sticking, then you need to do something to remedy
these problems. They are not only a nuisance, but they could be dangerous as
well since a squeaky door could indicate that it's already damaged and soon
enough, it will just suddenly stop opening. You will need a piece of thin cardboard
to remedy this problem. Cut the cardboard in the same size as that of your door
shims and then insert it in between the hinge and the shim. Screw all the parts
back together and your problem is solved!
Fixing Screen Door
Closer
There
are various reasons why your screen door closer is no longer working. However,
most of the time, a simple DIY home repair should easily fix this problem. If
the issue has something to do with the tension, all you need to do is to
tighten or loosen the adjustment screw located at the bottom part of the
closer. If this solution will not work, then you may need to consider buying an
entirely new screen door closer to replace the damaged one.
Worn Off Caulking
Caulk
is basically that rubbery stuff that's in between your sink, shower or tub. It
serves as the seal that keeps the areas protected against moisture. It will
glue itself in place and this makes the process of applying it so easy. Over
time, the caulking could crack, wear, shrink and discolor, and this will leave
your bathroom vulnerable to mold and water damage.
You
can reapply caulk using a caulking gun. It requires a bit of practice but you
should be able to manage. You just have to use the gun for drawing a straight
line to the area that needs caulking. If you are not that confident in laying
down a smooth bead of caulk, then consider buying caulk strips that you just
need to unroll and then press into the area.
Stripped Screw
Holes
Sometimes,
you will just be surprised to see some little quirks in your house, especially
after living there for several years. Among these are screw holes that have
stripped off over time. It may not be that big of a deal, but it is still a
damage that must be repaired. Besides, this problem can be easily remedied
using a toothpick that you can simply insert into the hole and then you can
screw whatever it is that you wanted to screw into it. The toothpick can help
to prevent the screw holes from developing further cracks.
Leaking Copper
Pipes
Another
common home repair that a lot of homeowners thought to be hard is fixing a
copper pipe that's leaking. What many did not know is that fixing this problem
is pretty easy. Simply cut that part of the copper pipe that's leaking and then
replace it with a new one, that's attached into a SharkBite. This is a simple,
yet efficient solution to your leaky pipe problem.
Damaged Faucet
Washer
Leaky
faucet is a common problem, yet it is also easy to fix. For major water leaks
however, you may need an expert intervention. Nevertheless, fixing minor water
leaks should be pretty easy, depending on the kind of faucet that you have.
Begin by shutting off the water that comes out of the faucet. You should find a
shutoff valve nearby. Unscrew the handle of the faucet in order to remove it.
Remove the other parts as well, such as the packing nut, valve stem, washer,
etc. You should be able to identify by now which part or component of the
faucet has triggered the leak. Simply replace that broken part with a new one
and put back the parts together.
Hopefully
these DIY home repair tips can help you to live in peace and comfort,
unbothered by some of the most annoying and distracting house problems.
