To many people, homeownership is something that is full of excitement. You finally get the freedom you’ve been desiring all your adult life. What people don’t tell you is the maintenance that is associated with homeownership. You will be frustrated to carry out repairs on a regular basis. There are some costs you can avoid if you learn some skills. Here are some of the skills you should possess as a homeowner that will always come in handy.
Hanging Pictures
It might seem like something obvious but doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people. Hanging pictures involves a lot more than making holes on the wall. Nowadays it is possible to use your smartphone as a level to determine if hanging on the walls is crooked.
Cleaning Gutters
This is a maintenance task that you’ll have to pay a couple of hundred dollars for if you were to hire a professional. Recent stats also show that 24% of homeowners don’t clean the gutters at all. This could be risky as dirty gutters can result in water damage and leaks on the roof. In order to clean the gutter effectively, you need to invest in a good ladder. There are tools you can easily buy online for cheap. You can check out Reviewbrewery if you’re looking for home maintenance tools to buy.
Resetting the Circuit Breaker
If your house was built before 1960, there is a chance that the electrical components are filled with circuit breakers. Circuit breakers are designed to trip when they’re overloaded. The circuit will need to be reset when they trip. All you need is to open the circuit cover and look for the breaker which will in most cases be sitting in the “off” position.
Unclogging the Drains
There will come a time when your drains will have to be unclogged for one reason or another. You don’t always have to look for a plumber when you have a clogged sink or toilet. There are tools that can come in handy with the job. Just make sure you’re following the right procedures when doing the unclogging. There are some preventive measures you can incorporate to avoid clogged drains in the home.
Cutting the Water Supply
You might have a burst pipe that is flooding the home. It is imperative that you know where the mains supply is and how to turn it off. Most shut-off valves will be located in the basement.
Changing Filters
Most problems with the HVAC unit usually begin because of a dirty filter. Ideally, you should be replacing the air filters once a month. There are air filters that could last more than one month. You just have to check out the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure that you’re doing everything correctly. You can even set a reminder so that you’re not forgetting to change the filters. A dirty filter could lead to poor air quality and you might witness an increase in energy bills because the unit has to work extra harder to cool and heat the home.
Painting
Painting is something that you don’t have to go to school to be good at. One of the most inexpensive ways you can improve the appearance of rooms is by applying a fresh coat of paint. You can start with a garage to build your confidence before moving to other rooms in the house. In addition to painting, you also need to learn how to fix dings in walls. Repairing drywall is not as hard as a lot of people think. You just need to have the right tools and materials and you’re good to go.
Caulking
This is done to prevent water from slipping between the tiles and walls. Even though it is an easy maintenance task do, it can be challenging to do it the right way. You have to make sure that you’re squeezing just the right amount so that you’re not getting a mess on the tile.
Conclusion
You could potentially save thousands of dollars if you decide to learn the majority of maintenance tasks in the home. You get to challenge yourself mentally and there is a rewarding feeling when the job is complete. There are some DIY projects like painting that the whole family can participate in. Homeownership doesn’t have to be stressful if you can master some skills. There are tons of free resources that you can use to your advantage when you’re starting out. What is achievable is only limited by your imagination.