Dear Homeowner, Do You Know These Home Maintenance Tasks?

A handful of basic home maintenance skills is necessary when you’ve been living in your home or just moved into an apartment. While calling a handyman is the natural first response when something goes wrong in your home, it helps to be self-sufficient when it comes to maintaining your home.

From how to paint a wall to what you should do when a circuit breaker trips, there are simple how-to’s that you can DIY. Of course, when the problem gets serious, it’s best to call an expert, especially when it involves complex appliances like central or primary HVAC systems.

But before you get your toolbox, know whether you can DIY a home improvement or home maintenance project. If your home problems fall into one of these categories, you should call an expert.

When You Shouldn’t DIY Your Home Repair

While most home maintenance projects are fine to DIY, you shouldn’t try to fix everything. If the potential consequences could result in more damage, increase your risks for injuries or cost you more money in the long run, it’s best to let a professional do the work.

You also have to ask yourself if learning something new is worth your time and money or if you’re better off paying for the services of an expert.

Some tasks you should consider leaving to pro include the following:
Water damage
Pest infestation
Roofing
Structural modifications or changes
Major plumbing
Mold removal
Asbestos removal
Electrical rewiring

Why You Learn Basic Home Maintenance Skills

The first reason is life skills. Any skill that you learn on your own is worth your while. At the same time, it saves you more money. There is also a good chance that these home improvement skills you learn now will be useful for your future homes.

Plus, everyone wants to save money. Hiring professionals can be expensive. Good handymen know their worth and price their services accordingly. You are, after all, paying for their years of training, not just an hour of replacing a toilet.
If your budget is tight and a repair is within your capacity, it pays to know some of the most basic repairs.

Repairs and Maintenance Tasks Everyone Should Know How To Do

Clean the garbage disposal.
If there is a foul smell coming from your skin, there’s a problem. Most kitchen sinks experience daily wear and tear, so it’s important to show them a little tender loving care regularly. Fortunately, you don’t have to call a professional to clean your garbage disposal. Eliminate the odor by pouring half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar down the sink. Let it sit and fizz. Just put a stopper before the foam goes beyond the disposal. Once the fizz settles down, flush the mixture down with hot water.

Re-caulk.
Water from showers and sinks produces plenty of moisture in the bathroom. As a result, the humidity affects your drywall’s caulk, which is your first line of defense against mold growth. However, caulk reaches a point when you can’t clean it properly; hence, you need to replace it. Remove worn-out and old caulk with a sharp tool and some vinegar or mineral oil. Next, put tape on the area that needs re-caulking. Next, apply the caulk with a caulk gun. Finish off the project by smoothing the line with an ice cube or a gloved finger.

Fix a leaky faucet.
Repairing a faucet washer is one of the most common household repairs. If you want to stop a leaky faucet without a professional’s help, the process is pretty simple (depending on the type of faucet that you have). Shut off the water to the faucet first. Look for the shut-off valve. If you can’t find it, you can temporarily shut off the water of your home and turn it on later. If you don’t know the type of faucet that you have, check the manufacturer of the faucet itself to know. Manufacturers have websites where you can determine the type of faucet you have, as well as learn more about replacement parts.

Clean downspouts and gutters. Gutters collect rainwater and direct it away from the roof and foundation of your home. When they are clogged with debris or leaves, however, they won’t function well. As a result, you’ll end up with a damaged or rotting foundation, which encourages pests to make nests in your home. To clean your gutter, use a ladder to reach it and use a leaf blower, wet-dry vac or your hands.

You don’t need a high school degree to learn basic home maintenance tasks. These tasks are easy to DIY. So if you want to save on money and are eager to learn something new, brush up on these home maintenance tasks.