Fix it yourself: plumbing, electrical, mold, drainage and the honest line between a DIY job and calling a pro.
A house announces its problems quietly before it announces them expensively. The toilet that runs a little, the window that sweats in winter, the dark line in the bathroom grout: each is a repair asking to be small. This section is about catching them at that size, diagnosing the cause before buying the cure, and knowing with confidence which jobs are yours and which belong to a licensed trade.
The territory covers what actually goes wrong in a lived-in home: plumbing from dripping faucets to clogged sewer lines and low water pressure, mold and mildew in their honest proportions, drywall, caulk, gutters, garage doors, squeaks and drafts, and the electrical work on the safe side of the outlet cover. Every remedy sequence runs cheapest first, the free adjustment before the ten dollar part before the real repair, because that order is right far more often than not.
The stopping points are stated plainly, once, without sirens. Gas lines, anything inside the service panel, structural cuts, roofs above a single story, and suspected asbestos or lead in older homes each get the same treatment: here is where you stop, and here is who you call. Older houses especially reward reading before cutting. Start with the symptom, not the system, and search will meet you there.
Known for its usage of process and domestic water supply, post indicator valves are also an important part of fire protection systems in large buildings. In this article, we will study how this mechanism works, and also the various purposes it can be used for.
Pink mold that is actually a bacterial growth can be very harmful. This HomeQuicks article assesses the health risks and the measures to be undertaken so as to contain this problem.
Brownouts not only result in the malfunctioning of electric appliances, but can also cause serious damage to some of them. In this HomeQuicks post, we tell you what causes brownouts in your home, and how you can keep your valuable appliances safe from the damage caused by it.
A foot valve is an important device which helps contain the reverse flow of water back into the sump. Here, we find out how it works.
A carpenter’s square is a simple tool with multiple uses. It can be used in a number of ways for carrying out simple carpentry activities. We talk about the different types of carpenter’s squares and illustrates some basic carpentry square instructions.
Though using the extension spring mechanism in garage doors is an age-old practice, in recent years, the use of the torsion spring mechanism has been gaining popularity. We pit both these spring types against each other to find out which one is the better choice. So spring onto your comfort-chairs, as the tension between our contenders―torsion spring vs. extension spring―mounts.
Are you frustrated by the frequent clogging of rain gutters? If yes, then you may be surprised to know that you can replace them with other systems. HomeQuicks gives you information on some good alternatives for rain gutters.
Masonite siding is extensively used in constructions. It helps in protecting a structure from damage caused by weather and other external factors. However, if not properly maintained, it will deteriorate. Here’s a look at some of the common problems arising in Masonite sidings, and the ways to fix them.
Do you suspect foundation damage in your house? If you are feeling dizzy thinking about the cost involved, then this article will tell you whether it is really foundation damage and what you can do about it.
Both ABS and PVC pipes are plastic pipes, but what is the difference between the two? Let’s find out.
LCD screens are fragile and prone to scratches. These scratches cannot be repaired but can be made less noticeable by following some simple methods. We will discuss some of these methods to fix scratches on an LCD.
More often than not, the problem of heating (or rather lack of heating) is because of a faulty or run-down chimney. The best and the most basic way to know the cause of low heating in your home is to understand the working principle behind a chimney and the working process of different types of chimneys.
A bidet toilet seat attachment is a better option than installing a bidet, as it helps you save space. The following article tells you how to install a bidet attachment.
A rocking chair is the ultimate place to relax, however, a squeaky noise results in more frustration than relief. Try these simple instructions to fix a squeaky rocking chair by yourself.
Sagging ceiling tiles is a very common problem observed in old houses. It is a tiring job and requires expertise. Here is a post explaining a do-it-yourself method to fix this problem.
Replacing a toilet seat is the easiest and quickest job ever. In fact the replacement will give a new look to your bathroom and you don’t even need to turn off the water supply while replacing the toilet seat. Here is how you do it. Keep reading.
Drainage pipes are required in any area to dispose off waste water from our homes and industrial areas. There are different types of drainage pipes for every purpose.
Those of you looking for guided information on how to repair a pocket watch are without a doubt in the right place. Let’s take a look at how you can fix your own pocket watch.
Removing a sliding glass door just got easier. We tell you how to do it with some simple, easy-to-follow-and-execute steps. Have a look.
Detecting methane becomes all the more important when you take into consideration the fact that the same acts as an explosive and asphyxiant, and has the tendency to cause serious harm to your property and health.
With recent trends showing a significant rise in the number of landslides, as well as loss of life and property attributed to them, being well-versed with different methods to prevent them can be of great help. Read on...
Electrical fires can rage out of hand, uncontrollably, in a matter of seconds. Thus, one should know how to react in such a situation. It is also essential to have knowledge about all the…
Molds can be found virtually anywhere and everywhere. They irritate with their perpetual presence indoors and outdoors. So how to treat mold on wood? Read this article to have a mold free life!
Shower drain covers are one of the most important parts of any bathroom, which need to be replaced once they go out of order so as to avoid plumbing problems in the bathroom.
Is your backyard water logged and you are looking for an effective solution to it? We are going to discuss some of the best drainage solutions for the backyard.
Is your doorbell not doing its job properly? Just bought a new one? Looking for easy instructions to wire it? Read these simple steps and your job will be done in no time.
Loose toilet seat hinges can make your bathroom experience quite uncomfortable. Read the HomeQuicks article to learn how to choose and replace the hinges with ease.
We use the door knob several times a day, but we never wonder about the door knob parts that operate the mechanism within. Here, we have provided the working of the door knob with illustrations for better understanding.
If you’ve noticed a leak at the bottom of the toilet, replacing a toilet flange becomes an unavoidable task. Read the HomeQuicks article to see how you can do this task by yourself.
Garage opener giving you trouble and you don’t know how to go about handling it? The article to follow will elaborate on how to program the same and help you thus.
A shower diverter is a handy valve usually used to swap between a hand-held shower (or tub spout) and a standard overhead shower. The water very conveniently switches back and forth between the two also releasing the same amount of water pressure. Fixing this is an easy task, which requires a fair amount of patience.
Circuit breaker that doesn’t reset is one of the common concerns at homes. Read this article to gain more information about this subject.
Grounding rod installation should be done carefully, taking the necessary precautions. Given below is the method to install a ground rod at home and the required safety measures that need to be taken.
This article will give you approximate French drain costs of installation and the options that you can choose from. You can either choose to get this job done by professionals or do it yourself.
Knowledge about fiberglass insulation dangers and prevention is essential for every homeowner. Make sure you’ve read everything about it. If you haven’t, continue reading this article.
There are quite a few toilet paper brands that make the very essential product for our everyday use. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best known brands in the market.
There is no doubt about the fact that removing silicone caulk is a tricky job. Read this article to learn the proper technique of removal.
Wood gutters are passageways that allow rainwater from the ceiling to flow to the ground without affecting the walls of the house. Installing them is beneficial since they prevent the walls from…
If you are plagued by questions like “how to repair a toilet?”, and “how to fix a toilet?”, learn to repair a faulty commode using this article.
A water or fluid-hammer situation, occurs when water surges through a pipeline, causing subsequent problems because of the forceful thrust. Let’s look more into how this happens and what to do about it.
