Homeownership comes with the responsibility of caring for your home. A little regular care and maintenance, like checking your plumbing, heating, and air conditioning annually, can prevent most major home repairs. While it’s best to call in an expert when he doesn’t have enough brains, there are many common household repairs that are fairly easy for homeowners to tackle.
Clogged drain. If you experience a clogged drain, remove and clean the sink stopper. If you still have a clog, turn off the water supply under the sink. Avoid using chemicals to clear the clog as they are harmful to pipes and are rarely effective. Call a plumber if nothing seems to work.
Electrical fault. An electrical fault could be the result of a blown fuse or circuit breaker. Find your fuse box which is often found in the garage, basement or outside of your house. Return the tripped circuit breaker to the “on” position or replace the blown fuse. Before replacing a fuse, disconnect everything connected to that circuit and turn off the main power. Remove the blown fuse and replace it with the same rated amperage fuse. If you still have no power after following these steps, call an electrician.
Leaky faucet. Leaky faucets require immediate attention. Not only are they annoying, but they waste quite a bit of water. To fix a leaky faucet, turn off the water under the sink. Remove the faucet handle by loosening the screw at the top. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen the packing nut and remove the stem. Find a screw with a washer at the bottom of the stem. Buy a new washing machine at any hardware store. Once the washer is replaced, retighten everything. Turn the water back on and the drip should be gone.
Broken garbage disposal. Always use cold water when grinding food to move it through the drain lines. Fats and grease solidify in cold water, making it easier to rinse through the lines, while hot water causes grease and grease to collect in the drain line. Do not put non-food items in the disposer. Try grinding ice from time to time to clean up deposits and odors.
Although many repairs can be done by the homeowner, there will be times when hiring an expert is unavoidable. Consider preparing a list of phone numbers for plumbers and electricians. Ask friends and neighbors for referrals.