9 Home Repair Issues To Fix With A DIY Project
While buying a home is a dream come true for many people, homeownership comes with more than spending lazy weekends on the deck and chilly evenings in front of the fireplace. It requires you to undertake DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects. Apart from keeping the property in shape, being a handy DIYer will also save you a ton of money and headache along the way.
If you have never fixed anything in your house before, it might sound like a mounting task. However, even the beginner DIYers can easily tackle the following home repair issues:
Deflecting Gutter Runoff
If your gutter is spilling water adjacent to your basement, you are in deep trouble. Use a bendable corrugated drainpipe to keep the gutter outflows well away from your home’s exterior wall. Depending on the convenience, you can hide the pipe or leave it visible.
Addressing A Leaky Pipe
As with a leaky faucet, a leaky pipe beneath the sink can be repaired without contacting a professional. In most circumstances, a new washer or nut will suffice. But, in exceptional cases, you will have to replace the entire p-trap. Depending on their material, the parts will cost anything between 5 dollars and 15 dollars. Before disassembling anything, cut off the water supply to the sink. Bear in mind; if a leaky pipe goes down unnoticed for a long time, you should go beyond just fixing the pipe. Among all the options, hiring professional water damage services might be the best solution.
Fixing A Loose Floorboard
The stretching of the floorboard can dislocate nails over time. So use a nail set to drive them in firmly. If the board is bent, replace the nails with stainless steel screws and fill the heads with wood filler. It will be easier to screw down the wood if it is moistened. To be on the safe side, always check for pipes or electrical cables directly beneath them before embarking on the project.
Filling Nail Holes
Let’s start with the easiest fix on the list. Put a small quantity of putty on the end of an old knife or your finger and push it into the hole. It only takes a tiny bit of putty to get the job done. After it has dried, you can paint over the hole with a small painting brush from the local store. You are not required to purchase a gallon of paint; a bottle of acrylic art paint in a color that matches the color of your wall will suffice.
Increasing Water Pressure
While there could be various possible issues causing low water pressure, the solution may be as simple as regulating your pressure-reducing valve. Typically, this bell-shaped valve is located near your main water line entering the house. Before making any modifications, loosen the locknut and then crank the bolt on the valve to alter the water pressure. Remember, pressure is increased clockwise and decreased counterclockwise.
Repairing A Leaky Faucet
Your quick fix will vary depending on the source of the leak and the type of faucet. With that said, repairing a dripping faucet usually means you are most likely to deal with a worn washer or O-ring. If your faucets have separate handles cold and hot water, turn off one at a time to discover which one is dripping. Once you have clarity about that, turn off the water supply and unscrew the malfunctioning handle to replace the washer and O-ring.
Cleaning A Blocked Toilet
Toilets in households with small children are prone to accumulating a variety of toys. In that case, you can simply fish the stuff out by putting on thick gloves. You might also consider waiting for the water level in the toilet to return to normal before pouring a bucket of water into the bowl. Blockages are optimally addressed and sent on their way as a result of the increased pressure.
If these tactics do not work, clear the toilet with a plunger. For toilet blockages, flanged plungers work best because they create a better seal and enhance the amount of pressure you push down into the discharge siphon tube. Plungers in the accordion form are also effective.
Building Fence Sections
As a homeowner, you might be surprised to discover how simple it is to install a privacy fence. The most difficult aspect is digging the fence post holes. However, to make your life easier, you can hire motorized auger-style fence hole diggers capable of cutting through the toughest soils. Cementing the four-by-four posts in place is simple once you have positioned them in the holes. Pour dry concrete around the post, wet it down, and let it harden for some time.
Installing A Wall Heater
If you are like most people, you would have one or more rooms colder than they should be. And it may not be feasible or cost-effective to install new HVAC ductwork in that specific portion. That is where installing a wall heater can come in handy.
It will prove to be a simple DIY project as long as you have an electrical wire running to or near the intended location. Some heaters can be installed directly in the drywall without the requirement for studs.
According to well-established estimates, people spend a whopping 1 to 5 percent of their home’s total worth on repairs and maintenance every year. But the good news is that you can significantly decrease this amount by undertaking a bunch of DIY projects listed above. So roll up your sleeves and get into your house’s necessary fine-tuning right away!
