Home ownership requires more than just enjoying lazy weekends on the deck and romantic evenings in front of the fireplace – it also involves performing necessary maintenance and repairs on your private oasis to keep it looking its best.
Though certain tasks might appear beyond your abilities, there are plenty of quick and simple solutions you can tackle on your own.
Fix a Wobbly Showerhead
An out of place showerhead might seem harmless at first, but it can have serious repercussions for both water pressure and bill costs. Furthermore, it creates an ideal environment for grime and mold to grow that’s both unsightly and unhealthy to breathe in.
At home, expansion foam may be all it takes to fix this issue. Available at most hardware stores in a tube form, apply the foam directly around the gap that your shower arm sits in to secure its place and eliminate any wobbliness.
Once the foam dries, you can unscrew and remove the nut that holds the swivel arm in place. Use a screwdriver or plumbers putty to tighten and secure its position – being cautious not to overdo this step or it could lead to the head dislodging itself or wiggling. Make sure masking tape covers this area so any additional expansion foam doesn’t damage tiling around its hole.
Hide Tough Ceiling Water Stains
After spending time and money refreshing your home with lush carpet and flawless paint, the last thing you want is unsightly watermarks staining the ceiling. Such marks could indicate leakage in either roof or plumbing systems and create an eyesore; before trying to cover up these stains with fresh coat of paint, make sure that their source has been addressed and repaired first.
Luckily, a few simple steps can help your ceiling look like new again. First, start by scrubbing any stained areas using a sponge dipped in homemade bleach solution (1 cup of bleach to 3 cups of water), which should help fade stains as well as remove mold or mildew that prevent primer and paint from adhering properly to the surface. Rinse thoroughly after each round and allow it to dry before beginning your painting project!
Remove Dents in Wood
Woodworking often leaves unsightly dents and dings behind, but you don’t have to call in professionals for repairs if the damage is minor enough. Instead, using cloth and iron, you can often remedy them yourself.
Soak a piece of cloth in water, then lay it over the dent. The moisture will act as a buffer between your wood surface and iron; and direct contact. Use an old T-shirt, shop rag or another piece that won’t mind being potentially destroyed as part of this solution.
Heat should then be applied using an iron for several seconds at a time over the spot, pressing gently but firmly. Hot steam should work its way into the grain of wood, swelling it and lifting away any dent, eventually returning its surface level with rest of surface area. How often you repeat these treatments depends upon what kind of wood it is being worked on.
Check Your Circuit Breaker
Circuit breakers are essential in every home, as they protect everything that runs off electricity. But over time they may become damaged or malfunction and knowing the warning signs could save both time and money on repairs.
An obvious telltale sign that a circuit breaker is malfunctioning is when it trips or shuts off without apparent cause, often without being aware of why. This indicates the breaker does not properly match its electrical load or may indicate short circuiting that requires professional intervention to solve.
To test your breaker, unplug all appliances and devices before switching it on again. If it trips immediately or soon after plugging them back in again, this indicates an electrical problem which should be dealt with immediately by a professional electrician. Furthermore, their examination can include inspecting more closely inside walls and wiring for potential hazards that might exist as well.