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If you have a lot of outgoings this winter and you are looking for ways to be thrifty, it is a good idea to start at home. There are a number of household repairs that are safe and easy to do and will save you money by doing them yourself. By learning how to do these basic household repairs, you will also be able to fix problems as soon as they occur rather than having to wait for a contractor to be available.
Painting
- Painting a room is easier than you think. The process is as follows:
- Remove any dirt and grease from the walls using a sponge and detergen
- Apply painter’s tape around the edge of the walls, windows, doors, etc..
- Apply a primer to the walls (you only need to do this step if your walls are very stained or bruised)
- Use a roller to apply the paint to the walls and use a brush to paint the edges around the skirting boards, windows and doors. Apply another coat if required.
- Once the paint is applied, remove the tape. It is important to remove the tape before the paint has dried to avoid peeling.
- When the walls are completely dry, paint in the areas that the tape was covering with a paint brush.
Voilà! Freshly painted walls.
Fixing appliances
If you notice a problem with your dishwasher, fridge, freezer, microwave or oven, then seek out the instructions to see if this is an issue you can fix yourself. It may be that you just need to reset the device, or you may need to replace a part. For example, you can buy an essential part for a Frigidaire, rather than buying a completely new appliance. Remember, before you carry out any DIY work on your appliances that you read through the safety information. In most cases, you should turn off the mains power supply before carrying out any repairs.
Fixing doors
The doors around your house may need maintenance, for instance, to deal with a squeak or to fix a loose handle. These are repairs that can be carried out in quick and safe manner yourself. Apply a little lubricant to silence a noisy door. You should first put down some form of protection for your floors and then apply some penetrating oil to the door hinge. Add a little at a time and test the door as you go. Loose door handles can be fixed by tightening the screws.
Fixing faucets
If your faucet is dripping when it is not being used this can be fixed by replacing the washer. To do this, you should turn the stop valves under the sink to stop the flow of water to the faucet. Secondly, remove the handle and the chrome cylinder beneath it. Then remove the nut that holds the stem in place and finally remove the stem and replace the washer. Put everything back in place, and your faucet should be working correctly.
So roll up your sleeves and fix these household problems yourself. We guarantee that you will feel very proud of yourself if you do so, and you will be pleased with how much money you have saved.