Your home is one of the most expensive things you will ever pay for. Whether you are renting or buying, you should take good care of it. While you might be tempted to call a professional if something breaks, there are many minor repairs you can take care of yourself.
These projects are all easy and low risk, but you should always be sure to research any project you don’t understand – especially if you are dealing with electricity or plumbing, which can be extremely dangerous. If you don’t already have your own toolkit, this is not a bad time to start building Your essential tool box. Some of the repairs listed here require specialized tools that you may not have lying around. However, we will list these if necessary.
Repair or replace a broken toilet lever
Toilet levers (or handles) keep breaking and thankfully are very easy to repair. If pressing the lever doesn’t flush the toilet, you can usually just open the tank and reattach the chain. In some cases, the handle itself can corrode or one of the parts that connect the handle to the flap (including the handle, nut, metal rod, or chain) can break. If this happens to you, here are some things to fix:
The actual installation is pretty straightforward This video from Everyday Home Repairs shows::
Clog a toilet drain
Before calling a plumber to share a toilet, there are two things you should try. You will need:
First, make sure you are using toilet specific tools. Toilet plungers have flaps at the shop end that form a tight seal with the drain. Flushing plungers are completely round and cannot do much to a stubborn clogging. Slugs are very similar to drain snakes, but they are specifically designed to work with toilets.
Neither of these tools are difficult to use, however this short video The techniques are shown in action on Home Depot’s YouTube channel:
They recommend pouring 3 tablespoons of liquid dish soap into the toilet before dipping (or snails) to lubricate the drain and clear any clogs.
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Attach a leaky P-trap under the sink in the kitchen or bathroom
Most minor pipe leaks occur around the P-trap and are usually caused by a worn washer or a loose or broken compression nut. To fix the problem you will need:
Before you do anything else, Turn off the water to the sink. Some sinks have a shut-off valve right next to the sink itself, while others may be located down to the basement. Once the water is off, you’re good to go.
This one is very simple as you can see in This video with instructions from Jeff Ostroff on Youtube:
All you have to do is unscrew the compression nuts that hold the P-trap in place so you can replace it and the worn washers. As Jeff mentions in the video, this type of fastener can be hand tightened because PVC pipe can tear under too much pressure. If whoever installed your P-trap still tightened the nuts too tight, a 3-way plumber wrench can help you loosen them.
Eliminate any jammed garbage disposal
Garbage disposal is a big, scary machine made up of hidden blades and bad noises. Aside from the initial fears of threatening pits, clearing a clog is actually pretty easy. You need:
Pressing the reset button is sometimes enough, but when not, This video from Williams Plumbing & Heating shows two more simple methods to unlock a disposal:
Turning the disposal blades with an Allen key is usually enough to remove debris and restart disposal. A waste disposal key may be required for larger, tougher jobs: it fits in the main disposal chamber and removes anything that jams.
Replace a light switch
Most electrical work in your home should likely be done by a professional, but light switches are among the easiest to replace. If you have a switch that is not working properly, you can use these general tools to do it:
Before you begin, turn off the correct breaker and get to work. This tutorial from Lowe’s YouTube channel sets out everything:
Once you’ve unscrewed the faceplate, all that’s left is to disconnect the cables, plug in your new switch, and put the plate back in.
Repairing drywall holes
Holes in walls are almost inevitable, even if you only rent them. However, if you haven’t plowed through a car, most holes can be repaired pretty cheaply. Depending on the size of the hole, you will need some or all of these tools:
Start by assessing the extent of the damage. Screw or nail holes from hanging pictures or TVs are easiest: clean the area from debris, wipe the wall and press down on some with a spatula spackle into the wall and let it dry. Once it’s done, smooth it down with some sandpaper. Depending on how seamless it needs to be and what color your walls are, you may need to apply a coat of paint.
Bigger holes are more difficult. This video from LRN2DIY shows different methods of patching::
To properly mend a large hole, you need to cut out and replace some of the surrounding drywall. This isn’t exactly difficult, but it does require more advanced techniques than some of the other fixes we’ve covered so far – especially for really large holes. If you’re not sure if you’re up to the task, give a professional a call.
Loosen a stuck window
If you walk too long without opening a window it can get so dirty that it is difficult to open. This isn’t a particularly complex problem, but it may require some elbow fat. You will need these tools and accessories:
Physically detaching the window from the frame is a pretty good place to start. This video from ForRent.com shows some different techniques:
If curiosity and (gentle) hammering aren’t enough, you may need to include chemicals. Paint thinner can help loosen stubborn, closed windows, and WD-40 or a silicone lubricant can help the window slide back on its rails. Keep that in mind WD-40 glued vinyl windows;; You can use a little to dissolve rust, but don’t spray it all over the rails.
There’s no shortage of things in your home that can break, but you will find that most can be fixed with some hardware store basics and a little googling. If something does not break life-threateningly, check it out online before calling a professional. It could save you a bunch.
This article was originally published on October 15, 2013. It was updated on May 14, 2021 with new links, updated information, and Lifehacker-style guidelines.
