It’s too cold to hang out outside anymore, so this month on the Welcome Home blog we’re looking at easy indoor improvement and repair projects. This week, appliances and plumbing.
Basic home maintenance and repair is one of the responsibilities you take on as a homeowner. Happily, there are many such tasks you can take care of yourself with the help of the internet, and doing so will save you big bucks over hiring a contractor or handyperson. Here are a few such easy tasks under the general heading of Appliances and Plumbing (all links lead to FamilyHandyman.com):
- Fix Your Toilet’s Flush – Remember the old joke, “Is your toilet running? Well you better go catch it!” Of course, a toilet that won’t stop running is no joke. Not only is it annoying, it’s expensive and wasteful. But fixing it yourself is quick and easy, and will probably cost you less than $20. Here’s all you need to know about fixing a toilet that won’t stop running.
- Unclog a Sink – Whether it’s the super slow drain in the upstairs bathroom or the kitchen sink stopped up with nasty dishwater, clogged drains are a common occurrence in most any home. If the kitchen plunger doesn’t do the trick, (because we know you’d NEVER use the toilet plunger in your kitchen sink), you still have some do-it-yourself options. Here’s everything you need to know about unclogging common sink drains.
- Fix a Leaky Faucet – This one might sound scary, but it’s usually a lot easier than it seems assuming you locate the right replacement parts. Here’s everything you need to know about fixing a leaky faucet and finding the parts your faucet needs.
- Get Rid of the Stink-Garbage Disposal – Ever wonder where that funky smell was coming from after you’ve checked the garbage can and refrigerator for stinky stinks? If you have a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink, it could be the culprit. Here’s how to clean your disposal and get rid of the smelly ghosts of meals past. Bonus tip, if your disposal is jammed and just makes a humming noise when you flip the switch, see the link above on Unclogging Common Sink Drains to learn how to get it functioning again.
- Get Rid of the Stink-Dishwasher – Another common culprit for unknown stink sources is the dishwasher. This can be easily cleaned as well, and once cleaned will likely clean your dishes even better moving forward. Here’s how to clean your dishwasher.
- Get Rid of the Stink-Washing Machine – A bad smell coming from the clothes washer is actually more common today than it was in the past. Early model high-efficiency machines are notorious for the buildup of mold and mildew if the washing machine door isn’t left open between uses. If your washer smells like a mildew, here’s how you can remove the smell and keep it from coming back.