You can quickly master these home repairs themselves, even if you’re not very handy. They’re all smallish jobs that can fend off big problems later.
Test your thermostat
Risk: If the temperature in your house isn’t what shows on the thermostat, your air conditioner or furnace could be working too hard.
How to DIY it: Every spring and fall, tape a household thermometer on the wall next to the thermostat. After about 15 minutes, compare readings. If the difference between the two numbers is more than a few degrees, try recalibrating your thermostat (follow the manufacturer’s instructions).
Stop air leaks under doors
Risk: Cooling or heating the world outside your home is obviously wasteful—and expensive.
How to DIY it: Most door thresholds (also called a saddle; below) adjust up and down with screws. Turn all the screws equally until the door opens and closes without much drag and the draft is eliminated.
Patch a hole in drywall
Risk: Holes happen, but you don’t have to pay a pro $100 or more to patch them. The easiest way to do it yourself is with an adhesive aluminum patch, some joint compound (similar to spackle), and a taping knife, all sold at paint and hardware stores for just a few dollars.
How to DIY it: Clean up any rough edges around the hole, then stick the patch onto the wall over the hole (left). Using the taping knife, spread a layer of joint compound over it and let it dry overnight. Then spread a wider second coat, feathering out the compound on all sides to make the patch blend in. Let it dry, then apply one more coat extending eight to 12 inches beyond the patch in all directions. After the final coat dries, sand the area with a sanding sponge (a foam block wrapped in sandpaper) until it feels smooth and even. Prime, and then paint.
Protect your electronics
Risk: Power surges—caused by lightning, an unstable power grid, or heavy power use from energy-hog appliances such as your refrigerator or furnace—can fry your electronics. That includes anything with a digital display: your computer, TV, microwave, smart fridge, etc.
How to DIY it: Buy surge suppressors at a home-improvement store for $20 or so apiece, then plug each of your gadgets into one.
Repair carpet snags
Risk: If you have carpet with woven loops, loose fibers can easily unravel into even bigger snags. This quick fix is far cheaper than replacing carpeting, which will run you about $40 per square yard, on average.
How to DIY it: Gently tug the loose part of the carpet to find the point where it’s still attached. Snip it off as close to the backing as possible and save it. Use painter’s tape to surround the repair area. Squeeze a heavy bead of carpet seam sealer (about $6 at home centers) into the run. Then fill in the hole with the saved fiber, using a screwdriver to press it into the sealer bit by bit until the area looks like the surrounding carpet (below).
Unclog refrigerator coils
Risk: When coils are clogged with dust, pet hair, and cobwebs, they can’t efficiently release heat. That makes your refrigerator’s compressor work harder and longer than necessary, using more energy and shortening its life.
How to DIY it: Coils are located on the back of the refrigerator or across the bottom. Pull the fridge away from the wall. (Hint: Grab the sides and pull from the bottom. You may want to lay cardboard on the floor first to prevent scratching.) Clean coils with a coil cleaning brush (about $10 at home centers), then vacuum. Do this every six months or so.
Freshen up the dishwasher
Risk: If yours isn’t doing its job, you’ll waste water by having to wash dishes again by hand or in another run through the machine.
How to DIY it: A simple cleaning often solves the problem. Start by pulling out the lower dish rack. Remove the spray arm and use a thin piece of wire to clean out the holes where water sprays through. Scoop or vacuum out any leftover food particles from the filter area, then remove the filter screen (above), if possible, and give it a good rinse.
Degrease range-hood filters
Risk: The range hood sucks cooking fumes up and out of the kitchen. As grease splatters, it builds up and clogs the filter in the underside of the hood, keeping the fan from working as it should. This could cause your smoke alarm to go off, attract fruit flies, and leave potentially harmful pollutants from your gas or electric range lingering in the air. And if you have to replace the motor, it will cost around $200.
How to DIY it: Once a month or so, pop out the filter and run it through the dishwasher. (You can also place it in a sink full of hot water, dishwashing liquid, and baking soda and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes.) Scrub any remaining grease off with a brush, then rinse and dry the filter before putting it back.
Clean garbage disposal blades
Risk: Gunked-up, greasy blades won’t chop up scraps the way they’re supposed to, potentially causing backups and bad smells.
How to DIY it: Once a month, toss a bunch of ice cubes into the disposal. They’ll make a racket, but ice does a good job of cleaning the blades. Follow with a few lemons or orange peels, then run cold water down the disposal.
Unclog a faucet
Risk: If the flow from your faucet isn’t what it used to be, the holes in the aerator are probably plugged with mineral buildup.
How to DIY it: Close the drain stopper so small parts can’t fall in. Wrap duct or electrical tape around pliers to avoid scratching the aerator, then unscrew it (above). Scrub it with a toothbrush and rinse. If there’s still residue, soak the aerator parts in vinegar.
Install a low-flow showerhead
Risk: If your house was built before 1994 and still has the original plumbing fixtures, you’re using 30 to 40 percent more water than a comparable new home. Because about 70 percent of the water flowing through the showerhead is hot, that means higher heating bills too. A basic showerhead can cost just $15 and could pay for itself in reduced water and heating costs after just one month.
How to DIY it: Simply unscrew the old showerhead and screw on the new one. Read the directions to see whether it requires a layer of plumber’s tape to prevent leaks.
Speed up a slow drain
Risk: Clogs only get worse over time, and a slow drain can turn into a stopped-up sink or tub—and a $100-plus visit from a plumber.
How to DIY it: There are lots of ways to clear a drain, so start with the easiest one. If your sink has a pop-up stopper, remove that and clean it. If that doesn’t do the trick, fill the sink with 3 or 4 inches of water and use a plunger to plunge the sink (plug the overflow hole with a wet rag first). Still slow? Try snaking the drainpipe with a metal hanger or a pipe-cleaning tool.
Clean your dryer vent
Risk: Lint buildup near your clothes dryer’s the motor and heat source (gas burner or electric heating element) can ignite, causing a fire that could spread to the rest of your house. Besides, a clogged dryer takes longer to dry clothes.
How to DIY it: You should already be emptying the lint trap before every load of laundry. To do a thorough cleaning of the dryer and its vent duct system, unplug the machine (and turn off the gas valve if it has one). Pry off the access panel on the front (try a putty knife covered with duct tape to prevent scratching) and vacuum around the motor and heating element (above). Then carefully disconnect the vent duct tubing from the back of the dryer and use a dryer vent brush to pull out any accumulated lint. Aim to do this at least once a year.
