As a homeowner, you are expected to know how to do practically everything involved in taking care of and maintaining your home properly. Unfortunately, many people have never learned some of the basic skills that are essential to have in their proverbial toolbelt. The good thing, however, is that it is never too late to learn. Get started right here.
Unblock a Drain
Your home has a lot of drains. From multiple toilets to sinks, showers, and tubs, there are multiple ways that water and its accompanying elements flow through and drain from your home. These seemingly insignificant utilities are rarely given a second glance until something goes wrong. That is when they quickly become a very big deal. A blocked drain can lead to a toilet or sewer backup, standing dirty water in the shower and tub that will not drain, or a kitchen sink that remains filled with water and food debris. You can avoid all of this by taking care of your utilities and by learning how to unblock drains to prevent a small problem from growing into a big one.
Remove a Stripped Screw
Having a stripped screw in your home can be at the least annoying and at the most a barrier to accomplishing something. If you come across a stripped screw or create one as the result of a mistake, take a deep breath and know that there are reasonable and relatively easy solutions you can try to remove the offending screw. The best part is that you probably already have everything you need at home to get the job done right away.
Watch this video to learn the five best ways to remove a stripped screw according to a licensed general contractor.
Replace the Batteries in the Smoke Detectors
This is an easy one, but it is often viewed as daunting for many homeowners. If you have never changed the battery in a smoke detector before, now is the time to start. All you need is a sturdy stepladder and a battery. If this is the first time performing this essential task, go ahead and replace all of the smoke detector batteries in your home. That way, you can start fresh and put this job on a schedule. Pro tip: Put “change smoke detector batteries” on your personal calendar as a recurring annual event. (Of note, some experts recommend you change your batteries every 10 years, so it is always best to read the instruction manual.) If you are current on maintaining your smoke detectors, you can feel comfortable changing one battery if the low battery alert goes off. Once you have changed any or all of the batteries, put in a good pair of earplugs and have someone sit with your pets while you test each alarm to ensure they are working properly.
Now that you have some ideas on what you need to know to take care of your home, keep going. There will always be more to learn, and you can contact an expert when you want or need to, but there is something satisfying that occurs when you can step back and say to yourself, “I did that.”
