Some Inventive DIY Repairs for Your Home (Part I)

There are tons – and we do mean tons – of DIY repairs that don’t require a pro. Most folks out there try to be on the safe side and assume that any project is out of their league, which we can understand (to a degree). However, there’s a surprising amount and variety of smaller-scale tasks that anyone can try their hand at.

DIY repairs can be quite beneficial since you won’t have to leave a massive hole in your wallet, nor will you have to research contractors in your area. Besides, being frugal means you make smarter decisions in the long run!

With all that said, sometimes you need a slight boost in your big ol’ box of imagination, hence why we’re here to help with just that! Join us as we explore the vast world of DIY projects, and maybe – just maybe – you’ll be inspired to take up your own little DIY fix.

Leaky Faucets

Ah, a “classic” in its own way. The leaky faucet has been a plague on modern households since the existence of, well, faucets. Naturally, there have been many attempts to remedy this using some elbow grease and DIY wisdom.

Faucet drips can waste more water (and money) than you’d initially think. Often, the main culprit for the dreaded drip ends up being none other than the cartridge.

The valve can either be plastic or brass. All you have to do is shut off the water, then loosen and pull the handle off. Using a pair of cheap pliers, you can easily replace the old parts with your shiny new cartridge.

Bad Ventilation Hood Suction

Does your kitchen feel a tad more….congested than usual? You may or may not have noticed poor suction from the ventilation hood when cooking something, in which case you’ve also (probably) done the obvious thing of cleaning the filters.

Of course, assuming the culprit isn’t the dirty filter, your best bet is to assume it’s all down to the motor. Replacement motors shouldn’t be all that expensive, so you’re bound to find a decently-priced one. After your purchase, shut off the power and remove the filters and fan. Most models should have a wiring harness that you must unclip.

After attaching the replacement motor, just pop back everything in, and you’ll (hopefully) enjoy your improved suction-tastic capabilities!

Sluggish Drying

Every homeowner is bound to encounter this problem one day. If you’ve noticed that your dryer isn’t, well, drying as sufficiently as you’d like it to, then it most likely has something to do with the airflow. If you’ve tried cleaning your exhaust duct, then you may just want to check the blower wheel.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record – swapping it is easy! Simply remove the front cover, along with the housing panel. To remove the wheel, it’s best that you use circlip pliers, which are, luckily, fairly cheap.

After prying the metal retainer from the wheel, you should take the opportunity to clean the area, after which you slide the new spiffy wheel into its rightful place. Be sure to test it out by hand! If it doesn’t spin with a simple twist, there may be a deeper underlying issue.

Busted Baluster

Your staircase is dependent on its balusters for more than just looks, obviously. Broken or missing balusters can be a health hazard – an accident just waiting to happen. Finding a matching baluster online or in stores shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.

As for the broken one, you’ll have to remove the end cap that’s keeping the tenons of the balusters in place, preferably with a suitable pry bar.

The measurements and angles are going to be the most complicated part, but even they only require some patience and a T-bevel. Simply measure the distance between the tread and the existing balusters’ end-points, where they touch the underside of the handrail, and find the right angle using the T-bevel.

After trimming and slipping the tenon into the mortise, your finishing touches involve nailing and replacing the end cap.

Poor Grill Burners

If you have a gas grill, then you’re most likely familiar with how its small ports work as “fantastic” homes for gross food waste, icky grease, and nasty visitors in the form of many-legged invertebrates. If your grill is insufficient, especially compared to when you first bought it, then – you guessed it – try cleaning the ports with a wire brush.

If you’ve been following the running themes of this article so far, then you’ve already predicted that, yes, replacements are relatively cheap. You’ll only have to remove the manifold that’s responsible for the gas flow, and then install the replacement parts. Bingo! Enjoy your burner’s new heating prowess!