It’s heart-warming to turn a new house into a home but it’s easy for frustrations to build when things start to go wrong. Furthermore, some of the most common household complaints can also be amongst the most difficult to repair, especially if you’re new to DIY.
Even if you’ve bought some of the best home tool kits on the market, you’ll still be stuck on square one if you haven’t learned how to use them.
In this guide, we’ll help to conquer your DIY fears by listing the most common household issues and explaining how to get them sorted.
What are the most common repairs?
Whether you have an older property or you’ve moved into a house in desperate need of some TLC, there are always certain issues that seem to pop up more frequently than others. These include:
• Blocked drains
• Damaged roofing
• Electrical wiring
• Lighting issues
• Faulty plumbing
• Poor glass panelling
Which household repairs are the easiest?
It’s always worth knowing top tips for some of the easiest household fixes:
• Clearing blocked drains
Watching the water pool by your feet when you’re in the shower might be disturbing, but you’ll be pleased to hear that it’s an easy fix.
Firstly, try pouring boiling water down the affected plughole.
If that doesn’t work, try adding some bleach, remembering to be careful around corrosive substances. If it’s still being stubborn, simply head to your nearest DIY store and look for drain-unblocking solutions.
• Fixing leaky taps
Dripping taps might be annoying but they’re also an easy fix. This will depend on the valve and from exactly where the tap is dripping. Luckily, in most cases, you’ll only need to buy and fit a relatively cheap, straightforward part.
If water is dripping from the spout, you might only need to replace the washer. If water is leaking from beneath the handle, the valve O-ring might need replacing. For any leaks coming from under the spout, you need to replace the spout O-ring.
• Changing a lightbulb
Once you know how to change a lightbulb, you’ll never ask anyone else to do it. Simply check which type of bulb your light fitting requires and then follow the instructions on the box.
The two main types of bulbs are screw cap and bayonet. They’re both quick and easy to insert into a light fitting but screw fittings require less pressure, so could be better suited to beginners.
Knowing when to call a professional
If it’s an emergency, it’s absolutely essential to call out a qualified expert – just remember to check your finances before calling out of hours, since night premiums can significantly increase repair bills.
Even if you’re feeling ambitious, it’s important to know your limits. What initially looks like a simple DIY job might quickly turn into a complicated, technical task that should only be approached by an experienced tradesperson.