Money’s tight and people are doing their own home repairs more than ever before. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars, but you can also cost yourself a fortune! John Matarese from Channel 9 News “Don’t Waste Your Money!” gave some great tips for DIY’s and I have added a few of my own.
Do’s: Drain Cleaning: Rather than pay $100.00 for a plumber to clear a plugged drain you can purchase a drain cleaning stick at a hardware store and do it yourself.
Driveway Repair: A $20.00 can of driveway compound and a squeegee and a broom can make an old driveway look new. It’s dirty but safe and simple.
Changing a light switch: Most homeowners can attempt changing a light switch as long as you turn the circuit breakers off. Turn the power off on the breaker box, switch 2-3 wires and it’s a simple do.
It’s Not Ok : Beyond changing a switch or installing a ceiling fan where overhead light is already in place, most electricians advise against the more complicated electrical work. House wiring or making changes to your circuit breaker box is a job for a licensed electrician. In most communities a license is required and by law the work needs to be inspected by the local building department.
Roofing repair should not be attempted unless you’re trained to safely walk on a pitched roof.
Do’s: Plumbing Repairs: Changing a leaky faucet is just a matter of taking off the head of the faucet, taking it apart, access all the parts and replace the damaged one.
Cleaning a clogged drain: Disconnect the lock in the PVC Trap below your sink, Pull the trap loose, pull out all the hair, or run a cable back past the drain. Most homeowners can also “snake” a clogged toilet with a 5 ft. toilet snake sold at a hardware store if you don’t mind the mess and smell.
Toilet Repair: Purchase a 20.00 repair kit to change the whole mechanism at once rather than trying to repair just the ball, valve or flapper at the bottom.
Don’t: Repairing Pipes: Attempting to repair copper pipes that needs soldering with a hot torch requires some training and if you don’t get it right you will create a leak. You could end up with a leak big enough to ruin walls and ceilings. Accessing which pipe is leaking is sometimes tricky. A dry rotten valve (that runs from the icemaker into the wall) can cause water leakage that not only damages your kitchen floor but the ceiling, walls and carpet in a finished basement, costing thousands of dollars worth of damage!
Gas Line Repair: The biggest No No! Leave the gas to a Pro. One wrong move and you could blow up your whole house!
If you’re not sure ask a professional. Why not ask Dan The Remodeling Man!
Dan Siegel/Siegel Remodeling and Design
9016 Sutton Pl. Hamilton, Ohio 45011
513-874-7636
http://www.siegeldesigncenter.com/
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