Most Common DIY Home Repair Tips

As a homeowner, you should be committed to keeping your home safe and in proper order. But sometimes, no matter how much you take good care of things, the inevitable could happen. Whether it's a leaky faucet, broken pipe or damaged chair, each and every homeowner should know how to handle some of the most common DIY home repairs. Here are some of them. Others, such as a leaking roof, might be better left to professional contractors, if chances of getting hurt are too great.

Wobbly Table and Chairs

It can be annoying to be sitting on a chair that's wobbling and most certainly if the table is also having the same problem. But here's a simple DIY remedy when it comes to unsteady chairs and tables - take the legs apart and make sure you label each of them so you could easily put them back together. Use a chisel to remove the glue or adhesives that were used to join the parts. Once the area is cleaned, reapply adhesives and put back the parts together. Use a rope to hold the part until such time that the glue or any adhesive you use will dry up.

Prevent Water Leaks

One of the most common problems that several homeowners are faced with all over the world is a water leak. The solution to this dilemma is to simply install a device called the water shut off valve. This device can be used for shutting off the water in the event of an emergency leak, although you obviously want to avoid an emergency. Before you start with installing the valve, make sure you turn off your water's main supply and decide where you wanted to install the shut off valve. Clean the insides of your water pipe and you can then attach the valve.

Hard To Open Drawers

Another common and annoying problem that you could have at home is a drawer that often gets stuck each time you open it. But don't worry, for there's an effective solution on how you can make your drawers to be sliding smoothly again. Simply rub an old candle at the part of the drawer that touches the dresser. You should also do the same thing for the dresser itself. After this, the drawer should be back to working smoothly and you should be able to get things out of your drawer quickly and without any difficulty.

Dealing with Squeaking Doors

If your door is squeaking or sticking, then you need to do something to remedy these problems. They are not only a nuisance, but they could be dangerous as well since a squeaky door could indicate that it's already damaged and soon enough, it will just suddenly stop opening. You will need a piece of thin cardboard to remedy this problem. Cut the cardboard in the same size as that of your door shims and then insert it in between the hinge and the shim. Screw all the parts back together and your problem is solved!

Fixing Screen Door Closer

There are various reasons why your screen door closer is no longer working. However, most of the time, a simple DIY home repair should easily fix this problem. If the issue has something to do with the tension, all you need to do is to tighten or loosen the adjustment screw located at the bottom part of the closer. If this solution will not work, then you may need to consider buying an entirely new screen door closer to replace the damaged one.

Worn Off Caulking

Caulk is basically that rubbery stuff that's in between your sink, shower or tub. It serves as the seal that keeps the areas protected against moisture. It will glue itself in place and this makes the process of applying it so easy. Over time, the caulking could crack, wear, shrink and discolor, and this will leave your bathroom vulnerable to mold and water damage.

You can reapply caulk using a caulking gun. It requires a bit of practice but you should be able to manage. You just have to use the gun for drawing a straight line to the area that needs caulking. If you are not that confident in laying down a smooth bead of caulk, then consider buying caulk strips that you just need to unroll and then press into the area.

Stripped Screw Holes

Sometimes, you will just be surprised to see some little quirks in your house, especially after living there for several years. Among these are screw holes that have stripped off over time. It may not be that big of a deal, but it is still a damage that must be repaired. Besides, this problem can be easily remedied using a toothpick that you can simply insert into the hole and then you can screw whatever it is that you wanted to screw into it. The toothpick can help to prevent the screw holes from developing further cracks.

Leaking Copper Pipes

Another common home repair that a lot of homeowners thought to be hard is fixing a copper pipe that's leaking. What many did not know is that fixing this problem is pretty easy. Simply cut that part of the copper pipe that's leaking and then replace it with a new one, that's attached into a SharkBite. This is a simple, yet efficient solution to your leaky pipe problem.

Damaged Faucet Washer

Leaky faucet is a common problem, yet it is also easy to fix. For major water leaks however, you may need an expert intervention. Nevertheless, fixing minor water leaks should be pretty easy, depending on the kind of faucet that you have. Begin by shutting off the water that comes out of the faucet. You should find a shutoff valve nearby. Unscrew the handle of the faucet in order to remove it. Remove the other parts as well, such as the packing nut, valve stem, washer, etc. You should be able to identify by now which part or component of the faucet has triggered the leak. Simply replace that broken part with a new one and put back the parts together.

Hopefully these DIY home repair tips can help you to live in peace and comfort, unbothered by some of the most annoying and distracting house problems.