Home Repairs You Can Do Yourself
Home Repairs You Can Do Yourself
Whether you own or rent a home, things will break, it’s unavoidable. While it can be expensive to hire a contractor to fix things, many home repairs can be completed yourself, without much experience.
Having the ability to make minor repairs yourself can help make your life a whole lot easier. Not only is it financially savvy to not pay a professional every time you need a basic task done, but you’ll have more control over your home upgrades and the time frame the repairs are made. Plus, you’ll gain a sense of accomplishment knowing you did it on your own.
Ready to give DIY home repairs a try? Read on for a few you should tackle before calling in the pros.
Repair A Leaky Faucet
A dripping faucet can drive you crazy, but it’s not that hard to fix. It just requires replacing the cartridge, which controls the water flow.
There are a few different types of faucets, so you’ll need to know what kind yours is before you start fixing a leaky faucet. If you have some basic tools, the whole repair should take less than an hour. Don’t forget to shut off the water supply and plug the drain first!
Clean the Gutters
You should be cleaning leaves and debris out of your gutters a few times a year to avoid serious issues like mold, leaks, and structural damage. Fortunately, it’s not hard to clean your gutters yourself. You just need a ladder, something to use as a scoop, gloves, and buckets to collect the debris. You can also clean gutters from the ground if you use a leaf blower or high-power hose.
Seal Drafty Windows
Drafty windows or doors can lead to higher heating bills. Cold air comes in through the gaps and the furnace spends all day playing catch-up. Air sealing is a cost-effective way to insulate your windows and lower your energy costs without having to completely replace your windows – plus, you can do it yourself with caulk or weather stripping.
Fix A Running Toilet
Quit wasting water and lower your water bill when you fix a running toilet. This may require replacing the flapper, checking the float, or swapping out the fill valve. Toilets don’t have many parts, so there’s a good chance one of these adjustments will solve your problem.
Patch Drywall
Whether you had an accident that dinged up your wall or you’re just redecorating, patching up small holes in drywall is easy to do yourself. Just fill in the hole with spackle and use a putty knife to smooth it out.
After it dries, you’ll sand it down, paint right over it, and voila, it’s like the hole was never there!
Unclog A Garbage Disposal
Having the ability to unclog your garbage disposal can save you the hassle of calling a professional, and luckily, it’s not too difficult to learn. Figure out what’s causing the water to back up, but before you stick your hand down the garbage disposal, cut off the power to avoid injuring yourself. Then you can use a flashlight to figure out the source of the clog. It may just be a piece of food or silverware that can be removed with tongs.
If there’s lots of waste buildup, try pouring baking soda and vinegar down the drain to break down any food scraps that may be clogging up your garbage disposal. You can also use a plunger on your clogged garbage disposal in the same way you might unclog a toilet.
Know Your Limits on DIY Home Repairs
Sometimes repairs are beyond your skill level, such as replacing a roof or water heater. Attempting DIY home repairs on something too complex can make things worse, and you may end up paying a professional even more to reverse the damage.
If you’re facing an expensive fix and struggling with how to get the money for home repairs, stop stressing and call LendNation. We understand that the unexpected can happen and we’re here to help when it does – as quickly as the same day.
Our cash advance loans and other loan products combined with a simple application process help you get the money you need when you need it. Find a location or apply online now.
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