Nine of the Easiest DIY Repair Methods That Don’t Require a Professional
There are some home renovations that are so easy that even the pros don’t like to charge them (really!). Many of these plumbing, heating, electricity, air conditioning, and home appliance repairs are simple things homeowners overlook, and all of these repairs can save you a lot of changes if things go wrong next time.
This post was originally published on Family Handyman .
If you’ve done any home improvement work before, you probably already know a lot of it, but if the first thing you do is call a professional when something goes wrong, some of these tricks are worth learning.
Low water pressure in the tap
Clean or replace the aerator. Over time, the aerators become clogged with minerals or other parts that break out from the inside of the pipes. Remove the aerator by turning it clockwise while looking down at it. You may need to grab it with pliers to unscrew it. When it’s off, you can take the parts out of the aerator and clean them, but it’s usually best to just replace it. Take it to a hardware store to find the exact thread match.
Don’t use your toilet as a trash can
Instead, put your trash in the trash can. You might think this is obvious, but apparently it is not. Our professional plumber got a call to unplug a toilet that he recently installed. He was surprised because he had put in a toilet, which he knew was almost impossible to clog up. After repeatedly trying with the toilet piston and auger, he gave up and removed the toilet to look inside from below. The outlet was completely clogged with an intricate mesh of plastic floss holders that had to be removed one at a time with pliers. Eliminate support calls. Use a trash can.
Is there a leak?
Try tightening the valve stem packing nut. The next time you see a suspicious puddle of water, look for a leaky valve before calling a plumber . Look at the valve to see if water is leaking around the valve stem. If so, try turning the packing nut about an eighth turn with a wrench. If tightening the nut does not fix the leak, you will have to shut off the main water valve, remove the handle and nut, and add or replace packing material – still fairly easy to fix.
No hot water?
Check the water heater warning lamp. Before calling a plumber , remove the metal cover located at the bottom of the water heater, or simply look through the glass door to see if the pilot is on fire. If you do not see a small pilot lamp flame, follow the pilot lamp re-ignition instructions on the tank sticker. Some high efficiency water heaters do not have a permanently lit warning light. If you have one of these, refer to your user manual.
Is the refrigerator not cooling?
Check temperature scale and cooling coils. It can be as simple as turning the dial to a cooler position. Our professional plumber says that it is not uncommon to find that the controls on your refrigerator are not installed correctly. Someone might have tapped the knob while removing the milk, or a curious toddler might have turned the knob. Cooling coils completely covered in pet hair and dust are also incredibly common, so remove the front grill and vacuum the coils.
No gas burners flames on your stove?
Check the power source of the stove. If you do not hear gas coming out when the burner is turned on, then gas is not entering the stove, so make sure it is on. If you hear gas coming out, but the burner does not ignite, make sure the stove is connected to the mains. Even gas stoves need electricity. If gas and electricity are supplied to the stove, clean the igniter near the burner or clean the pilot hole. Of course, if you smell gas that is not coming from the burners, you may need to consult a professional as it can be dangerous.
Does the stove burner not heat up?
Recent cleaning may be the cause. The first thing our professional plumber asks is, “Have you recently cleaned the stove?” Usually the answer is yes, and it’s not hard to fix. When you put the torch back into the top, the terminal did not make contact with the socket under the stove, or the plastic terminal block was knocked out of the holder. Raise the top of the fuser and try reinstalling the terminal block. Also try pushing the terminals apart slightly to make a tighter connection.
The electrical outlet is not working
Reboot the GFCI electrical outlets. Some outlets are protected by an upstream GFCI or GFCI circuit breaker. Look for the GFCI circuit breaker in the back box, and GFCI sockets in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Test and reset them. This might solve your problem. However, if you don’t think this is a problem, it may be best to consult a professional electrician as working with electricity can be very dangerous.
Not enough warmth?
Check oven filter and vents. One of the most common causes of insufficient air heating or cooling is a clogged oven filter. Change inexpensive woven fiberglass filters once a month, or buy a higher quality pleated filter and change it every three months to avoid heating and cooling problems. Another common cause of cold rooms during the heating season is the blocked return of cold air. Make sure your sofa or rug does not block the cold air vent as this can slow down the flow of heated air into the room.
Saving Money: DIY Repair Tips | Family Handyman