As a new homeowner, you may find that minor issues can often pop up unexpectedly within your living space. Addressing these quick fixes promptly will prevent them from escalating into more significant, costly repairs. 

Easy Plumbing Fixes

For many new homeowners, the thought of plumbing repair may evoke images of burst pipes and high-cost emergency services. Luckily, numerous plumbing issues are quite manageable with a bit of DIY spirit. Among the most frequent troubles are clogged drains, which can typically be mitigated without professional help. Start by using a plunger. Make sure it has a snug fit around the drain to create the necessary vacuum effect and pump vigorously to dislodge whatever might be causing the blockage. Should the clog remain, a blend of vinegar and hot water can dissolve gunk without harming your pipes. 

For leaks emanating from faucets, you may only need to replace the inner washer—a simple task that can stop the drip and save water. Begin by shutting off the water supply to prevent a minor fix from becoming a watery mess. Next, take apart the faucet handle to expose the faulty washer. Match it with an appropriate replacement from your local hardware store, reinstall it, and you’re set to go.

An additional common issue is a constantly running toilet, which not only wastes water but can be quite irritating. Such a problem is often due to a flapper that doesn’t seal properly or a float that’s improperly adjusted. Both parts are typically found in the toilet tank and can be replaced by following straightforward instructions.

Patching Up Walls

Wall damage, whether it’s from moving furniture or everyday accidents, can mar the appearance of your home. Tackling these blemishes is a task well within the abilities of most homeowners. You’ll need some basic supplies: spackling paste, a putty knife, fine-grit sandpaper, and touch-up paint. Filling small holes is straightforward—apply the spackle, let it dry, sand smoothly, and apply paint. For larger repairs, such as significant dents or holes, you may need to use a wall repair patch and joint compound before sanding and painting. 

During the drying and sanding process, ensure the area is well-ventilated and that you’re wearing a mask to avoid inhaling dust. The last step is painting. For the best results, paint the entire wall to ensure the patch is indistinguishable from the rest of the surface. For a quick fix or if paint matching is an issue, feathering the edges of your touch-up paint into the surrounding area can make the repair nearly invisible.

Correcting Squeaky Doors

The annoyance of a squeaky door can often be silenced with the swift application of a lubricant. Spray onto the hinge pins and swing the door back and forth to work the lubricant in. If the squeak persists despite this, pull the pins out one at a time and apply the lubricant directly to the pin before reinserting. Sometimes, grime and rust can cause friction in the hinge. Removing this by rubbing the hinge with steel wool before applying lubricant can resolve any lingering noises.

In addition to dealing with the hinges, check the screws holding the hinges in place. If they’re loose, simply tightening them can secure the hinge and eliminate the squeak. If the screw holes are too worn, which can happen in older doors, the fix may involve using a longer or wider screw that can bite into fresh wood or filling the original holes with wood filler to provide a tight fit for the original-sized screws.

Window Sticking Solutions

Windows that stick or jam typically do so due to fluctuations in humidity or the natural settling of a house. Lubrication is often the easiest solution. You can apply a dry lubricant or wax to the tracks, which allows the windows to open and close with less friction. Avoid oil-based lubricants as they can attract dust and dirt, which in turn can cause more sticking. If the sticking is due to paint build-up, a razor blade can be used to carefully remove the excess paint from the window tracks.

Tight windows may also be due to issues with the alignment or warping of the frames. Inspect windows for signs of damage or rot, which might indicate more significant underlying issues. For a window that simply needs minor adjustments, use sandpaper to gently smooth down the parts of the window or frame creating the issue, reapply the sealant, and check the functionality.

Maintaining Appliances

A well-oiled home functions much like a machine, with appliances playing a crucial role in day-to-day comfort and convenience. Just like any machine, these appliances need regular maintenance to operate smoothly and efficiently. You can extend the life of key household appliances with simple upkeep routines.

Firstly, consider the dishwasher. Regular maintenance shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s important to check and clean the food filter, which is often located at the bottom of the dishwasher. A clogged filter can impede water flow and diminish cleaning efficiency. Running a cycle with a specialized cleaner can remove hidden grime and limescale build-up.

Next, take care of your washing machine by checking its hoses for bulges or leaks, which could indicate potential failures. Replacing these hoses every few years can preclude a damaging rupture. Keep the door seal clean on front-loading washers to avoid mold and mildew growth, which can cause odors and affect the integrity of your clothing.

When it comes to your dryer, the lint trap should be cleaned after each use. A clogged lint trap can greatly increase drying times and pose a significant fire risk. Periodically, use a vent cleaning brush kit to clean the vent hose and the vent opening outside the house.

Your refrigerator coils, often found behind or beneath the appliance, should be vacuumed to prevent dust build-up; this improves efficiency and cooling performance. The seal around the refrigerator door should also regularly be inspected to ensure it’s tight and doesn’t let out cool air.

Tightening Hardware

The constant use of doors, cabinets, and furniture in your home inevitably leads to loose screws and hardware. To maintain the integrity and appearance of your household fixtures, it’s essential to check and tighten the hardware periodically.

Door hinges can loosen over time, leading to creaking or even causing the door to hang incorrectly. This can usually be remedied with a simple manual screwdriver. It’s a good idea to go through the home and inspect all the hinges—tightening any loose screws that you come across.

Cabinets especially bear the brunt of daily activity. Loose handles or knobs can make cabinets harder to use and can eventually lead to damage. Tightening these with a screwdriver can quickly resolve the issue. If screws have stripped the wood so that they no longer hold tight, remove the screw, plug the hole with a wooden toothpick or matchstick dipped in glue, and then reinsert the screw once the glue has dried.

Furniture such as chairs and tables also suffer from loose joints over time. It can be as simple as flipping the piece over or onto its side to tighten any visible screws. If the furniture is still wobbly after tightening, it might be necessary to dismantle the joint, re-glue it, and clamp it until the glue sets.

Sealing Drafts

One of the more common, yet often overlooked, issues in homes is the presence of drafts. These air leaks can significantly affect the comfort of your living space, as well as hike energy costs by making your heating and cooling systems work harder to maintain a consistent temperature. Sealing these drafts is a straightforward process and can also be a cost-effective measure to improve energy efficiency.

Start by identifying drafts. On a windy day, walk through your home with a hand or a piece of light fabric and check around windows, doors, and other areas where there might be gaps—such as where pipes and wires enter your house. Another method is to use a lit incense stick; the smoke will waver or be drawn toward an air leak.

Once you determine where the drafts are coming from, there are several methods you can use to seal them up. Caulking and weather-stripping are two of the most widely used methods for windows and doors. For windows, apply caulk around the frame where the window meets the siding, or use the weather-stripping seal to close gaps between the sashes.

For doors, install weather stripping along the sides and top of the frame and a door sweep at the bottom to prevent drafts from sliding under the door. For a quick fix, you may use draft stoppers, which are fabric or foam-filled tubes placed at the foot of doors to stop drafts.

Adjusting Cabinet Doors

Cabinet doors that won’t close properly or that hang unevenly can detract from the aesthetics of your kitchen or bathroom, and in some cases, may impede the functionality of these spaces. Fortunately, this is usually a simple fix thanks to the adjustability built into modern cabinet hinges.

Most cabinet hinges have three adjustment screws that align your cabinet doors. The side-to-side screw moves the door laterally, the depth screw brings the door closer or further away from the cabinet, and the height screw will raise or lower the door. Use a screwdriver to make small adjustments and periodically check the alignment by opening and closing the door until it’s positioned correctly.

If your cabinets are older and do not have adjustable hinges, you may need to reposition the hinge attachment to the cabinet base or door. This can be done by slightly loosening the screws, repositioning the door until straight, and then re-tightening.

For persistent issues, such as doors that keep swinging open, consider installing magnetic or roller catches to keep the doors shut. These additions are relatively easy to install and offer a practical solution.