Most Common DIY Home Repairs

As a home owner you must become familiar with the most common DIY home repairs to enjoy a problem-free home for many years. This is quite possible if you have a regular maintenance schedule. However once in a while, something breaks down and needs repairs.

This article covers some of the likely DIY home repairs that you as a homeowner are going to encounter. Get used to doing these repairs yourself and you’ll save quite some money while you’re at it.

DIY cleaning and repairs of gutters and downspouts

When these are clogged they result in water damage to your walls and foundation. Use a sturdy ladder to get up to your gutters. Then scoop out the leaves and twigs from the gutter using gloved hands. A trowel is handy in getting at the compacted dirt in the gutter.

Next use a hose pipe to run water through the downspout to check for blockages. A blocked down spout won’t allow water through easily. To fix this, simply turn on the water at full pressure with the nozzle in the downspout.

If you notice a crack on the gutter, get an appropriate sealant from your local hardware store. They’ll recommend something appropriate for filling cracks.

Common DIY air filter home repair

Replacing your furnace air filters is another common DIY home repair. The frequency of replacement depends on the shelf life of the filter. The important thing to note here is to check the arrow on the filter that shows the direction of the air flow. You want to make sure that you slide it in correctly.

Most filters have a shelf life of 3 months. Therefore this is a task that you’ll be doing all year round.

Repairing the common problem of moldy caulking in the bathroom

This is a common home repair issue that you should learn to do as a homeowner. With time you’ll notice mold on the silicon caulking in your bathroom. This is a typical DIY project that’ll save you spending money on a professional.

Use a utility knife to cut along the top of the caulking and at the bottom along the seams. You’ll notice that the caulking falls off as you do this. Then use a scrapping tool to scrape out any remaining caulking.

Next use a brush and liquid soap to scrub out any remaining silicon and wipe it down. Once it’s dry use a caulking gun to replace the caulking in the seam. Now smooth it out with your finger to ensure it’s firmly in place and remove any excess.

Repairing loose tiles in the home

This is a common DIY home repair. You’ll save a lot as many professionals would want to take out several tiles and do an expensive replacement. Simply mix water and tile glue to form a paste. Then use a syringe to inject the paste into the cracks at the seams.

Fill in this paste until it flows out. Then wipe off the excess. Let the tile glue dry well and your loose tile is fixed.

Home repairs of a leaking faucet

Leaky faucets are a common occurrence in many American homes. Fixing them not only reduces wastage but saves home owners a lot of money. A standard fix is covered here.

First turn off your water supply to the faucet. Most common leaks are at the base of the faucet. The problem may be a loose nut or a worn out O-ring. Remove the screw that lies behind the plastic cap so that the handle comes loose.

Then take off the collar using a set of pliers. This allows you to take off the handle and access the O-rings. Carefully life the O-rings off and replace them. Then replace the handle and collar. Make sure you tighten the collar well before replacing the cover.

These are just a few of the most common DIY home repairs. Mastering these will save you some money in professional fees and expensive replacements later. With time and practice you’ll be doing these repairs like a pro.