36 Skills You Need to Survive Homeownership
The ultimate guide for tackling most household emergencies with ease
What do newborn babies and homeownership have in common? Neither come with an owner’s manual. And that’s too bad, because as a homeowner you’ll inevitably find yourself in a dicey situation from time to time.
‘Wingin’ it’ is always an option. So is shelling out wads of money to local home contractors. But your best bet is to have at least a rudimentary knowledge of how to tackle home repairs yourself. This way you can save yourself time and money when a home repair emergency rears its ugly head.
Hat tip to the fine folks at This Old House. This is a slightly altered version of their original article.
1. Fix a Leaky Faucet
More times than not, a failed washer inside a handle is the culprit. To replace the washer, turn off the water supply valve under the sink. Stuff a rag in the drain so you don’t lose parts, then take the handle apart. Pop the screw cover on top, remove the screw, and pull off the handle. Use a wrench to disassemble the stem, and line the parts up on the counter in the order they came off, so you know how it goes back together. Examine rubber parts or plastic cartridges for cracks, and take the offending piece to the hardware store for an exact replacement. Reassemble the parts you’ve laid out, in reverse. Then revel in the ensuing peace and quiet.
For more detailed diagrams, check out Fixing a Leaky Faucet.
James Lee via Flickr
2. Move a Refrigerator by Yourself
Clarence Yuzik, aka The Fridge Doctor, has two words for you: Magic Sliders. Put these little plastic disks under the fridge’s front feet (you can lever them off the floor with a long pry bar), then pull. Most refrigerators have wheels in the back, so the whole unit should glide forward effortlessly.
Shawn Campbell via Flickr
3. Dig a Hole
A stomp on a pointed shovel, that’s easy—and so’s electrocuting yourself when you slice into a buried power line. Which is why, says This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook, any prospective hole-digger should first call 811 to notify the local utilities in your area. They’ll send someone out to mark any lines you have (and possibly save you from getting buried yourself).
Tommy Sea via Flickr
4. Locate a Stud
A stud finder is a handy tool to keep around the house, but let’s face it — you probably don’t own one. No worries, though, because you can use deductive reasoning to find the right spot to drive that nail into the wall. Most studs are placed at 16-inch intervals, so once you know where one is, you can usually find the rest.
Start at a corner, where there’s always a stud. Or take the cover plate off an electrical outlet and find out on which side it’s mounted to the stud. From there, measure 16, 32, 48 inches, and you should hit a stud at each interval. Eliminate guesswork by using a thin bit to drill a test hole at the top of the base molding, which you can easily repair with a dab of caulk.
Charles & Hudson via Flickr
5. Deal with a Seized Lock
Hit the 7-Eleven before you call that $100-a-visit locksmith. Some WD-40 sprayed into the keyhole will lube the mechanism quickly. If that doesn’t do it, you may have a broken spring or tumbler—and need that pro after all. If so, keep the new lock from locking up by giving it a yearly spritz of long-lasting Teflon spray.
DeWitt Clinton via flickr
6. Check for Termites
Despite your worst nightmares, you won’t hear a distinct munching sound. And these guys don’t hide in plain sight, so you need to scout out places where wood framing is exposed, like crawl spaces. Inspect them for raised, branch-like tubes that, when broken open, reveal cream-colored or yellowish insects. Also, check where siding meets the foundation for salt-size droppings or tiny clumps of dirt next to pinholes. If you spot even one, you need a licensed and bonded exterminator to squash those tunneling bugs. To learn more, check out Common Bug Killers and Their Advantages and Disadvantages.
Aleksey Gnilenkov via flickr
7. Unclog a Sink
“Chemicals rarely clear a stoppage—they only make a small hole,” says TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey. “A full stoppage requires mechanical clearing.” Remove the stopper and block off overflow holes. With water in the bowl—the water puts more pressure on the clog—plunge with a flat-faced plunger. If that’s not enough, get under the sink and take off the trap to see if that’s where the clog is lodged. If the blockage is deeper, rent yourself a hand snake. Slowly push the coil down the drain, carefully twisting, pulling, and pushing when you hit the blockage. If the snake fails, then the still waters truly run deep. Call a drain-clearing service to get things flowing.
Get more details by reading Clear Any Clogged Drain.
Will Powell via flickr
8. Hire a Handyman
Skip the classifieds—no one any good needs to advertise. Try the local hardware store instead. The guys behind the counter know who’s buying supplies for paid jobs. Or find out who does the maintenance at the school or town hall. Maybe he moonlights. Just be sure to check references, and find out whether your town or state requires a license. Also ask if he carries liability insurance—otherwise, be sure your homeowner’s insurance will cover him.
Tony Alter via Flickr
9. Ensure a Lightbulb’s Long Life
You know that popping sound that signals another lightbulb has burned out before its time? The cause: The little brass tab inside the lamp socket that makes contact with the bulb base is dirty or bent, interrupting the connection and causing the filament to imperceptibly flash on and off, shortening its life. With the fixture unplugged or the circuit breaker switched off, clean the tab with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol; then nudge it up with a screwdriver so that it stays in contact with the bulb base.
Luigi de Guzman via flickr
10. Get a Plumber to Show Up on a Holiday
Everyone has a price: a fat check, a bottle of Scotch, a plate of homemade oatmeal-raisin cookies. And when the powder-room toilet won’t flush just hours before the relatives are to descend, you’d better know what your plumber’s is. These guys appreciate loyalty, so if you frequent the same pro (and he knows it), he’ll be more inclined to return your frantic call. But you should also know a 24-hour plumber who’s equipped for off-hours emergencies. Learn more
about signing up the right pro at Hiring a Qualified Plumber.
about signing up the right pro at Hiring a Qualified Plumber.
MoToMo via flickr
11. Remove a Stripped Screw
Hey, even TOH master carpenter Norm Abram has been there. He recommends a hand screwdriver appropriate for the screw and a double dose of elbow grease to fix this unfortunate bit of handiwork. Gently hammer the screwdriver into the head. Then use as much downward force as you can while you slowly back out the screw.
Cara_VSAngel via flickr
12. Avoid Stripping a Screw
That’s what the clutch, that sliding ring of numbers on a drill/driver, is for. It stops the bit from turning when the motor feels a certain amount of torque, or twisting resistance—less at lower numbers, more at higher numbers. As a rule, set it low for small screws and high for large ones. But use a low setting when putting up drywall, so you don’t sink the screw’s head too far and break the paper. When dealing with hardwoods, a higher setting may help get the screws in, but first drilling a pilot hole is even better.
Charles & Hudson via flickr
13. Remove the Base of a Broken Light Bulb
Cut a raw potato in half and, with the power off or the lamp unplugged, press the cut end onto the jagged glass. For a comfortable grip, select a potato with a tapered shaft. The University of Idaho’s Stephen Love, Ph.D., recommends a Russet.
via themakermen.com
14. Drill Through Tile Without Cracking It
Go get a drywall screw and a hammer. Place the tip of the screw exactly where you want to drill, then tap it ever so gently with the hammer to pierce the glaze and create a little divot. Now load a masonry bit into your drill driver and use the divot to hold it in place as you start drilling. No fissures, no scratches, no fuss.
via publicphoto.org
15. Pick an Interior Lock
Your 2-year-old is in the bedroom bawling, you’re out in the hall, and there’s a locked door between you. On the door’s knob or on the plate around it, there should be a small hole that’s made just for this situation. Take a slim piece of metal, such as a small flathead screwdriver, and slip it in the hole. Compress the spring inside or slip the screwdriver head into the slot on the spring and turn. Door unlocked, toddler safe, shoulder not broken.
g arango via flickr
16. Bypass the Electric Garage-Door Opener When the Power is Out
That red cord dangling from the ceiling-mounted operator—haven’t you always wanted to pull it? Now’s the time. Doing so disengages the chain drive, so you can manually slide the door up its track.
via homefixated
17. Clean Stained Grout
A steam cleaner brings most any stain to the surface so it can simply be wiped away. Brushing on a penetrating sealer will keep the grout stain-free.
Learn more about the care and repair of the stuff between your tiles at All About Grout.
18. Know Which Breaker to Turn Off
When you finally get around to putting in that dimmer switch, you won’t want to be stumped by a poorly labeled breaker box. Ditch the pencil and paper chart—you’re not changing your wiring anytime soon. Instead, write directly on the metal next to each switch with a fine indelible marker. Have a friend plug lamps into all the sockets in a room and tell you via cell phone which ones go dark when you flip a switch. Then, be specific (“sofa and window walls only” or “kitchen minus fridge”) when you jot it down.
19. Dry Out a Flooded Basement
After a disastrous storm, water below ground level must be removed slowly to equalize pressure on both sides of the basement walls, says David Miller, an administrator with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division. Pumping it out too quickly or too early can cause structural damage or a cave-in. “The water in your basement is pushing back, preventing your basement walls from collapsing,” says Miller.
Test groundwater levels by digging down a few inches just outside your basement. If the water pools, wait a day or two to hook up a submersible pump. Don’t go in without turning off the electricity first (if you can’t, call your utility and don’t go in at all). Don gloves, eyewear, and a mask to protect yourself from cleaning agents or wastewater that may have seeped into the basement soup. On the first day, remove just one foot of water (send it as far from the house as possible, preferably to a storm drain) and wait overnight. If the water level is back up, it’s too early to pump. Once the water stops rising, pump out two or three feet each day until the basement returns to dry land.
Get all the know-how at Drying Out a Wet Basement.
The Bees via flickr
20. Use a Fire Extinguisher
Work fast—the typical extinguisher has as little as 8 seconds of life, so know how yours works in advance. And make sure to stow it near an exit so you can back out as you fight the flames. Then remember the acronym “PASS”: 1) Pull the pin. 2) Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames. 3) Squeeze the trigger. 4) Sweep the spray from side to side. And don’t assume the fire is out just because the flames are gone. Call 911 and wait for the fire department to give you the high sign.
‘Scratch’ via flickr
21. Dispose of Leftover Paint
Unless it has dried to a solid, you need to take special precautions; tossed in the trash, paint solvents can eventually contaminate groundwater. You can speed up the drying process by putting cat litter in the can. Or go to earth911.org for links to programs in your area that recycle paint by giving it to schools or charities. The site also lists the 2,000 household hazardous waste centers in the country that accept all sorts of hard-to-dispose-of stuff, from batteries to cleansers.
Esteban Maringolo via flickr
22. Cut Down a Big Tree
In 2004, 45,300 people were hospitalized from chainsaw, ax, and hatchet injuries, and that number doesn’t include the thousands hurt by falling trees. If the tree’s big enough for you to climb, call a certified arborist to remove it.
Rebecca J Brown via flickr
23. Deal With the Strong Smell of Gas
A closed-up kitchen with gas flowing from an open unlit burner can create a combustible atmosphere in as little as 10 seconds. So if you smell gas—we mean really smell gas—do not turn on the lights or use a telephone, cell phone, flashlight, or computer, all of which could create a spark, blowing the place sky high. Instead, haul everybody out of there and call the gas utility or the fire department immediately.
Gary Martin via flickr
24. Stem a Flood—and Save Your Wiring
As a safety measure, you should know where your main water and electrical shutoffs are. The water shutoff will be near where the water enters the house. Look for a metal wheel or a flat handle like a paddle. Or check outside for a mini manhole cover—the shutoff may be there. The main electrical switch will be in or near the main box. On an old fuse system, it may be a big lever or a handle that pulls out a whole block. On a modern breaker box it will be an isolated switch near the top of the box. Flip it to keep the circuits (and you, too) from getting fried.
Make sure you know which lever to pull by checking out Know the 4 Emergency Shut-Offs in Your Home.
david.dames viaflickr
25. Spot Asbestos
Can’t always tell by looking, but there are likely places you’ll find the carcinogenic mineral fiber, widely used in homes built before 1970. If your pipe and water-heater insulation resembles troweled-on plaster, don’t even touch it—the tiny particles get airborne quite quickly. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos may also be in the metal used for these pipes and furnaces, as well as in other kinds of insulation, artificial ashes in gas fireplaces, ceiling tiles, cement siding shingles, textured paint, patching compounds, and vinyl floor tiles made before 1986.
Undisturbed, the material shouldn’t pose a risk. But to be safe, you should have a licensed and bonded asbestos abatement contractor encapsulate or remove it.
Alpha via flickr
26. Keep Grout, Cement, or Plaster from Roughing Up Your Hands
Clean your hands with lemon juice or vinegar. The acid neutralizes the caustic alkalinity in these materials and keeps skin from drying out.
Jack via flickr
27. Paint a Double-Hung Window
Toss the blue tape. Your number-one tool is a 1½- to 2-inch sash brush. Its angled bristles come to a point, giving you a fine line. Raise the bottom sash and lower the top sash so they’ve almost switched places.
1) Paint the exposed parts of the top sash (now on the bottom), including the muntins.
2) Carry a thin line of paint onto the glass to seal the glazing. Next, nearly close the window and
3) paint the rest of the top sash, as well as
4) the entire bottom sash, without getting paint between the sash and the stops (the pieces of wood in front that hold them in place).
5) Then paint the casing, sill, and apron. Before the paint dries, move the sash up and down. “If you can’t see a clear crack between the sash and the stop because of wet paint,” says Tom Silva, “then you just glued the window shut.”
See a more detailed step-by-step at How to Paint Doors, Windows, and Walls.
2) Carry a thin line of paint onto the glass to seal the glazing. Next, nearly close the window and
3) paint the rest of the top sash, as well as
4) the entire bottom sash, without getting paint between the sash and the stops (the pieces of wood in front that hold them in place).
5) Then paint the casing, sill, and apron. Before the paint dries, move the sash up and down. “If you can’t see a clear crack between the sash and the stop because of wet paint,” says Tom Silva, “then you just glued the window shut.”
Marence1 via flickr
28. Secure a Loose Screw
You’ll need to fill in the hole before you can get the screw back in tight. The best filler is more wood, held in place with yellow carpenter’s glue. Matchsticks, toothpicks, golf tees, packed in tightly, will do the trick. But better yet is a piece of⅜-inch dowel. First, use a ⅜-inch drill bit to enlarge the hole. Cut off a small length of dowel with a utility knife or small saw. Dab it with glue and tap it into the hole. When the glue is dry, use a chisel or the saw to slice off the excess. Then drill a new hole and reattach the hardware. And put those golf tees to their intended use.
See more at Sure Cure for Loose Hinges.
Pafotofan via flickr
29. Repair a Doorbell
A doorbell has three parts—the switch, the bell, and a transformer between them. If you don’t hear anything when you press the button, check the switch’s wire connections (no worries the voltage is too low to hurt you). Try touching the two wires together; if the bell rings, then you need to replace the switch. If the chime doesn’t ring or makes a funny noise, check the bell. Clean it, inspect the wiring, and make sure the hammer isn’t bent away from the bell or jammed by dirt. If you still don’t hear that welcoming ring-a-ling, then it’s likely the transformer is the problem. To fix that, you’ll need an electrician. Get the step-by-step at How to Fix a Doorbell.
Jennifer Blakeslee via flickr
30. Open a Door With No Knob
The key is engaging the spindle—the four-sided bar connected to the knob that retracts the bolt or latch. If the knob is off but the spindle is still sticking out, use pliers to grip and turn it. But if the spindle has fallen irretrievably on the far side of the door, find a suitable substitute—say, a large flathead screwdriver or even a fat pen. Fit it tightly into the spindle hole and turn.
Josh Galloway via flickr
31. Work Safely on an Extension Ladder
Unless your last name is Wallenda, don’t try any acrobatics high up—184,000 people were injured last year working on ladders. Make sure the ladder’s rung locks (those hooks that grab onto the rungs) are anchored in place and the pulley rope is tied to a rung. Use levelers on the feet if you’re on uneven ground and a stabilizer at the top if you can’t lean on anything sturdy. To set it at the right angle, stand with your toes at the ladder’s feet and extend your arms straight out in front of you; your fingertips should brush the ladder’s rails.
Face the ladder as you ascend or descend, and never climb higher than the fourth rung from the top. Once there, keep your hips centered between the side rails as you work. This is one situation in which you don’t want to overreach.
Learn all the important points at Ladder Safety Tips.
Collin Anderson via flickr
32. Stop an Overflowing Toilet
A toilet works by gravity: The water in the tank—just enough to fill the bowl—drops down and pushes waste through the drain. The float drops, opening a valve that lets in water to refill the bowl and the tank simultaneously. The valve closes when the float rises far enough to shut off the water. If the water from the tank can’t leave the bowl fast enough, then the refill will spill over. To stop the refill action, take off the top of the tank, grab the float, and pull it up to close the valve. That should give you time to reach down and shut off the water, or at least wait for some of the water in the bowl to drain.
Get to know your toilet better with How to Fix a Leaky or Runny Toilet.
Gary Bembridge via flickr
33. Catalog Your House for Insurance
What should make the master list? Whatever’s not nailed down, from furniture and rugs to furs, dishes, and jewelry. If you kept the receipt when you bought these items, great; jot down the value. If not, note where and when you got it. Then photograph, or better yet, video every room, from every angle. Burn the information onto a couple of disks and send one copy for safekeeping to Aunt Becky on the other side of the country. A tip: Go to knowyourstuff.org for free software that lets you create a virtual replica of your home online and then tally the value of what’s in it.
Then make sure you get the right insurance by reading Homeowner’s Insurance 101.
Kārlis Dambrāns via flickr
34. Shovel Snow Without Having a Heart Attack (N/A in Houston!)
Heart attack fatalities spike after a heavy snowstorm. Avoid early morning snow clearing; your blood clots more easily after you’ve been sleeping. And don’t drink coffee or smoke before shoveling, because caffeine and nicotine speed your heart rate and constrict blood vessels. When you do go out to tackle the white stuff, try pushing it like a plow instead of lifting. Wet snow is a lot heavier—about 20 pounds per cubic foot and won’t push well. If that’s the case, then make sure to keep your back straight and your knees bent as you drive the shovel into the snow (1). Lift with your legs (2), then walk to the place you want to dump it (3). Spraying silicone on your shovel before you use it makes the snow slide off more easily. If you get winded, take a breather, have some cocoa, and come out later to finish the job.
35. Get Free Advice from the Guy at the Hardware Store
Like a wise neighborhood pharmacist who dispenses free advice, your local hardware store clerk is a pro on demand—and in demand. So don’t wait until you’re renovating to get on his radar. Make his place of business a regular pit stop for essentials on the way home from work or in the afternoon; avoid Saturday mornings. Make friends in his down time, and you’re guaranteed special attention when you need it.
Roger Wollstadt via flickr
36. Safely Lash Lumber to Your Car
If you must haul your stack of 2x4s home rather than wait a day for delivery (which can also put you out $50 or so), lay the boards from front to back on the car roof to minimize wind resistance. Cushion the load with cardboard so you don’t scratch your car’s paint, and stack the wood neatly. Secure it at two or more points with racheting straps, wrapping the straps through your open front and rear car doors before closing the doors over them. Bypass bungee cords, which won’t allow you to close the doors. Have an employee at the lumberyard check your work, and fasten a flag to it before you drive off—carefully.
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