If you follow the popular idea that you should put 1 percent of the cost of your home to home maintenance every year, then you’ll know it’s a costly process.
This is before anything even goes truly wrong. However, many home maintenance issues can be avoided with a little DIY knowledge. Rather than getting a man over to do some of the work, why not save some money and do it yourself?
Here are five amazing DIY tips for home maintenance that every home-owning woman should be aware of.
1. Avoid Calling the Plumber with Simple Tricks
Having a blocked sink is both gross and irritating. However, such a problem can be avoided with a few simple tips, two of which include:
- Buying a hair strainer for your shower and removing the hair regularly.
- Don’t ever put fats or oils down the sink even when they’re liquid. If you do this accidentally, put dishwasher soap and hot water down the sink to emulsify the fats and avoid them solidifying later.
These may seem like very simple tips but will help you avoid the need to call a plumber. If you find that you have a blocked pipe, then you could try pouring a pot of boiling water down it, then half a cup of baking soda.
After letting this rest for a few minutes, pour vinegar and more hot water down. Let this rest for another few minutes before pouring down more boiling water.
2. Don’t Let the Paintwork Peel
Rather than having to call in painters or paint entire rooms yourself every few years, keep up with the paintwork. Whenever there is a patch peeling, update it with a quick lick of paint.
However, if your paintwork is flecking due to damp or mold, then you need to contact your insurance company to find out if they will cover dealing with this problem.
You then need to contact a contractor to find out how much work needs to be done to solve the problem.
3. Bleed Your Radiators Every Winter
Who knew they needed to bleed radiators? Rather than worrying that you have a problem with your heating, first, try bleeding your radiators.
Make sure that the heating is turned off before you start. To bleed a radiator, first get an old towel or bowl and place it under the valve. Then, find your bleeding key or use a screwdriver if you don’t have one.
After doing this, listen out for a hissing noise, this is air in your radiator escaping, and a bubbling sound.
The air that exits the valve will show you that the air has left the radiator. But, be careful with any escaping water.
After this has happened, you can then close the bleed valve with your key or screwdriver. Finally, turn your heating on and keep an eye on whether the radiators are warming up.
Watch YouTube videos for help if you’re unsure of what you’re doing.
4. Finding Water in Your Basement? Clear Your Gutters
If you’re finding that there is a lot of water accumulating in your basement, then it’s time to clear out your gutters. They are there to catch water and other debris and keep it away from your home and its foundation.
Clean your gutters with a hose and remove debris by hand. You should be doing this once a year.
5. Avoid Drafty Windows
Check your windows aren’t causing an unwelcome draft leaving you to wear jackets indoors by regularly checking the caulk. If it is dry or appears old and damaged then it’s time to replace it.
First, remove the old caulk with a knife or box cutter. Then, add new caulk from your DIY store. You may be surprised how much money this can save you.
Use these DIY Tips to Save Money on Home Maintenance
Not only will these DIY tips help run down your home maintenance bill, but they’ll also help reduce your energy bill too. What’s not to love about that?
Need more ideas on how to save money in your home? Check out these nine home heating tips.
