Easy DIY Repair Projects for Homeowners

When you own a home, there are inevitable upgrades and repairs that need to be made as systems go out of date and various appliances break or fall into disrepair Doing home repairs yourself can save you money and can help keep your home in good shape. Whether you're a first-time homeowner or have owned your home for the last two decades, knowing how to do the following DIY repairs can prove to be a valuable skill.

Unclog Drains

Many homeowners turn to chemical drain cleaners to get rid of their clogs, but there are better tools to get the job done. For slow drains, pour baking soda into the drain and then follow it with vinegar. After the bubbling stops, chase it with hot (not boiling) water. Do this several times until the drain is running quicker.

For drains that are completely clogged, use a plumber's auger. Simply stick the cable into the drain, turn the handle several times and then push the cable down until the cable pierces the clog.

Drain Sediment from the Water Heater

Draining the sediment from your home's water heater can help extend the service life of the appliance and can also improve your water heater's efficiency. In addition, if your water heater makes popping noises, this task will get rid of the minerals causing the noise. Draining the sediment from your water heater should be done about once per year.

1. Turn off the power to the unit.
2. Close the cold water valve that feeds water into the tank.
3. Open up a hot water faucet somewhere in your home to prevent a vacuum from forming.
4. Hook up a hose to the spigot at the bottom of the water heater. Position a bucket at the other end of the hose, or feed the hose into a drain.
5. Turn on the spigot and allow the hot water to drain from the tank. Keep draining the water until it runs clear. Be careful, because the water will be hot!
6. Turn off the spigot when the water being drained from the tank is completely clear.
7. Turn on the cold water valve that leads into the hot water tank.
8. Close the hot water faucet that was opened in step 3.
9. Turn on the power to the hot water heater when the tank is full.

Descale Shower Heads

Homes with hard water may develop scale buildup on fixtures like the shower head. To remove the buildup, fill a bucket with vinegar, then remove the shower head from the wall and place it in the bucket. Soak the shower head for about 30 minutes, to allow the vinegar to soften the scale buildup, then rinse the shower head until the scale is gone. Put the shower head back on the pipe. Finally, flush out the shower head by running the shower.

Patch Drywall

To patch a small drywall hole, place a mesh drywall patch over the hole, then spread joint compound over the mesh. Smooth the joint compound until it's nearly seamless with the wall. Allow the joint compound to dry, then sand it down until it's seamless.

Unstick a Vinyl Window

Spray silicone lubricant onto a cloth, then use the cloth to grease the runner that allows the window to open and shut. Try to open the window. If it still will not open, repeat the process.

Remove a Broken Light bulb

To remove a broken light bulb, start by cutting all power to the socket. Next, grab a potato from the pantry, and use a knife to round out the end of the potato and stick the potato into the socket. Turn the potato to unscrew the bulb. If the potato doesn't work, use needle nose pliers, but be careful not to scratch the edge of the light fixture.

Knowing how to perform these small tasks can help you keep your North East Calgary home in good condition without calling the repair person regularly for help. Being able to do these things can also make owning a home less expensive and more satisfying.