Our homes are our castles. They are the places where we feel safe and secure. They are also in need of a little TLC from time to time. As tempting as it might be to call in a professional every time that something goes wrong, there is a chance that you could tackle the issue yourself. Here are some of the jobs you could possibly manage to handle yourself with a little time and confidence.
Changing the bulbs
We are sure that there are a lot of people that will roll their eyes at this one, but changing a bulb is not as simple as you might think. Sure, changing the bulbs around your home might be easy enough, but what about the ones in your car? Some models of cars can be tricky and involve several steps, a lot of patience, and some bandages. Car bulbs are notoriously difficult to replace but if you take your time, you should be able to change a car bulb. Remember, your car lights have to be legal so this is a bigger deal than swapping a bulb out in the hallway. Of course, there are those light fixtures that are a nightmare to work with and will require some patience when you are working with them.
Basic kitchen repairs
If your dryer was to stop working, would you know what to do? Or, what if your oven stopped working? There is a good chance that you could figure out what is wrong and sort it yourself. When something goes in your kitchen, it can normally be fixed with a Westinghouse spare part. One of the most common things to blow in the kitchen is the cooker element of an electric oven. Unfortunately, this is something you don’t realize until you pull your dinner out of the oven and realize it is still cold.
A spare oven element is easy to pick up and install. Just remember to switch off the electricity at the main before you do anything. Changing an element can take around 5 to 10 minutes, saving you plenty of money on hiring an electrician. It is always handy to keep the manuals of your equipment so that you can troubleshoot any issues without taking things apart.
Blocked drains
Have you ever stood in the shower and felt the water level creep up your feet? If you have, you will know how important it is to keep your drains clear. To start off, a little maintenance can go a lot way so always remember to clear out hair from the plug after every shower. If this continues to be a problem, there is a large range of ways that you can remove the blockage.
Chemicals can be picked up from your local supermarket and poured directly into the drain in order to shift the blockage. If the usual remedies don’t work, there is a chance that you will have to get the professionals in case it needs it. One of the best ways to avoid blocked drains in the home is to clean them regularly and don’t let stuff go down them. This includes pouring fat down the kitchen sink drain.
Hang pictures
This is another one of those jobs that sound easier said than done but for a very good list of reasons. For a start, behind every wall, there is a wide range of pipes and wiring. There is also the issue of load-bearing walls and if your fixtures will hold. The last thing you need is to hit something that is hidden behind the wall or have your new picture hitting the floor. When it comes to the hidden stuff behind the wall, you can pick up a stud finder to help you locate them. As for the fixtures, you might need to sit back and ask yourself if you believe it will hold. If in doubt, add some extra attachments or hanging helpers. In this case, there is no such thing as too much, but too few could cause your picture to fall. If your pieces for the wall are light, you could use adhesive to stick them to the wall rather than nails and screws. And make sure that your screw is supported in the wall so that it doesn’t slide out.
Changing the wall color
Are you fed up with looking at the same old colors in your room? Maybe you would like to change the feel of the room completely? If this is the case, there is always the opportunity to change things around. We know that there are plenty of great decorators out there who could do the job in no time. However, there is nothing stopping you from being creative. This is especially true if you live in your own home. You will need to put some sheets down to protect the carpet from any paint splats and it might take you a while, but you will get there in the end.
If painting isn’t your thing but you want to change your idea of your room, wallpaper is a great way to change things. Hanging wallpaper takes some practice but it is easy to master if you take your time.
Building furniture
We have all heard the jokes about how building flapjack furniture could be a form of punishment but it isn’t that bad. One thing you do need to remember is to read the instructions. These units are designed to be put together by people who have no woodwork experience. You should cut yourself some slack and take your time with it. If you can, get a friend to help you pull things together. Be warned, some of the furniture can be heavy, so if you do plan on making some bigger pieces, make sure that you do have someone to help you. If you have a friend who does work with wood, try and get them to help because they can make the process go a lot quicker.
As you can see, there are plenty of jobs that you can tackle by yourself in your home. However, if you are ever unsure of what you are doing, get a professional who can do it for you.
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