4 Home Repairs You Should Know How to Do
4 Home Repairs You Should Know How to Do
August 9, 2018
What 4 home repairs should you know how to do?
- Unclogging a toilet
- Fixing a leaky faucet
- Replacing a light switch
- Patching a hole in a drywall
When it comes to home repairs, it’s a matter of either you doing it yourself or having someone else to do it for you. For your home here in the Philippines, power tools are the best companions you can have for this project. It is normal to feel that you have no idea where to start but learning how to do these home repairs will come to benefit you in the long run, especially in times of emergencies. Being a homeowner would be perfect if all you needed to do was relax without worrying about maintaining the place but unfortunately, that is not the case.
There are a lot of unforeseen circumstances like weak structures in your house or power outages caused by the harsh storms here in the Philippines. Power tools of high quality are hard to find if you do not know where to look but with the right tool provider, these home repairs can be a piece of cake. Check them all out here:
Unclogging a Toilet
Clogged toilets are one of the worst things that can happen especially if you have guests in the house. Most people think that it is easy to deal with this problem but this mindset often gets them in trouble. Many people tend to make impulsive decisions when faced with this situation like filling the toilet up with water which can worsen the problem. Patching up this problem should be pretty simple with a good plunger, or you can use a plumbing tool if the plunger fails to do the job.
If you need to fix the clog quickly, you can mix a little dish detergent with four cups of piping hot water and pour it in the bowl. You can also wait for the obstruction to break down in a half hour if it is a piece of soap or if a biological material.
Fixing a Leaky Faucet
Knowing the different fixes for leaky faucets will depend on what type of faucet you have. For your information, there are compression faucets, two-handle washerless faucets, and single-handle washerless faucets. The good thing about fixing a leaky faucet, regardless of its type, is that it can be done with no more than a wrench and an inexpensive replacement part. The dripping faucet can cost you a lot of money as it spikes up your water bill—which is easily preventable by being knowledgeable on one of the most common home repairs. Fixing it yourself also eliminates the need for a plumber which can allow you to save up for purchasing a replacement part.
Replacing a Light Switch
Most people race to call an electrician the moment electrical damage occurs, and this is probably the best decision to lessen the risk of serious injury from the electronics. However, replacing a light switch is something that you can do without the aid of a professional since it is among the easiest home repairs you can do. If you have a switch that is not working properly, you can do it in quick and easy steps. Just be sure to turn off the circuit breaker before beginning your repairs because as you may well know, electricity can be very dangerous.
Using a flathead screwdriver, you should proceed to remove the faceplate covering the switch then remove the switch from the wall. You should see two wires connected to the screws on the switch. You would want to test the wires to ensure that there is no electricity running through them. Disconnect the wires and attach them to the new switch. Put everything back to the way they were and you’re done.
Patching a Hole in Drywall
Unless you rammed a jackhammer into your wall, fixing up a hole in your wall can be an easy and cheap DIY project. Small holes like screw or nail holes can easily be fixed by cleaning the area of any debris and wiping down the wall. Use a putty knife to press some spackling paste into the wall then wait for it to dry. Once this is done, use a fine grain sandpaper to sand it down until it is nice and flat. The tools and materials you will need are a putty knife, spackle/joint compound, drywall, drywall tape, and a 1×1 wood board. You can also buy a ready-made drywall patch that is available in many hardware shops around your area.
Key Takeaway
There is more to home repairs than the 4 things listed above, but being proficient with them is an excellent start. Remember that while having power tools in your arsenal boosts your capability to take care of your home better, having the appropriate knowledge on how to actually do it is just as, if not more, important.
This information will come in handy especially when you do not know who to call about a home repair and seeing as you know your house better than anyone, it is essential that you take care of it too. Owning a home is an exciting achievement and maintaining it well will allow you to create picture-perfect memories that you can tell your future family about.
