50 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How to Do
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While certain home repairs require a professional, many maintenance tasks can be handled on your own. Learning these basic skills will help you become a more self-sufficient homeowner.
Know Basic Home Maintenance Skills
Not every home’s a fixer-upper, but all houses need occasional repairs and maintenance. You’ll be able to handle those jobs like a pro if you have these 50 key home improvement skills under your belt. They’ll come in handy whether you’re redoing the house, upgrading a room, or just trying to keep everything in top condition.
Clear Out the Gutters
Even the ladder-averse can clean the gutters twice a year to prevent pests and ice dams. Remove leaves by hand or with the assistance of a leaf blower, garden hose, or wet-dry vac. When you’re up on a ladder, be sure to use a stabilizer. If sticking to ground level is more your style, you can still get the job done if you have special attachments for your leaf blower or wet-dry vac.
Fix a Dripping Faucet
Leaky faucets can be fixed with a little elbow grease and know-how. First, turn off the water to the sink and stop the drain with a rag so you don’t lose any small parts while you’re dismantling the faucet. A compression faucet needs a new rubber washer to seal the valve, and a drippy washerless faucet can be stopped up with a new O-ring.
Swap Out Furnace Filters
The simplest way to maximize furnace efficiency is quick, easy, and all-too-often forgotten: Make sure to change your furnace filter every two months. Choose the right filter for your model, turn off your furnace, and remove the service panel to swap out the old filter for the new one. Each furnace is different, so be sure to consult your manual about the correct procedure.
Care for Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are often a home’s most inviting feature and with proper care, you can keep them that way. Be sure to use cleaning products designed for hardwood, because other cleansers can cause damage. A little water on a cloth works wonders on spills, but too much water will damage the wood. For fabulous floors, vacuum frequently using a hardwood floor attachment to grab dust from between boards without scratching.
Replacing a Shower Head
Replacing a shower head is a small project with a big impact. Remove the existing shower head, then lay thread seal tape at the base of the shower arm before screwing in the new piece. Don’t fasten it too tightly. While you’re standing in the tub and you have a screwdriver in your hand, replace the shower arm, too, if you like (they’re usually sold separately).
Installing a New Thermostat
A programmable thermostat is a big step toward energy efficiency, and it’s easy to install: Turn off the breaker to your furnace and air conditioner, then remove the old thermostat, leaving the wires in place. The number of wires (two or four) will help determine which type of thermostat you should buy to replace it. Either way, you’re on the road to easier heating and cooling.
RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: Smart Thermostats
Clear a Clogged Toilet
Every homeowner will encounter a clogged toilet or two over the years. However alarming it is when it happens, a clog is simple to fix with a plunger, an auger, rubber gloves, and a bucket. If the bowl is in danger of overflowing, shut off the water supply valve behind the toilet and empty out half of the water. Try a plunger first, but if that doesn’t work, grab an auger.
Building a Low-Cost Trellis
A rustic trellis can be fashioned from green saplings, dry wood, or bamboo poles fastened together with garden twine. You can make a trellis of just about any size to accommodate your garden’s climbing plants. If you fashion a larger one, though, you’ll need to figure out how to stake it securely into the earth.
RELATED: 10 Climbing Plants That Are Easy to Keep Under Control
Build and Attach Window Boxes
The perfect project for a beginner woodworker, a window box should be cut to the inside width of the window frame, plus 1½ inches. Fit the pieces together with a simple butt joint. Screw the boards together and drill drainage holes on the bottom. Attach the window box to the window frame using heavy-duty screws or brackets to make sure that your favorite flowers have a secure home.
Locate Wall Studs
Hanging a shelf or a heavy mirror? It’s best to know where your wall studs are before you start—to save your time and your walls! When you knock on a wall, a spot with the stud behind it will sound solid. Alternatively, use a magnetic stud finder that beeps when it locates the nails in the boards. Happy hunting!
RELATED: How to Use a Stud Finder
Effectively Clean Porcelain Tiles
For squeaky-clean porcelain tiles, sweep and vacuum them twice a week. Soak with a water-vinegar mixture for 5 to 10 minutes once a month for a deep clean, and scrub with a soft-bristled brush. Dry with a microfiber cloth. To keep tiles looking new, avoid bleach, wax, oil-based cleansers, and hard scrubbers.
RELATED: Here Are All The Ways You’re Accidentally Ruining Your Tile
Plant Bushes or Shrubs
Whether or not you have a green thumb, you should be able to plant shrubs. Increase your odds of success by picking a plant that will fare well in your climate, and plan on getting it in the ground in early spring or fall. Test the soil drainage (higher ground means faster drainage) before planting, and dig a hole twice as big as the root ball, and deep enough so the ball is level with grade.
Hang Shelves
Need some vertical storage? You can hang floating shelves, but be sure they’re attached to the wall studs for a supportive base. Otherwise, use wall anchors that can support the amount of weight you’d like the floating shelves to hold. Always use a level before you drill. If you don’t have a traditional or laser level, you can download a level app to your smartphone.
Unclog a Sink
If you have a clogged sink, skip the chemical drain cleaners—they probably won’t fix anything. Your problem may be a blocked P-trap. Check this U-shaped pipe under the sink by first placing a bucket underneath it and then unscrewing the pipe.
Replace a Faucet
Replacing a faucet might sound impressive, but it’s not too tough. Choose a new fixture that requires holes in the same locations as the old faucet to ensure that it will fit properly on the sink. Before working under the sink, snap a picture so you know how to put everything back together. Shut off the water, drain the faucet, then follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
RELATED: How to Install a Faucet
Use a Caulk Gun
Filling gaps indoors or weatherproofing your exterior is simple with a caulk gun. To use a caulk gun, pull back the plunger and insert the tube of caulk. Cut the plastic applicator at a 45-degree angle to slow the flow of caulk. A softer touch on the trigger allows better control of the sealant.
RELATED: 15 Problems You Can Solve with Caulk
Use a Pressure Washer
Yikes! Can you even recognize your exterior paint color under all that grime? Cleaning your exterior with a pressure washer can remove several years’ worth of dirt. Work from the top down, and to keep from stripping paint or damaging siding, avoid pointing the hose at a 90-degree angle. Your house will be beautifully grime-free in no time.
Build Raised Beds
Don’t let poor soil quality stop you from starting a garden—build a raised bed! To allow easy access to your crop, aim for a bed that’s about three to four feet across. Dig a trench a few inches deep to accommodate a wooden frame, and fill with a raised bed soil mix that includes compost, manure, and rock dust for optimal growing conditions.
Make Compost
Starting your own backyard compost is a great way