Easy To Follow Home Repair Tips Homeowners Must Know

One of the challenges homeowners face is repairing broken features in their homes. While some require the help of experts, there are some home repairs that can be done by the owner. Learning repair skills can be quite beneficial in many ways. For one, it can save the homeowner a hefty amount of money by not availing of professional repair works all the time. Also, having basic knowledge of home repairs can be a useful skill in maintaining homes, home improvements, renovations, and to making sure that everything is working and operating smoothly.

While there are many repairs that should be included on this list, we listed down those that are easy and require less wireworks and complex repairing that warrant assistance from professionals. Read on below to see the list of easy to follow DIY home repairs that you can master in a snap.

Stained walls might not be a major damage but it is undeniable that it can affect the overall appearance of the home. This can be remedied by a fresh coat of paint. However, this can be tricky since the overall result depends on how the job is done. In this case, homeowners must know how to prepare before painting a room. Although preparation for this takes a lot of time, it can yield better results when carefully followed [1].

To start with, remove anything that can get in the way of painting such as wall fixtures or any hardware. This is necessary because if those obstacles were never removed, it be a challenge once the homeowner starts painting. It can create unequal layers of paint that can end up looking unflattering. Once the wall is clear of obstructions, clean it with dry cloth or damp sponge. Doing this will remove dust, grease, and grime that can lessen the effectiveness of the paint and cause streaks.

Before painting, keep an eye out for little damages such as nail holes, gouges, and other minor flaws that can be repaired by sanding. Once the minor repairs are done, apply primer to the sanded areas. Proceed to painting afterwards.

For every homeowner with tiled floors or walls, cleaning grout is a must. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, grout is the paste used for filling in tiles. It is the gap that can be seen between tiles. To clean the grout, avoid using harsh cleaners such as bleach since it can damage it. Start off with water and stiff brush. If water did not do any improvement, try other cleaners such as baking soda and vinegar and scrub the grout. If the staining is too severe, it can be a sign that it needs to be replaced [2].

While it might be tempting to dump chemicals into a sink drain when it gets clogged, it should be the last thing to consider. Unclogging drains is easier than it looks, some of the remedies can be easily bought from supermarkets and hardware stores. A plunger and drain snake are enough to get the job done. After removing the primary clog, get rid off the remaining debris by putting a cup of baking soda in the drain, and follow through by pouring four cups of boiling water. Finish it off with vinegar, and the drain will not only be clean but also smell fresh [3].

Clogged toilets are stressful to deal with since the overflowing water might cause further damage in the household and it might add up to the monthly water bill cost. Avoid panicking and inspect the possible cause of the clogging instead. For homes with children, it may be caused by a foreign object flushed into the toilet such as toys. Toys and other objects can be removed manually by homeowners. There are other ways as well such as using a plunger and drain snakes. There are various instructions about unclogging toilets on the internet that homeowners can check out and follow [4].

Just like clogged toilets, faucets that are continuously leaking might end up increasing the cost of monthly water bill if the leak is severe. This can be easily fixed as well with simple steps. Experts recommend that the first thing to do is to turn off the water valve, and turn on the faucet to drain the water line. Next step is to make sure that the drain is covered or plugged so that nothing will fall into the drain while working with the faucet. Proceed with unscrewing the handle of the faucet and replace the rubber washer around it [5].

It’s true that prevention is better than cure, and this also applies among homeowners. While it might not be a repair work, but knowing how to care for basic appliances is a great strategy in extending their lifespan. In buying appliances, it’s best to keep the manuals that are included in the packaging for instructions on proper handling and cleaning. Make sure to do routine check-up of the appliances. For example, replace the filter of the refrigerator if it hasn’t been replaced for a long time since.