Learn these 7 DIY skills to save money on home upgrades and repairs!
Owning instead of renting a house is nice and all, but the problem is that now you have to pay for repairs and other stuff that broke. Which is going to be very costly in the long run. But the good news is that you can learn a few DIY skills that will help you save some money.
Plus, it will be fun once you start doing little projects on your own. Who knows when you’ll end up building a cute bookcase too? Since I am here to be your friend in need, here are the best DIY skills that you’ll need to know always and forever.
1. Replacing faucets
You want to go and take a shower after a long, busy day, and guess what? It started leaking, and the faucet broke too. What do you do? It’s pretty late, so the plumber isn’t available to come to your place to solve the issue.
That’s why you must learn how to replace a broken faucet on your own. It’s not that big of a deal, and it’s one of the best DIY skills every homeowner should know. Plus, you will save a ton of money! All you need is a couple of screwdrivers, pliers, silicone, seal tape, an empty bucket, and a new faucet. It won’t take more than an hour to get the job done.
2. Fix a leaking tap
One of the DIY skills that can save you a lot of money is fixing a leaking tap. As with replacing a broken faucet, fixing a leaking tap is very important. About two years ago, I had this issue myself too, and because I wasn’t able to tackle it on my own, I had to pay a lot of money to get it fixed.
After this event, I wanted to learn to do it, so I watched a couple of videos on YouTube, and guess what? It isn’t that hard, so I am going to explain the process to you. If the leak is coming from the spout of your tap, you will probably need to replace the washer; however, if it is coming from the handle, the O ring is probably in need of changing.
First, use the isolation valve to cut off your water supply. Next, turn on the tap and continue to run it until no more water is released. Remove the tap’s screw, which is often located beneath the hot or cold cover on top of the tap.
To see the interior of the tap, unscrew the remaining valve cover. Take the valve out of the tap by loosening it. After that, replace the worn-out black rubber washer by looking for wear indicators. Replace the ring as well if it is worn.
3. Paint your house’s walls (both exterior and interior)
Another one of the DIY skills that is mandatory for every homeowner is learning how to paint a wall. Painting is more than just putting the paint color of your choice on the wall and dipping the brush into a container. If want to try this for the first time, do it indoors in case the results aren’t what you expected to be will go noticed. I made a great mess last summer when I did my first DIY project of painting the room of my grandchildren. Fortunately, I managed to cover the messy wall with funny drawings, a cute wall lamp, and pictures of the family.
Remember that when you decide to paint your walls make sure you also protect the furniture from the room by covering them with plastic bags and tape.
4. Change a light bulb
When it comes to easy DIY skills, changing a light bulb is probably the first on the list. And you can do it too, without the help of a professional. First of all, you have to switch off the power from the source. Give the lightbulb some time to cool down if it has been on before replacing it. After it cools down, use a step ladder to get to the lightbulb you wish to change.
To remove the lightbulb, twist counter-clockwise, but use caution—they are delicate—and don’t hold on to it too tightly! Then, using the previous steps in reverse, insert the replacement bulb. Restart the power and test the light bulb after you’ve checked that it’s securely inserted into the socket.
5. Install various pieces of furniture
Your garage, bedroom, living room, or even the bathroom may all need extra room for storage, and what else is easier than installing a wall shelf? Compared to other DIY skills mentioned above this one is a bit more complicated but you can manage doing it on your own.
All you need for this DIY skill besides finding the wall studs and selecting the appropriate wall anchors for the shelf’s weight is a couple of screwdrivers, a hammer, and some nails in case you need them.
To learn how to master these DIY skills, it’s essential to have a set of tools at your disposal. I recently came across a power tool combo kit, which includes a 16.8V cordless drill, screwdrivers, a hammer, and other useful items for home repairs. This kit can be a valuable addition to any household seeking to take on DIY projects. This kit is available on Amazon for $69.98.
6. Unclog blocked drains
One of the DIY skills that saved my life when I couldn’t call the plumber was learning how to unclog blocked drains. For this, you will need a face mask, goggles, a bucket, some protective clothes (or some you won’t feel sorry about in case they get stained), and a pair of gloves. It’s good if you have a screwdriver nearby in case you need to lift the drain cover.
Now, let’s start with the beginning. Use the screwdriver to open the cover. After that, whatever you take out, place in an empty bucket. After inserting the drain rod into the drain, turn it clockwise to clear the obstruction. Up until the rod begins to break through the obstruction, keep twisting and plunging it. Your work is finished if the water begins to drain regularly!
After the water begins to flow out of the drain smoothly, take out your drain rod and use a strong hose or pressure washer to thoroughly clean the drain. This will get rid of any leftover trash.
Although clearing a clogged outdoor drain may seem challenging at first, it’s wise to try solving the problem yourself before contacting professionals. But in case after this procedure, your drain is still blocked, then there might be another problem so I advise you to call the plumber.
7. Sealing drafts
In addition to increasing your energy costs, drafts can cause your house to become too warm in the summer or too cold in the winter. Your home’s windows and doors are the main source of drafts, therefore sealing them up is a valuable skill to have!
The good news is that there are plenty of methods to keep drafts out of your home, depending on where are they located. To seal all the drafts from your home, you can use gap fillers, caulking holes, and weather-stripping.
What are those DIY skills that you master? Tell me in the comments section.
You may also be interested in reading 6 DIY Outdoor Storage Ideas You Can Use Today.
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