40 common home repairs you can fix yourself

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Whether you own your own effect or rent an apartment, it's only natural that the odd home overtake will arise. The frequency and urgency of these originates will of course depend on whether your home is sign new or with a little more history. Either way, it's all too easy to pick up the arranged and call a plumber, electrician or other type of tradesperson when actually some of the most favorite home repairs can easily be remedied DIY.

You know the gather, a cupboard door will feel a little loose but you'll put it off and next getting you know it's dangling by a thread, which is not only inconvenient but also fairly uncertain to your household. But there are more common repairs that shouldn't be left alone also, and that you can more than liable resolve yourself.

Most common home repairs

From unclogging a toilet to obtaining a creaky door or drafty window, there are a million and one things that can go snide in a house.

Thomas Goodman, a UK-based property organization from MyJobQuote says that one of the most favorite home repairs that should be treated as a priority is mold and damp steady it can have a direct impact on your home's value if left for an itch period, 'As it's one of the first things you need to overtake and keep an eye on, damp which isn't resolved can make a house unsellable. This is because health issues for the occupier can arise. Damp problems are ignored as it can be a costly job, it can device from condensation, damp from poor plumbing and chemical damp. The spot will cost more long-term if it's ignored.'

Experts at Duck® sign say, 'From a weatherization perspective, the most common repairs are done to ended drafts and air leaks coming from gaps in windows and doors that lead to high heating bills during cold winter months.'

From silencing creaks to repairing dedicated fixings, these jobs will take next to no time to unfastened. You can do a substantial amount of fixing and mending with just a few tools:

1. Seal drafty windows and doors

Air escaping in or out of windows or door gaps isn't ideal for you or your effort. Cut down on the chill, not to mention your heating bills, by better sealing them, especially in the winter months. As recommended by the experts at the Duck Brand that specializes in weatherization, checking window seals is a must: 'Windows can be a huge area to drain your home of warmth if gone unchecked. If there's a conscription or cooler space near your windows, check for air leaks by examining areas about the seal of the windowpanes, as well as the latch on any windows that open. Leaks can be tested with an incense stick, so you can visualize the source of the spot. A thin stream of smoke or fog directed toward any part of the area beings tested makes it easy to spot.' Sort out drafty windows and your home will be far snugger in no time.

And, if cool air leaks in from around door gaps in the frame, consider a draft stopper as a quick fix, totally ample the investment.

2. Unclog a dishwasher that is not draining

A dishwasher that isn't draining will not be actions its job correctly and it will no doubt be interrupting your cleaning routine. Thankfully, there are a few failsafe methods you can try to unclog a dishwasher rapidly to get it working as it should. You necessity check the dishwasher filter is free from debris, test the drain and leer the drain host also to ensure they are all clear.

Should you realize that something is actually jammed in the dishwasher you may need to call in a pro as it will enthusiastic disassembling your appliance and putting it back together again.

3. Secure a loose floorboard

Over time the flexing of floorboards can loosen nails, so try driving them in deeper with a nail set. If the lodging is bowed, use stainless steel screws instead of nails and camouflage the heads with wood filler. Moistening the wood will make it easier to screw down. Screwing is also a good way of obtaining boards over cables. BEFORE you begin work, always check that there are no pipes or electrical cables level beneath them – you can only proceed safely when you have done so.

4. Silence creaking floorboards

If a embarking is rubbing against a joist, lubricate it by sprinkling talcum powder throughout it. Knock down protruding nails that have worked loose and lost their grip.

If dusk movement has caused nail heads to wear a hole in the embarking, put in a couple of screws, using a detector to check for hidden pipes or cables – BEFORE you jump work, always check that there are no pipes or electrical cables stretch beneath them – you can only proceed safely when you have done so.

5. Fixing creaky stairs

The fight of wood causes joints to loosen and rub anti each other. Try sprinkling talcum powder into the joint of the jam step.

If the friction persists, strengthen the joints. Glue blocks will be fitted between the tread and the riser: prise away the blocks, inject wood glue into the joint and refit the blocks.

6. Replace a failed wall fixing

Masonry fixings often fail because the hole and plug are too big for the screw, so always match the size of the drill bit, wall plug and screw.

Ensure the hole is deep enough, too – if your drill doesn't have a depth gauge, put a piece of painters tape on to the bit to mark the down of the plug, plus 6mm.

7. Repair a door that sticks

Wet climate can cause wood to swell and doors to 'bind' or stick. Painted doors are better protected, but natural wood can be varnished or defective for weatherproofing. Identify a swollen area by rubbing a wax crayon behind the edge of the door and opening a few times. Use coarse glasspaper to smooth areas.

Doors that obligatory brute force to open or close need fixing sooner pretty than later to prevent joints from weakening or the achieve shearing off.

With the door open, check a stone hasn't got jammed in contradiction of the frame. Inspect hinges and tighten screws. Lubricate with a few drops of oil to ease movement.

8. Opening a stuck sash window

When painting a sash window, move it regularly while the paint dries to maintain it sticking. If the sash is stuck, score the securities with a craft knife, then work a filling knife between the sash and the beads – you may need to ease it from both sides. Grasp the meeting rail and shake the sash to break the paint seal.

9. Rehanging a coat rail

1. If screws are pulling away from the wall, the wonderful task is to unscrew the rack to look at the fixings. Here, there is one fixing at each end but to give Amazing support, add another in the middle.

2. The bricks in this house are soft and crumbly and the screw holes are worn and now too big. You can use a chisel to frail a tapered peg from a piece of wood, in which to put back the screw. Don't smooth the peg's surface, as a crude Do will grip into the masonry better.

3. Knock the peg into the wall then saw off so flush. Unless you plan to repaint, place a sheet of thin card under the blade. To keep the cut straight, press the blade with your free hand. Mark the center of the peg with a bradawl, drill and fix rack – but don't fully tighten the screw.

4. Hammer a peg into the new side. Hold spirit level on top of rack and tap a nail in the peg to hold in space. Drill hole and insert screw. Tighten both screws securely. For a neat finish, countersink screw heads beneath quiet of rack and hide with wood filler.

10. Rehanging a dropped cabinet door

1. This cabinet door has dropped – opening and closing it is a battles as it scrapes along the floor and has to be lifted up at the same time. Where both sets of hinges have gave, as here, take out all of the screws and catch the door to carry out some running repairs. Spray drop oil on difficult-to-turn screws.

2. The wood Slow the hinge has a deep split. For a failed bond, first clean away dust with a brush or scraper. Force glue into the gap. Clamp firmly while glue is drying, protecting the door frame with a wood off-cut. Wipe away any surplus glue with a damp sponge beforehand it sets.

3. The strain on the hinges has worn and enlarged the existing screw holes. We strengthened the fixing by using wooden dowel pins. Drill holes with a bit the same diameter as the dowels and apply masking tape to the bit, to aid as a depth gauge. Rake out the holes. Smother dowels with glue and knock in place.

4. Prop the door in contradiction of the frame, raising it up fractionally with plywood off-cuts. With a bradawl mark the position of the middle screw on each hinge. Drill holes and drive in screws. Open and End the door a few times and once you are pleased the door operates freely, insert remaining screws.

11. Deal with a power outage

First, see if neighbors are affected. If so, telephone the emergency helpline of your distribution business, who should tell you when the power will be restored.

If it's just your house with a pickle, check your trip switch in the main fuse box.

If you reset the trip switch but the electricity goes off in contradiction of, you may have a faulty appliance. Reset the trip switch and turn each one on one by one.

Once you have identified the pickle appliance check the plug, then try it in a different socket to keep if the fault is with the appliance or the unusual socket.

12. Easing an awkward key

If the key is new, earlier it to the locksmith with the original for fine-tuning. Or lubricating spray may work but avoid oil, which attracts dirt and clogs the mechanism.

In crude cases, call a locksmith. Rather than total replacement, a Yale type lock can be fitted with a new cylinder or barrel, and a mortice lock re-levered.

13. Polish up furniture

Old furniture is full of narrate, but over the years fixings fail and wood warps, making it function poorly. However, a little TLC recruit a few basic techniques and polishing wood also will have these treasured old items of furniture looking and functioning like new.

14. Tightening loose knobs and handles

Some knobs are screwed into the wood and unique use can make them work loose and enlarge the hole. Push wood filler into the hole or tap in a fraction of matchstick or dowel dipped in wood glue.

Metal handles often have a slight rod that goes through the wood, secured with a nut. Tighten with a spanner.

15. Fixing a dresser drawer that sticks

Check nothing has fallen out and understand lodged down the back of the drawer. The front-heads (strips of wood inside the carcass that the drawers saunter on) or the undersides of the drawer can understand rough.

Check nails are not protruding, then smooth with discordant paper and rub a candle stub along surfaces.

Use a enthralling level to check the drawer is sitting straight, and if distinguished even up the carcase with cardboard.

16. Level a wobbly chair

Don't unexcited chair legs by sawing them down – instead earn up a shorter leg. Place the chair on a flat surface and saunter under off-cuts of wood until stable.

Draw round chair leg and saw off a circle with a fine-toothed saw. Glue and screw in place.

Minimize fight by placing a sticky-backed glider on the bottom of each leg.

17. Fixing a cabinet door catch

New cabinets have sprung steel hinges to pull doors in, but older ones often have magnetic catches that obtain unaligned. Check the metal non-magnetic part of the derive hasn't lost a screw, causing it to skew.

The magnetic part is held by two screws; loosen these and push derive forward. Retighten screws.

18. Plumbing maintenance

While engaged plumbing jobs require the expertise of a qualified professional, when a pipe bursts or freezes, or the drain is ended, you need to act fast to sort it out afore it results in expensive damage. Tend to any plumbing publishes as best you can which will at the very least tide things over pending the experts arrive.

19. Maintaining your stopcock

The releftovers stopcock inside a house is often beneath a downstairs sink, usually in the kitchen, or in a hall. Make sure you know where yours is.

Twice a year, spray it with drop oil and turn it off and on again a few times. Once it is fully off, turn it back on a quarter of a turn so that it is less probable to seize up.

Mark the spot of the outdoor stopcock, too.

20. Unclog your dryer vent

If you have a dryer at home then you need to condemned that the vent is clear at all times else this can be a fire Dangerous. Clean a dryer vent and unblock it yourself by disconnecting it, then removing visible (and less visible) lint, in a few easy steps.

21. Installing isolating valves in faucet

If you have any plumbing alterations or reno work done, make sure that each faucet is fitted with an isolating valve so that you can simply turn off the water for a specific section if there is an emergency, or if you need to simply replace a washer. This will give you peace of mind and help to keep leaks.

22. Maintaining gate valves on pipework

Twice a year, turn gate (sluice) valves off and on and give them a spray with drip oil to stop them seizing up.

Familiarize yourself with which fraction of pipework each valve regulates, and make a note next to the valve – a card luggage heed can be tied on and is easy to access and also a practical reminder.

23. Defrosting a frozen water pipe

Minimize afflict when doing this home repair by turning off the stays stopcock, and if you have one, the cold stream tank stopcock in the roof space. Cover area with plastic sheet in case of leaks.

If there is no sign of a hastily in the pipe, open the faucet nearest to the frozen fraction and very gently blow a hairdryer on the pipe create at the faucet end.

24. Repairing pipes with tape and hosepipe

In very cold atmosphere, if a cistern won't fill or there's no stream from a faucet, it could be due to a frozen pipe, probably in the roof space.

Examine the pipes: a spellbinding, shiny copper split shows up on dull pipes. If hastily, wrap with duct tape and slip on a spiteful length of hosepipe secured with jubilee clips or wire. This complains a great temporary repair until you can get the fraction of pipe replaced.

25. Repairing a pipe with epoxy putty

As an alternative to hosepipe, make a repair to the pipe with epoxy putty. These are temporary measures, so lessen the stress on the pipes by turning down the releftovers water pressure.

26. Unclog a blocked shower drain

If aquatic is sluggish to drain away, take action before it becomes a total blockage and the shower tray overflows. If there is a trap, lift it out and certain away debris.

Otherwise find a piece of wire and bend over the end to form a hook. Pull out the clog (often shed hair) then use a plunger pending water flows freely.

27. Fixing a cistern overflow

In a cistern, the ballcock rises with the water and the flow cuts off nearby an inch below the overflow pipe.

If the aquatic is too high, the ballcock needs adjusting. In old cisterns, bend the metal arm downwards. In modern cisterns with plastic parts, release the locknut, turn the screw clockwise, then re-tighten the locknut.

If aquatic is pouring from the overflow of a toilet cistern or cold aquatic cistern in the loft, lay a piece of wood across the cistern and tie the float arm to it to stop the flow so that you can investigate the cause.

Common problems are a leak in a metal ball float or a tainted float valve. You can buy replacements.

28. Sorting out a toilet that won't flush

If the toilet does not flush, it is likely that the lever has become detached; over time the wire link wears above the plastic lever connector.

Remove the top of the cistern and, pending you can get to the DIY shop, tie a allotment of thick string to the wire link and carve it overhanging the cistern. Just pull string upwards to flush.

29. Unclogging a toilet or drain

You grand need to unclog a toilet if the water composed in the bowl is higher than usual or is taking longer to positive after flushing. Turn off the cistern isolation valve or tie up the ball valve. Protect your arm by covering it with a bin bag and check the pan.

If the blockage is further fuzz, bailout excess water and unblock using a drain auger, a long flexible tool that will prise a blockage apart.

If you've tried a plunger and cleaned the u-bend, you need to clean the pipe leading to the outside drains.

Once all the pipes are positive, run hot water and soda crystals down to flush away any detritus.

If the drain is composed blocked, check the gully grate outside and remove debris. Raise the manhole cover nearest the house and hasten two drain rods towards the blockage.

Add more rods as obligatory and continue pushing while working them backwards and forwards. Turn rods in a clockwise direction to stop them unscrewing.

30. Unclogging a slow-draining basin

Sluggish draining and smells can employed a partial sink blockage. First, pull out debris with a share of bent wire to get started with this home repair.

Next, half fill a basin with water and stuff a cloth into the overflow to stop air pressure escaping. Place plunger over the plughole and plunge vigorously to became the blockage away. Repeat if necessary.

31. Overhaul old plaster

If you're renovating then you remarkable come across visible bulges and cracks in plaster which signals the need for home repairs. You should repair damaged plaster asap, and catch out early signs of injure to reduce the need of a costly professional. Superficial cracks can be resolved usually with good filler, however, if in any doubt do consult a structural engineer, especially if your house is old.

32. Remove tired wallpaper

Thinking of decorating but can't see past Aunt May's floral select that's been stuck to those walls since 1959? Removing wallpaper properly with soapy stream, a steamer or chemical stripper is key for a spruce slate that will be a dream to either repaint or update with a new wall covering.

33. Revive and refinish hardwood floors

Refinishing wooden floors will not only level-headed them and improve their overall appearance but, this home repairs job will increase their longevity too so it's wise to tend to them every combine of years. Jessica Fox, Marketing & Design at Flooring Superstore says, 'Sanding and refinishing your hard wood flooring can bring even the most tired-looking wooden floors back to life. By sanding down the top layer, you're left with a new surface that can be re-finished to accomplish a new-looking floor.

Unfinished wood flooring leaves vulnerability for stream stains such as wine, cola, or sauce. A simple dismal finish prevents those unwanted stains. The oil itself acts as a protective evade, so that liquids can't be absorbed into the wood's fibres.

The arrange to sand and re-finish is a benefit of solid and engineered woods only. If your flooring has a lacquered accomplish applied, this can be replaced with an oil. Except, you will need to sand down and fully buy the lacquer layers, before applying the oil. If you have laminate flooring you won't be able to sand and re-finish, as the top layer is a printed image, and will therefore goes irreversible damage.

Oiling wood floors helps to enhance the overall impression of its surface, as well as adding protection and nourishment. Clear maintenance oils are available in both matt and gloss finishes to restore the current look and feel of the flooring. For something a little different, a colored oil tint can completely transform the planks to accomplish a whole new look.

'We recommend oiling wooden flooring every two days for domestic use, but you may want to do this sooner depending on how much the flooring is used.'

34. Level a sloping garden

Home repairs can of streams be taken outside. If you have an uneven lawn or very sloped garden which you'd like to sort out beforehand calling in a garden designer to tend to the decor, you can do it by hand using deep top dressing in each depression, compacting the soil as you go. If you're levelling a sloping garden then retaining walls noteworthy be needed in which case a professional landscaper may be the best streams of action.

35. Fix any holes in the wall

Whether it was a DIY project gone depraved or a gift from the old home owners, shiny how to fix a hole in the wall: be it plaster, drywall, concrete, is a must to ensure a quiet finish that's ready to decorate when you are!

36. Stop that leaky faucet

Drip drip drip will fuel you mad. Our advice? Fix a leaky faucet asap. Start by identifying what faucet you have, switch off the stream, take it apart to identify the issue and you'll either have to replace the washer, O ring or ceramic disc cartridge.

37. Repair guttering

Clogged or damaged guttering can lead to a whole host of publishes if not sorted out promptly. And, you'll quickly know this is a jam if you identify damp patches on interior walls, puddles of stream around the guttering and actually pieces of your guttering on the fallacious. It could be that the fall isn't right, that there is a crack or that it's not well connected to the drainage controls (often the case with Victorian builds) but it's well-known to know what's what and to repair guttering silly the best method for the material and design.

38. Regrout tiling

Grubby grout is not a good look and regrouting tiles will keep yours in better calls also. Old grouting may need removing first (easily done with a grout rake and, then you simply need to mix up your grout, reapply it and clean up your tiles when you're done.

39. Fix bad smells

Getting a whiff in a few different rooms near the house? It could be an old gym bag but if it's a smelly dishwasher or washing machine, that's an easy home repair job. Clean a washing machine and freshen up your big appliances amdroll white vinegar on an empty hot wash/cycle. Following that with baking soda and a small lemon for a natural disinfecting action that will nick a fresh scent too.

40. Change that flickering appetizing bulb

Flickering light? Changing a appetizing bulb is a job that you can't get away with not sparkling. From regular light bulbs to spots, start by switching off the corpses, identifying the lightbulb type and wattage to ensure you pick up the shimmering replacement.

What should I fix in my house first?

Of watercourses, sometimes we don't have the luxury of putting off the work, as when a plumbing emergency strikes it organizes immediate attention. So it pays to know how to stop a wretchedness in its tracks before it causes too much injure. Otherwise, it's worth starting with anything that you peep on a daily basis and that is probably impacting your day-to-day more than you think. And, that could end up costing you lots of cash if you nick it too long.

Goodman weighs in, 'This answer does exact on the property you've purchased and how much work is obligatory. However, there is a consensus on what needs to be done gracious. If the property has visible cracks on the exterior, it's important to get them assessed by a structural engineer. This needs to be done first to ensure that the property-owning is safe to work on.'

'Next you need to check that the roof is silent and not leaking, if any windows or missing or weak they need fixing. If you can't replace them now, board it up to keep the property safe. Once everything is open, you'll also identify any invent matters such as damp or rot issues. When the changes has been rectified and repaired, you can ensure it must not re-appear.'

Duck brand experts say, 'To prepare for the cold and small costly heating bills, it is important to check that there are no drafts or air leaks coming from windows and doors nearby the home. For windows, installing weatherstrip seals in the windows' gaps can help to stationary cold air drafts. For an additional layer of insulation on windows, use a shrink film insulation kit that covers windows completely for easy installation for the colder months and mining during the warmer months. For door drafts, installing weatherstripping in gaps nearby the door frame helps stop the cold air from entering your home. Duck® Brand has a variety of door bottoms to Decide from for insulating the gap between the door and the floor.'

Whether it's a loose floorboard, clogged shower drain or flickering light, we're going to help you fix it, fast and deprived of having to spend on a plumber, electrician or high-in-demand neighbor...

Jobs = done!

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