5 Home Repairs You Can Do Yourself

Owning your own home can be both a blessing and a curse. You likely spend a lot of time there with your family, it might have a deck where you host get-togethers, it may have enough bedrooms so your kids don’t have to share, and maybe you’ve got a space that makes watching a game the highlight of your weekend during football season. All that is great! But...

Whenever something breaks or goes wrong, it’s up to you as the homeowner to take care of it. When you rented an apartment or townhome, it was usually the landlord’s responsibility to tackle any needed repairs. Now when something stops working like it should or is causing a problem, that responsibility falls onto you. What will you do?

Fortunately, there are some household repairs that the average homeowner will likely be able to take care of without having to call in the pros. Don’t believe us? Read on to learn more!

Repair #1: Adding caulk to window and door frames.

If you’ve noticed that your home feels drafty this time of year, it may be time to add extra caulking around your window and door frames. The weatherstripping material around your frames naturally wears out over time. When this happens, cold air from outside can get in, and warm air from inside can get out. This could cause certain rooms in your home to feel much cooler than they should. Also, these areas of air loss could result in your home’s furnace having to work overtime to try and keep your home nice and toasty. Extra use of your heating system could lead to premature wear and tear on the unit and could also cause you to have higher energy bills each month.

To take care of the problem, visit your local hardware or home improvement store. They will likely have caulking materials in stock. Not sure which windows or doors need the extra sealant? You can perform a hand test —simply run your hand around the framing and make note of any areas where you can feel air passing through. These are the spots where you’ll need to add the extra caulk.

Repair #2: Unclogging a toilet.

It’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare. You’re minding your own business when another family member shrieks from the bathroom saying that the toilet is overflowing. When this happens to you, you may panic and immediately think the problem will require an expensive service appointment from a plumber. And if this misfortunate event happens to you on a weekend, you may also be worried about the extra charge you’ll have to pay for an emergency service call.

Before calling any local plumbers, you may be able to take care of the clog on your own. First, determine if there’s a foreign object in the toilet. If you have small children in your home, you already know how curious their little minds and hands can be, so be sure a toy wasn’t placed in the toilet bowl. If you have a hard time seeing into the bowl, use a flashlight to shine a light on the hole in the basin to determine if an object is obstructing the flow of water from the bowl.

If there isn’t any toy or other object inside the toilet, it’s safe to try using a plunger. Flanged plungers work best for stubborn clogs since they provide a tighter seal and use more pressure than a standard plunger. Added pressure can help to dislodge any potential clogs from your toilet.

If that doesn’t work, you may need to use a toilet auger. These are long, flexible metal rods that can be used to get deep within the line past your toilet. The auger can help push through any stubborn clogs — e.g., too much toilet paper, a paper towel, makeup remover pads/wipes, flushable wipes, and so on.

REMINDER: Never flush the following items down your toilet: cotton balls or swabs, sanitary pads, “flushable” wipes, paper towels, makeup remover wipes/pads, coffee grounds, cigarette butts, or medication.

Repair #3: Fixing a leaky faucet.

Do you constantly hear a drip-drip-drop coming from your bathroom or kitchen faucet? Fortunately, the problem may be something you can take care of on your own instead of waiting and paying for a plumber to come out and diagnose/resolve the problem for you.

This common problem is often caused by a faucet cartridge that needs to be replaced. To begin the repair process, you’ll first need to shut off the water supply to your sink. There’s likely a valve underneath the sink that you can turn to shut off the water. Before removing the faucet itself, turn the faucet to the “on” position so that any remaining water inside of it can come out.

Next, remove the faucet entirely from the sink. There will likely be a screw behind or on top of a faucet handle. Once removed, set the hardware and faucet aside. Next, you will see the faucet cartridge. This is the part of the faucet that regulates the flow of water. You will need to purchase a replacement cartridge at your local hardware or home improvement store. The replacement will come with instructions for installation and/or assembly. Once the new cartridge is in place, fasten your faucet back into place. Turn the water supply back on and test to be sure the water flow starts and stops as it should — without any drip-dropping when turned off.

Repair #4: Unclogging a garbage disposal.

A garbage disposal in your kitchen is very handy when clearing plates after a meal. Unfortunately, this device can become clogged over time or if the wrong types of items are placed into it.

To unclog the device, first BE SURE THAT IT’S IN THE “OFF” POSITION. Unplug it or move its breaker switch to the off position, as well. Next, look inside the disposal by peeking into the sink drain where the unit is installed. It may be helpful to use a flashlight so that you can get a good look inside. If you notice any foreign objects that shouldn’t be in there, you may be able to carefully pull them out by hand or with kitchen tongs. If you just see sludge, try baking soda and vinegar to remove the clog.

First, pour baking soda into the disposal and then follow it up with white vinegar. Let the mixture sit and fizz inside of your disposal for 20-30 minutes. Next, turn on the hot water and let it flow into the disposal for several minutes. If this doesn’t remove the clog, your next step will be to attempt to use a plunger.

Fill your sink with hot water and use the plunger to try and break up any stubborn clogs. If these methods don’t work to clear the clog, you may need to call in a professional to install a replacement.

REMINDER: Never put the following into your garbage disposal: eggshells, batter, greases/fats/oils, bones, onion skins, coffee grounds, or cooked pasta noodles.

Repair #5: Clearing blocked/obstructed gutters.

If you’ve noticed water spilling down the sides of your home after a heavy rainfall or when snow on your roof begins to melt, you may have an obstruction in your gutters. Moisture leaking down the side of your home doesn’t just look bad, but it could also cause damage to your siding and eventually may impact your house’s overall structural integrity as the moisture seeps into the ground around your foundation.

To check for any gutter obstructions, you’ll need a ladder, gloves to protect your hands, and a spotter to be sure you’re not reaching too far or putting yourself in a dangerous position that could result in a fall or injury. Once you’ve climbed the ladder to the problem spot in your gutters, check for any blockages caused by debris. This could include leaves, pinecones, acorns, twigs, and so on. Carefully remove the debris you find. Also check the structure of the gutter itself to make sure it’s not cracked or otherwise damaged. (If it is, you may need to contact a gutter professional for repair/replacement services.)

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