Do it Yourself Repairs
Some basic repairs that any homeowner can take
care of are regular problems, which are commonly associated with all
houses at some point in time or the other. You can do these repairs,
with simple tools and a little know-how.
Common problems needing repairs and their solutions
An issue that besets most households is a stubborn or a sticky lock.
This can be eased off by rubbing the edges of its key with a
soft-lead pencil, resulting in transferring the graphite onto the
key. The key is gently pushed into the lock and moved in and out to
loosen the graphite into the works. Another option could be to
squeeze powdered graphite -available in a tube at hardware stores
and home centers- into the keyhole. Lubricating oil is not
recommended as over time, it can make a dirty lock even dirtier and
more difficult to operate.
Creaking drawers that insist on sticking can be replaced with the
modern ball-bearing type that will ensure they roll smoothly.
A slow filling washing machine can be a bit of drag and if water
just about trickles into your washer, it is likely that fill valve
screens are plugged or the valve is bad. The solution would be to
clean screens and replace the valve, which can be done under $25 and
in a matter of minutes, the washer will fill faster.
Using the right tools for do it yourself repairs
A broken storm door handle can be a simple do it yourself repair too
and these are easy to repair if you buy the same kind. A drill with
1/8-inch and 5/16-inch bits and a good screwdriver are needed for
this job. Begin with removing the old storm-door handle by
unscrewing the two screws that hold the two halves together. The new
locations for the hole can be marked by using the template provided
with the new door handle, positioned such that the new holes do not
land over the existing holes. Drilling 1/8-inch pilot holes through
the door at the locations marked proceed to enlarge these holes to
5/16 inch by drilling halfway through the door from both sides with
a 5/16-inch drill bit. Assemble the door handle according to the
instructions and screw the two halves together with the machine
screws provided. Hold the strike plate in position while you mark
the screw slots, close the door and remove the plate to drill
1/16-inch pilot holes in the center of each slot mark. After
screwing it to the doorframe, finish off by adjusting the strike
plate so the door latches firmly before tighten the screws.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
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