There are many repairs that can be made by you the homeowner that people regularly pay to have repaired. So, I convinced my husband, who runs his own home repair and maintenance business, to give me his "top ten" repairs that homeowners can do themselves and his secrets for making them easy. Plumbing problems does not always require a plumber. Here are a couple of tricks and tips that can help you to fix that plugged up sink:
Here are some other tips for other things that you can repair yourself:
About The Author: Debra Frick is a mother of 5 and a grandmother to 8 grandsons and one granddaughter. She is a published author and poetress. Recycling and saving money are her passions. She also loves crocheting and cooking. She is also a pet rescue volunteer and has many pets of her own.
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You are an angel for thinking of posting this and your husband is an angel for writing this up so you could! I'm printing this out as I type and will be forever in your debt! Thank you both so very very much!
Great tips! But PLEASE do NOT boil your shower-head! Most are made from cheap plastic! Tie or rubber-band a bag of vinegar to a fixed head or take down the hand held and put it in a large plastic cup filled with vinegar.
A word of caution about the breaker box than can save you from severe electrical shock. Some rooms have split circuits. You might turn the breaker off and one half of the room would still be lit up. Please don't try the radio check. Just check all the plugs when you turn off the breaker. It takes more time but is worth it. Tell this to your husband.
Ann Parker is right, some rooms are "split" between two breakers. We learned this last weekend while trying to ascertain whether the dryer had tripped the breaker. Might I add, it's best to label each breaker (in pen or permanent marker) as you learn which ones go to what.
Don't mean to criticize but the paint part is wrong. You can paint oil over latex but if you paint latex over oil, the oil paint underneath will peel like old wall paper and will look awful when done. I know this as I've done it and used to work as a paint sales person.
I am going to second the comment about the paint. I think you've probably just made a typo . You can put oil over latex, but not latex over oil.
Thanks for the vinegar solution! My showerhead needs it!
Something you may want to do with two people or more in the house when checking power and breakers. Doing this now will save time later.
1.Turn on all lights in house.
2. Plug in (1) night light and turn on one in each wall socket outlet (these can be bought in most discount stores as well as hardware stores).
3. Draw a map of each room in house indicating where you have light witch sockets, ceiling / heating units, cooling fans, kitchen and bath room ceiling heaters and etc.
4. Now do the test one breaker at a time. Make sure everything is turned on.
5. Have your team members mark the map indicating which outlet and switch is connected to the breaker number on the panel doing this one room at a time. (keep in mind that more than one breaker controls electric in one room most of the time) .
6. Make a copy of this map keep one copy in the place of the breaker panel one on your door of your a/c unit.
This will help when working with electric and in an emergency electric situation.
I make a solution of half vinegar, half water and a squirt of Dawn dish soap. I use this to clean windows, etc. I also use it to spray the showerhead every week. Keeps it from clogging up at all. I just use a regular spray bottle to mix this and spray. I also spray this mixture on sinks, etc. before I put comet or whatever on to clean. It is a good disinfectant. The squirt of Dawn adds just enough extra to make the mixture work better, yet it cleans squeaky clean.
Thank you and your husband so much! This is so helpful!
One add on to the plugged sink. Most have switched up from metal drain pipes to PVC. When you start doing the boiling water trick, make sure you put a bucket/pot/bowl under the drain pipes that are under there. Hot water will often loosen the tightness of then and OFTEN the mess comes out the door to the floor. Make sure you tighten your PVC pipes on a regular basis..Hot water will do that, as part of science in anything..hot water has its place in loosening things..
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