As a homeowner, there’s no landlord to call when minor things go wrong or problems arise. Having some basic repair and maintenance skills in your back pocket will make you a better homeowner and save you money for the times when there are bigger repairs to take care of. Check out the things every homeowner should know how to do for themselves.
1. Stopping leaky faucets
Leaky faucets can add extra dollars to your water bill, but they’re usually relatively easy to fix. Start by turning off the water to your sink and cover the drain with a rag that can catch any small parts that may fall while taking apart the faucet. Oftentimes it’s simply a new rubber washer that needs to be added to compression faucets or a new O-ring to washerless faucets that will fix the drip.
2. Changing your ceiling fan’s direction
Not everyone knows that your ceiling fan should spin in a certain direction depending on the season in order to help your HVAC system run efficiently. In the winter, ceiling fans should run clockwise, and in the summer, ceiling fans should run in a counterclockwise rotation. Reversing a fan is a simple two-step process: adjust the angle of the blades, and flip a switch.
3. Resetting a circuit breaker
Every once in awhile your circuit breaker may trip and you’ll lose power in your home. Locate your breaker box, and find the switch that doesn’t look like all the rest. Push it to the off position, and then push it back on.
4. Turning off the water main
Every home has a main water shut off valve, and it’s one of the first things you should familiarize yourself with in case of emergencies. The water main is usually close to where the water enters the house from the street. To cut off the water supply, turn the wheel handles clockwise or slowly turn the lever handle ¼ turn.
5. Installing weatherstripping
Weatherstripping is necessary to combat any air leaks around doors and windows. It can save you about 15% on your heating and cooling bill. Measure the perimeter of your doors and windows to know how much weatherstripping you should buy. There are several types of weather strips, so decide which one you like best, then cut it to fit your windows and doors, peel, and stick to the tops, bottoms, and sides.
Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibility, but if you have the right tools and steps in place, you’ll be able to keep up with routine maintenance and repairs easily. If you’d like more tips on how to be a successful homeowner, want more things every homeowner should know how to do for themselves, or have questions about the Austin real estate market, please contact Prism Realty. We’re happy to discuss how you can go from renting a home to owning your own home and help you buy a home or sell your home.
