When you buy a house, you hope deep down that the new house will never become the old money pit. After all, houses require a lot of work not only to maintain, but also to improve by undertaking home improvement projects. However, not all homeowners have a deft hand and deep knowledge of the complex skills of home improvement.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to master the five DIY skills for beginners.
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Unclog an overflowing toilet
This job really, literally sucks. When one of your toilets overflows, the urgency to make an emergency call is to a plumber. However, an engineering degree is not required to unclog an overflowing toilet. In fact, the overflow is stopped directly by turning the water tap behind or on the side of the toilet. You may need to turn off the main water supply if you cannot find the toilet faucet.
Now comes the unlocking part. Each time you flush the toilet, a float drops into the tank due to the rapid drop in water pressure. The float connects to an easy-to-see valve that opens immediately after the float drops into the tank. After complete discharge, the float rises to its place near the top of the tank. Stuck valves and floats are the most common reasons for toilet overflows. Remove the toilet tank lid and loosen one or both of the stuck objects. Of course, clogged drains also cause toilets to overflow. Several strong dips should do the trick.
When screw heads spoil
Beginner DIYers often use the wrong size screwdriver to remove screws. You may have tried using a Phillips screwdriver to remove screws that require a flathead screwdriver. The result is a screw head that has lost the notch where the screwdriver attaches. Trying to remove worn screw heads is very frustrating, but worse, it weakens whatever you’re trying to stabilize. Some ways to remove stripped screws is to remove the screws with a hammer nail or adjustable pliers. You can also drill a small hole in the screw head with an electric drill. A drill is useful when you need to remove a screw without worrying about damaging the shank of the screw. Sometimes it is necessary to replace stripped screws by driving new screws deep into points near a piece of wood or metal.
Remove a broken bulb?
The task seems simple, until you try to unscrew a broken bulb from the secure fixture. If someone has over-screwed the lamp or smoothed the edges of the lamp base, be careful not to cut your hand when removing the lamp.
The solution to this common home improvement dilemma is to buy the biggest potato you can find at the nearest grocery store. Cut the potato in half and firmly grasp the bottom of one of the potato halves. Carefully push half of the potato through the jagged edges of the bulb and onto the base of the bulb. The jagged edges of the bulb should easily protrude from the middle of the potato. Then, flip the potato over halfway and slowly twist the bulb until it releases from the device.
rust never sleeps
Homeowners find rusty nuts and bolts as common as the dust that collects in the corners of every room. Unlike dust, rusty nuts and bolts require a bit of ingenuity to remove. Try applying a thin coat of lubricant, such as light oil, to the corroded areas of the nut or bolt. Allow the rusted nut or bolt to sit for about two hours before trying to turn hard again. If elbow strength won’t do the job, buy an affordable breaker bar to get the job done. A properly adjusted breaker bar gives you the leverage you need to remove the most stubborn rusted nuts and bolts.
Eliminate annoying dripping faucets
The drip ensures restful sleep. You wake up from your tumultuous dream, eager to find the source of your faucet leak. Aside from sleep deprivation, a leaky faucet is costing you money on your monthly water bill. First, turn off the water to your home and turn on the faucet until the water stops flowing. Remove the valve cover and remove the screw. Then remove the cartridge connected to the faucet housing. Take the cartridge to the nearest plumbing supply store to find a washer that matches the size of the faucet. When you get home, remove the damaged cock ring and replace it with a new one.
Your restless nights in bed should be over.