First Time Home Owners Must Know Do It Yourself RepairsOwning your first Tri Cities Wa home can be an exciting venture, but for first time homeowners, it can also come with a great deal of overwhelming responsibility. As the owner of your home, you are responsible for caring for any issues in the home, and it can be difficult to navigate the waters of home repairs and maintenance. Here are some easy and essential tips to consider as a first time home owner, to keep your home in the best condition possible.
Replacing the Kitchen Faucet Screen
Homeowners who are experiencing low water pressure may find the cause is in their kitchen faucet screen or aerator. Unscrew the aerator body on the faucet and look for the thin screen inside. If it is dirty or clogged, it can be replaced with a new screen from your local hardware store. Make certain all of the parts are put back in order with this guide from the Family Handy Man.
Squeaky Door Hinges
Squeaky door hinges are not only irritating, but if not handled properly, they can eventually lead to issues with your doors. Spray WD-40 on the hinges or petroleum jelly to the hinges as a lubricant.
Clearing Up Pest Issues
Pest issues are common for new home owners. If you are dealing with pests around the home or on any of your plants, try natural solutions such as spraying apple cider vinegar or cinnamon to rid the home of pests. If the problem persists, call a local specialist.
Replacing Furnace Filters
If you feel as though the air in your home is dusty, or your furnace is not blowing out hot air as rapidly as it should be, there may be an issue with the filter. Use your furnace manual to locate the fiberglass filter and replace with a comparable one, found at your local hardware store.
Caulking the Trim and Windows
If your windows are feeling drafty, you will want to caulk the trim around the windows and siding of your home. According to many home maintenance experts, polyurethane caulk is the most powerful when it comes to filling in trim and windows as it lasts three to four times longer than traditional latex caulk.
Caring For Your Wooden Deck
Even with a wood stain on it, a wooden deck is prone to issues. If you see cracking or discoloring in your wood, you may have a water issue. Visit a local paint store to borrow a moisture meter. They will show you how to use the meter to see if water has been penetrating your deck, which may mean you need to reseal the wood with a moisture locking stain.
Fixing a Leaky Faucet
The leaky faucet is one of the most common issues that homeowners today have to deal with. Typically, you can easily repair your faucet by removing the handle of the faucet and replacing the small red washer near the valve. How Stuff Works also offers homeowners additional resources for stopping leaks.
Heal Your Asphalt Cracks
Outside the home, if there are cracks in your asphalt, you can easily fix them to smooth out your sidewalks and driveway and to prevent pot holes from forming. Take a caulking gun and some asphalt patching caulk and fill in the cracks, using a putty knife to smooth out the caulk.
Clean Out Slow Moving Garbage Disposals
If your garbage disposal is moving slow, it may have a buildup of food remnants, grease and gunk. To remove this build up, pour a cup of vinegar into an ice cube tray and fill the tray up with water. Once frozen, but the cubes into the disposal to clean out the disposal.
Clearing a Slow Draining Sink
When a sink is slowly draining, you can use a plunger or a drain cleaner to remove buildup, but you may also need to remove the pop-up to get the sink in top working order. The pop up can be removed by reaching behind the drain pipe and unscrewing the nut. This gives you better access to the drain, to remove any items that may be disrupting the flow. Posted by Colleen D. Lane on
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