DIY Home Repairs: Safe, Simple Wins
Calling a contractor for every minor squeak and leak in your house drains your bank account rapidly. You can handle several basic maintenance tasks yourself using inexpensive tools and a bit of patience. Reviewing home product safety via the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ensures you understand product recalls and proper handling. You will also want to study water savings and fixture labeling via the EPA WaterSense program to choose the best replacement parts. Before starting any project, remember that learning to budget without sacrifice means doing the easy work yourself but knowing when to step back.
Fixing a Running Toilet
A toilet that constantly runs can waste thousands of gallons of water a month, inflating your water bill unnecessarily. In almost all cases, the culprit is a deteriorated rubber flapper sitting at the bottom of the tank. You can purchase a universal replacement flapper for less than ten dollars at any hardware store. First, turn off the water supply valve located behind the base of the toilet. Flush the toilet to empty the tank. Unhook the old flapper from the overflow tube, attach the new one, and reconnect the metal chain. Turn the water back on and watch the tank fill. If the water stops running once the tank is full, you just saved yourself a massive plumber’s fee.
Clearing a Clogged P-Trap
When your bathroom sink drains at a snail’s pace, you do not need to pour expensive, highly corrosive liquid chemicals down the drain. The blockage usually lives right in the P-trap, the curved pipe located directly beneath your sink. Place a small plastic bucket directly under the curve to catch any spilling water. Use a pair of slip-joint pliers to gently loosen the two slip nuts holding the trap in place. Pull the curved pipe downward, take it outside or to another sink, and push the hair and soap scum out using an old toothbrush. Reattach the pipe, tighten the nuts by hand, and run the water to check for leaks. Always wear safety glasses and waterproof gloves during this process.
Sealing Door Drafts
If you can feel a breeze when you stand near your front or back door, your climate-controlled air is escaping outside. This forces your furnace or air conditioner to work much harder. You can stop this by installing inexpensive foam or rubber weatherstripping. Clean the inner door frame thoroughly with rubbing alcohol and let it dry. Peel the backing off the self-adhesive weatherstripping and press it firmly into the door stop molding so the door compresses the material when closed. If your ductwork in the basement or attic is exposed, you might also look into duct sealing, which is the process of closing leaks in your HVAC pipe network to prevent conditioned air from escaping using specialized foil tape or mastic sealant.
Replacing Inefficient Fixtures
Your showerhead determines a large portion of your daily water consumption. When shopping for a new fixture, check its water factor, which generally refers to the number of gallons of water used per cycle in an appliance, or in the case of a showerhead, gallons per minute (GPM). Unscrew your old showerhead using an adjustable wrench. Clean the threaded pipe extending from the wall and wrap it tightly clockwise with three loops of white Teflon plumbing tape. Screw the new low-flow showerhead onto the pipe securely by hand, and then give it a tiny quarter-turn with a wrench to seal it. You maintain great water pressure while using significantly less volume.
Knowing When to Call a Pro
While DIY saves money, you must recognize your boundaries. You should immediately call a licensed professional whenever a project involves opening your main electrical panel, dealing with raw sewage lines, tampering with major natural gas pipes, or modifying the structural supports of your home. Doing these tasks incorrectly can result in catastrophic damage, severe injury, or invalidating your homeowner’s insurance policy. Always hire certified experts when the task requires specialized permits from your local municipality.
