I wouldn’t say homeownership has been easy. There is always something that needs to be done. Since we became homeowners, I have developed a higher sense of tolerance for stress. If I can’t convince you guys of that here then the rest of this home improvement series should demonstrate how much work owning a house can be compared to renting.
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So here comes the age-old question: should you hire a pro or DIY it yourself?
When it comes to plumbing, it’s something every single homeowner would need to deal with at one point or another. Almost all of the household in the country has indoor plumbing systems. Because of this reason, every household should have basic knowledge of fixing basic plumbing problems.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the plumbing industry is expected to grow by 24% from 2014 to 2024.
This could mean that a lot of people call for professional services even with basic problems. There are a lot of DIY fixes that can be done by people with average plumbing problems that can help save money for homeowners.
Table of Contents
Common Bathroom Plumbing Problems
1. Slow flow of water / no water coming out
A low water flow (or no water flow at all) is one of the most common problems in the bathroom. Water trickles down from the faucet or showerhead instead of gushing out.
DIY Option: Check your Aerators
This problem is one of the most inconvenient ones in the bunch. Fortunately, you can clean your aerators by removing it with pliers and remove the sediments. If the sediments deposits are tough, use vinegar to dissolve the material overnight (or as needed). Assemble the aerator and run the water for leaks.
2. Dripping faucets
A dripping faucet happens when the water continuously drips out of the faucet. This results in a higher water bill and an annoying “dripping” sound.
DIY Option: Disassembling faucet to find the problem
The first step is to shut off the water (if you take the faucet apart without doing this, you’ll flood the bathroom and you’ll regret it). If there are corroded parts, you can use a lubricant to loosen those. Inspect each part of the faucet, especially the packing nut and the stem for signs of build up or corrosion. Clean the valves, drench it in white vinegar for sediment build up. Put the faucet together and do a water test. If the problem persists or if there’s just a lot of corrosion, a replacement must be needed.
3. Leaks in pipes
Leaks in pipes are characterized by flooding in areas where an exposed pipe is located. Leaking pipes can lead to a higher water bill and damage to other properties.
DIY Option #1: Epoxy Putty
For a temporary fix, you can use epoxy putty to patch the hole. Always turn off the water supply when fixing plumbing problems. Put latex gloves for safety and mix the epoxy putty by hand. Dry the pipe before applying the putty in the leaky area. Wait for 5-10 minutes before turning the water supply back.
DIY Option #2: Fixing it yourself by replacing the pipe
Buy a slip coupling that has the same diameter and the same material as your pipe. Make sure that the slip is long enough to cover the hole. Mark the length of the coupling through the hole in the pipe, cut the leaky area using a pipe cutter, and slide your coupling through the gap.
4. Clogged Drains
Water will not go through the drain or will go through slowly. A plunger can do the job, but if it doesn’t, try these DIY options.
For slow drainage, check the trap to make sure there wasn’t anything obstructing it. The next suspects were either that the line was obstructed, or the plumbing vent had become obstructed.
DIY #1: Drain Pop Up Lever
The most common reason for clogged drains are hairs that are caught on the drain pop-up lever. The first thing to do is to unscrew the p-trap (the curvy pipe) by hand. The next step is to unscrew the nut to the pivot rod (the long metal above the p-trap) and unstrap it. The pivot rod is usually where the hair is getting clogged. Remove the hair, clean the pivot rod and the p-trap, and put the parts back together.
DIY #2: Drain Auger
Go to the hardware store and get a drain auger – also known as a drain snake. Remove the trap below the sink to directly access the pipe in the wall and tried using a couple of times, but it didn’t restore normal draining speed. It occurs to me now that an auger is more for dislodging something that’s completely obstructing the pipe, rather than for a slow drain.
Cost
About $30
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Common Kitchen Plumbing Problems
1. Clogged kitchen sink
A clogged kitchen sink has the same problem as a clogged bathroom sink. The difference is that, instead of hair, scraps of food and other kitchen materials are the ones getting stuck.
DIY Option #1: Boiling water technique
Make sure that there is no water flooded in the sink before you try this. Pour a kettle of boiling water to the sink and see if this eases the flow. If not, go to the next step.
DIY Option #2: Vinegar and baking soda
Remove any water from the sink and pour a cup of baking soda to the drain. After that, pour an equal amount of white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar). After the solution bubbles up and subsided, put the stopper and test by pouring boiling water.
DIY Option #3: Enzymatic cleaner
Make a trip to the hardware store and looking for an enzymatic drain cleaner. An enzymatic cleaner is best for this. Use it for the next few nights and it will likely work like a charm – no more slow drain! Everyone overthinks clogged sinks – but this is such a cheap solution for a simple problem like clogged sinks.
2. Dripping faucet
A dripping faucet can also appear on kitchen faucets. However, instead of the aerator, the problem can be because of the damaged o-ring seal. Water will be around the spout if the O-ring seal is broken.
DIY Option: Replace the O-ring
The purpose of the O-ring is to prevent water from flowing out the spout. Remove both the coupling nut and the spout to access the rings. Replace any defective rings with a new one. Clean the parts and reassemble the faucet.
3. Leaks from the dishwasher
Because it has a lot of parts, a dishwasher leak can have a lot of possible causes. To fix the leak, replacing the defective part with a new one might be the answer.
DIY Option: Troubleshoot and replace
Leaks from dishwashers can be because of a faulty part that needs replacement. Common problems include the pump, the water inlet valve, sump, or the door gasket. Check these parts individually. Usually, these parts cannot be repaired and need a replacement instead.
4. Clogged Drain
When your kitchen sink is flooding, and you’re sure that the problem is not in the sink, its time to check for the drain lines. Clogging of drain lines are usually more prone when the drain is connected to garbage disposal.
DIY option # 1: Plunger
This is for people who don’t want to use chemical drain cleaners. Plunging can push whatever is blocking your water flow, and fortunately, it would work. Chemical drain cleaners are more effective, but it can be more dangerous if the user is inexperienced.
DIY option # 2: Garbage Disposal
There are times when the clogging of the drain is from the clogging of the Garbage Disposal. To fix this, turn off the garbage disposal circuit breaker and make sure that no current is running. Look for the center shaft and use an Allen wrench to the hex-shaped hole back-and-forth. Find the red reset button, push it, open the breaker, and test the disposal.
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Common Plumbing Problems In Old Homes
1. Clogging
Clogging is a pretty common problem in old houses. The older the house gets, the harder it is to maintain and clogs will surely appear in time.
DIY Option #1: Plunger
If you’re lucky, the trustworthy plunger will once again do its job. Pouring boiling water can help in making the plunging easier.
DIY Option# 2: Enzymes and Boiling Water
If the plunger doesn’t work, using an enzyme and boiling water might do the job. First, warm the drain by pouring boiling water. Warming the enzyme is important because it will work better in warm environments. Pour the enzyme next and let it sit overnight. Enzymes are great for unclogging because it eats soap, scum, and gunk buildups.
2. Faulty repairs
In an old home, chances are you are not the only owner that got repair services. You are suffering from a problem that stems from prior poor or faulty repairs.
DIY Option # 1: Temporary fix
Whole repairs, which is usually done by professional plumbers, are usually recommended in old houses you really need working plumbing ASAP. There are amateur fix kits, but they are only to be used as temporary.
3. Polybutylene Pipe
Polybutylene pipes are once a good idea for plumbing. However, because it will in constant exposure to water, polybutylene pipes are not used anymore.
DIY Option: Replacing the pipe
The hardest part of replacing the pipe is locating it and pulling it out. First, locate the pipe and use a drywall saw to expose it. Make sure that the water is turned off before cutting out the polybutylene pipes with a plastic pipe cutter. Install a new pipe of your choice. A CPCV water pipe can be glued with CPVC primer and cement easily.
4. Galvanized Steel
Galvanized steel was a very popular choice back then as a water supply pipe. However, because it corrodes inside, the corrosion blocks the water flow.
DIY Option: Removing the galvanized steel
Because the galvanized steel corrodes and develops rust, it would be hard to remove without heat or a lubricant to loosen up the fittings. Turn off the water supply, use one pipe wrench to lock the pipe in place, and use the other to turn the retaining nut. After removing the pipe, use the same technique to remove the fitting. If lubricant is not enough, use a torch and heat up the fitting. Remember to use protective glass and gloves for this step. After the fitting was removed, you can replace it with whatever kind of pipe that you want.
5. Incorrectly Installed Plumbing
When we purchased our investment property, there was some water damage on the cabinet under the kitchen sink. The home inspector had noted this and said the leak didn’t seem to be current.
“Okay,” I thought, “so there had been a problem and they fixed it, good! Now it’s just cosmetic damage.”
Wrong.
After we bought the place, I discovered that the leak was still active. Not only that, but the more detailed look I took at it and the more I learned about plumbing, the more wrong the whole installation seemed.
For one thing, it did not have any sort of trap installed. It occurred to me after learning about traps that this must be why the house had a faint smell of sewage the day after our inspection. To make matters even worse, the sewage outlet was so low down that the high cabinet base didn’t leave room to install a standard P-trap.
Secondly, the pipes weren’t aligned. I initially tried stop the leak by adjusting the slip joints, but I couldn’t get it right. The first thing I noticed was that pipes weren’t long enough to make a proper connection in the slip joint, so it was just barely connected (about 1mm overlap), which is why it was leaking. The second thing I noticed was that the vertical connection between two joints was going at an angle because they weren’t lined up with each other. It would have been impossible to simply replace that piece with a longer one since the connection had to be installed at an improper angle to connect at all!
This problem seemed completely out of my league, so I gave up and called in the professionals.
DIY or professional?
Professional
Result
We got someone to come out a week later to take a look. The guy took a look and confirmed it was not correctly set up. He then had to spend twenty minutes on the phone with his boss brainstorming ways to fix it without having to tear out our expensive custom cabinets. Thankfully, they thought of something, and he was able to fix it in half an hour. It saved us thousands of dollars.
Cost
$178.35
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Common Apartment Plumbing Problems
1. Clogged toilets and drains
This is the same with other house types. Plunging the clog would be the first option, but if it doesn’t work, a baking soda solution, boiling water, or enzyme should help in loosen up the clog.
2. Frozen pipes during winter
Frozen pipes are one of the most common plumbing problems in urban places, especially in apartments. Factors such as poor insulation or low thermostat settings could affect the freezing and make the pipe expand and burst.
DIY Option # 1: Prevention
Preventing a frozen pipe could save more money than fixing it. First, make sure to drain water from the sprinkler supply in the fall. Insulate your pipes in unheated areas by wrapping insulated strips. And last but not least, keep the thermostat temperature steady during the winter.
DIY Option # 2: If the pipe is frozen, but still intact
Turn off the water supply before thawing a frozen pipe. Thawing can be done with a space heater, heat lamp, or even a handy hairdryer. The real problem lies in the frozen water accumulated in the pipes, so get a bucket or towels to soak it. Don’t ever use a propane torch to thaw pipes because you can accidentally burn your house.
DIY Option # 3: If the pipe bursts
If there is already flooding because of a frozen pipe that bursts, minimize the flooding by turning off the water supply. There is nothing you can do but to minimize mold and moisture-related problems and soak water as much as you can. You can use use the help of your landlord so he or she can call a landlord.
3. Leaks from faucets and pipes, clogs in the sink
Leaks from faucets, pipes, and sink are usually fixed just like the dripping faucet, leaking pipe, and clogged sink. Calling the landlord for help if you don’t have the time is best because fixing these can take a lot of time and resources which you might not have in the apartment. Your landlord will most likely ask you to live somewhere else in the meantime to fix the problem, and that cost is not shouldered by the landlord.
4. Dirty water
Dirty water can be caused by corrosion in galvanized pipes (if the rental property in old) or sediments, minerals, and rust in the water main. Either way, pipes are mostly the cause of dirty water.
DIY Option # 1: Running cold water continuously
One of the doable ways to fix dirty water is by running in nonstop for more than 20 minutes. This is done so the water can carry the sediments, crusts, and other elements that can make the water dirty outside.
DIY Option # 2: Ask your neighbor
If the water is still dirty after almost half-hour of continuous running water, ask your neighbor if he or she has the same problem. If there are more than two occurrences, it is likely that your water system is faulty and that calling your landlord for help is the best idea.
DIY Option # 3: Ask the city about any dirty water problems
If the water problem is happening to your neighbor but the plumbing service cannot fix it, then it might have something to do with the city’s water and their connection in your line. You can ask them to fix your line or you can ask the landlord to do it for you.
5. Weak Water Pressure
Weak water pressure happens when there are a lot of people who use water from the same source at the same time. This is a problem common to apartments and can also be caused by other things.
DIY Option # 1: Check your line
Check if your line is turned on. There are times when the landlord might slow the flow to accommodate the water supply. The valve for you can also be accidentally turned by someone which causes your water pressure to go weak.
DIY Option # 2: Check separate faucets
Check both of your bathroom and kitchen faucets. If both of them has weak water pressure, then there’s something wrong with your line. If only one has weak water pressure, then the problem might be in that particular faucet.
DIY Option # 3: Check for water leaks
Water leaks can decrease the pressure in the pipe, making the flow weaker and slower. In addition, it causes more water bills because of the leaks. You can fix the leak via epoxy putty or via slip coupling. One important note is to not try something untested or seems like it will not work (e.g. duct tapes) because this can damage your plumbing system.
Plumbing Problems In A Mobile Home
1. Thumping noises
Thumping noises can be scary, especially when you’re in a mobile home. A lot of mobile house owners doesn’t realize that it is not a horror story and that the thumping comes just after they use their faucet.
DIY Option # 1: Thumping while water is draining
This scenario is called the water hammer and happens when the water valve is suddenly stopped and the water crashes to the valve. If the water hammer is strong enough, it can cause the joints of the pipes to loosen up, which can cause leaks. Installing water arrestor is the guaranteed fix. First, you have to turn off the water supply, clean the piping and measure the fitting for the arrestor. Cut the pipe and slip the fitting. After that, solder the fitting using a torch. Apply Teflon tape to the arrestor and install it to the fitting.
DIY Option # 2: Thumping while water is running
The cause of this scenario is usually when the water runs too fast through a pipe, resulting in the pipe shaking and bumping against the walls. To test if the pressure is too high, use a water pressure test gauge. Usually, only 50PSI is needed in most of the households If the pressure is higher than 80 PSI, adjust the water pressure reducing valve via loosening the lock nut with an Allen wrench.
2. Backflow of water in the toilet
When the toilet is flushed, it will backflow into the bathtub, which is something that you don’t want to happen. When this happens, the cause is usually a clog in the drain line.
DIY Option: Using a toilet auger
A toilet auger is used to drill the clog in the drainage. To use it, just push the rod into the toilet and drill until the drainage clog is all drilled up. This backflow usually happens because the tub is the lowest point of a water system in a mobile house. The flush from the toilet goes there first.
3. Frozen pipes
The same solution from the above can be applied in mobile houses. However, heat tapes are usually more popular when fixing mobile house frozen pipes. Heat tapes are used instead of heat cables because tapes can conform to tight contours and odd shapes while a cable is only spiraled in pipes.
When Should You Hire a Plumbing Professional?
Generally speaking, you have to look at the situation, your personal skill set and assess the possible cost of each outcome. Doing a risk vs cost assessment is a good way to determine if you should call a professional or DIY.
Common and basic plumbing problems are usually harmless and can be done by any homeowner or home occupier with basic plumbing knowledge and skills. However, there are four cases when you should call for a professional plumber because these cases are very dangerous.
If your gas line is in need of repair, there is no need for any what if’s or any question to be asked. You should not attempt to repair a gas leak. In fact, if you think there is a gas leak in your home, you should leave immediately. Gas leaks are dangerous, even for plumbers. Go into a safer place before calling as electronic devices can ignite a blast.
You should also not attempt a sewer repair, as it needs digging. Heavy plumbing equipment suited for the job is a requirement, and if you don’t have one, you might have a hard time or be in danger. A permit is also needed to do the digging because you can damage gas lines, electricity or sewage lines. This one is just too risky, it is overall better to call for a professional and spend money for a plumbing service.
Wow, I learned so much from this post! Me and Mr. NA are not yet homeowners, so so far our rental woes have been contained to a backed up dishwasher [that turned out to just be broken and not something we were doing wrong] and a lack of studs in the wall.
As for bugs….we have this system where I’ll capture the bug using a clear container of some kind, and then I’ll weight said container with something heavy like a tape dispenser. Then, like the helpful wife I am, I wait for Mr. NA to come home and dispose of it [while I’m obviously in the bedroom with the door closed so I don’t have to hear the crunch]. Apparently, hornets don’t like being trapped for 5 hours- who knew?
I had no idea that if you squish ants, then that attracts more through the release of their scent. Glad you guys got the ant situation taken care of!
Wow, lack of studs in the wall? That sounds really bad! Glad it’s a rental so it doesn’t fall on you to fix it.
I try to trap bugs in a container and take them outside to release them when I can. Though Grace has been catching flies for us lately!
Awesome post Lily! My rule for DIY or hire is if I can spend a few hours or less learning how to do it, then I’ll do it myself. Otherwise, I’ll hire out.
If it’s something electrical or that I really don’t feel comfortable doing, I’ll hire out.
That’s a good policy! I tend to watch/read a lot of tutorials and see what they say to do (and how it varies) and what they say can go wrong, then decide if I’m comfortable trying.
Electrical, plumbing, and roofing (anything with potential to burn down or rot my house, really) definitely make me nervous.
I’m decent at DIY stuff but much slower than a professional. Instead of hours I can take days. So, depending on the situation, there are some things that make more sense for me to DIY than others. I definitely need to analyze situation a bit more though now that we’re early-retired. Every dollar spent needs to be considered for value.
It really takes time to properly research and take on some of these projects. Despite lots of preparation, I usually find myself stopping to recheck instructions or looking up new information when I’m actually working on them.
I think good candidates for DIY projects are those that can be done at your leisure, and aren’t going to cause major damage or take something you need (e.g. your only bathroom) out of commission if you mess up. Of course I also take on ones that don’t meet that criteria 🙂
We’re dealing with house woes now. It’s difficult to DIY some areas, especially electrical and plumbing. We don’t know if our porch issue is structural or not – finding out the truth and even getting a contractor or a handy man to come to our home is a major project.
We get outside wasps called the cicada killers. They dig holes to give birth in (and kill cicadas to feed on down there). The way to destroy them is to fog up the holes with harsh chemicals (the kind even the pros don a mask for). We just let them be since it’s a seasonal thing and they can fly right over your head with no interest in stinging you.
Good luck with your porch issue. I hope it’s not structural!
I remember as a kid my parents had an issue with wasps digging into the wooden structure of their patio overhang. You must be braver than I am, since I definitely didn’t want to be out there with them flying around above my head!
Haha, I was laughing through this post . . . sorry – I’m good now. Seriously though, I’ve done all the things on this list and more myself. I rarely call in a pro. I actually wrote an article or two in the early days of my blog about some diy problems, but they didn’t seem to be that popular, so I quit doing them.
Good post though, and good job for doing most of it youself.
Thanks for reading! I’m glad you could see the humor in it; you must not be too scarred from your own experiences ?
Nice. As I was reading through, I was thinking, man this is gonna be a long blog post if he’s going to list everything out. But it looks like you hit just a few and are planning on hitting the rest later (which is a good method – doesn’t always have to be all or nothing). But yeah, even with a brand new construction, I was surprised at how much stuff I had to do in the past 4 years of home ownership. Luckily most were stuff I could do on my own. I can’t imagine how much work an older house may need…
Yeah, Lily wanted to give a preview of what’s to come, so we added my tentative list. I’m guessing they’ll turn into links to the corresponding post as they get written.
I’ve been hearing more from people buying new construction that they find lots of little things done incorrectly in the inspection. I think they market here is so hot right now they’re just cutting corners corners trying to finish quickly. And the houses are usually sold by the time construction is finished anyway, so they don’t have much to lose!
Oh man. Nice to see what I’m missing while I’m over here renting. Homeownership is not for the faint of heart!
Thanks for sharing the nitty gritty with us- sorry that you had to dredge up bad experiences (getting sprayed in the face with dirty sink water! ahh!) for our benefit.
Renting was so much easier; I definitely miss it sometimes, but I’m also oddly fond of learning new things and solving problems for myself.
The dirty sink water was embarrassing for sure, but I think the roofing is what’s most useful to re-live. I’m definitely hiring someone when it comes time to replace that roof
Ahhh, the DIY world. Kudos for tackling it – looks like you’ve already saved yourself a nice sum!
Question – do most Seattle places have misquote nets? I thought they were the norm until I was in the West Coast for a while… never have I gotten out of a bedroom faster than when I heard that blasted buzzing come in through the window in the morning – and the dog beat me to the door too, desperately waiting for me to pick him up and save us!
All our windows have screens. It seems pretty standards here these days, but maybe in older neighbors it isn’t. It bothers me because I still see large flies occasionally and wonder how they possible got inside…
I wish I was more handy…I’m definitely not the DIY type. I’m lucky that I don’t deal with these issues much since I live in a co-op and there is a live-in super who deals with most issues. I would like to learn to be more handy though…and it’s a lot easier nowadays as everything can be learned on YouTube!
Yep, YouTube makes it much easier, but you also have to do due diligence to make sure the person who made the video knows what they’re talking about and isn’t forgetting to include any important details.
I am not a homeowner yet but when I become one, I will probably do the same procedure. Trying DIY is the more logical option financial wise. With so many resources like the interweb including YouTube, you are hopeful to find an article/video that can help you with your home improvements. But if your not confident to fixing it yourself, a pro should be the way to go
Time constraints are a big factor for me too. I may be confident in my ability to get something fixed given enough time, but if I only have a few hours to work on it in between B&B guest stays I may not be so confident with those constraints
As a new homeowners, THANK YU!
You’re very welcome. I’ll take this as encouragement to continue this series of posts 🙂
Haha, sorry to laugh at your expense, but I am going to anyway (as I have been in these same situations before)
I have done a lot of YouTube tutorials to fix problems myself over the years (and even DIY some of my own Cheap Ass Solutions) – I generally stay away from anything behind the wall (serious plumbing and electrical) but have fixed dryers, furnaces, and a few drainage issues.
Good times!
Go ahead and laugh; it sounds like you’ve earned it ?
Any Cheap Ass Solutions you’re proud of? It reminds me of our bathroom sink that rusted through the overflow drain. Duct tape and a bucket are now what’s keeping the cabinet from flooding.
One in particular that borderlines on a bad idea, a slow water leak from before we owned the house rotted the wood below our toilet, instead of taking everything out (and re-tiling the entire bathroom) I chipped the bad wood away from underneath (unfinished basement) and screwed a new piece of wood in. Then drilled holes all the way through to line up with the bolt on the toilet above the floor. Some threaded rod and a few nuts and we were in business 🙂
We don’t own this house anymore, but the inspector didn’t say anything about it
That doesn’t sound too bad. And ahh, the perks of an unfinished basement.
I’m a little afraid of what we’ll find if we redo our bathroom floor, since it’s clear water has at some point pooled up in the corner next to the tub.
OMG this is such an awesome series! We are also homeowners, and I can’t count how many times we have been so stressed out and even fought about home repairs. Mr. FAF is not a handyman and is not interested in DIY, so I’m sad to report that I’m the handywoman in the family.
I literally loled at the wasp story. One time there was a fly in our kitchen. I told Mr. FAF to kill it, and he said he didn’t know what to do (?!). I terminated that fly in 2 seconds.
I’m glad you like it!
I enjoy doing some of the repairs because there’s a great sense of satisfaction in figuring it out and fixing it myself. It does take a lot of effort, though, and I don’t always get to things as quickly as Lily would like.
And when it comes to bugs or spiders…
?
YouTube all the way for DIY things. I agree with a com mentor however, that I’m not comfortable with electrical stuff (AKA – I want to live, lol). But I’ve dabbed into a few DIY things thanks to YouTube. You save and you learn, but you do need to have patience which can be tough.
Yeah, never rush it. I say always consult more than one source, and make sure you understand and differences between your sources.
I don’t think I’ll operate on any major electrical systems either. I did accidentally shock myself while repairing a small appliance, but I’ll save that story for another post
Great post, definitely relatable.
We bought a house that was previously a foreclosure, and I believe more and more every day that our inspector was borderline blind. I did have to laugh as well because of the similar issues I have had with certain problems…..ants will be the death of me….I can’t stand the sight of even 1 in our house…
Finding time is the biggest issue and usually a deciding factor for if I hire someone. Luckily my dad bought his first house (4000 square feet for $5,000) gutted it, and basically rebuilt it. He passed down a lot of this knowledge to me and I am more thankful every year we are homeowners.
We had to replace doors, fix siding, and replace every outlet in our house. Saved a lot of money but definitely took a while!
I think people really need to add this to their budget and regularly overlook it. Even a new house may get unwanted drywall holes, or a myriad of other issues.
Wow, that’s impressive! I didn’t learn much home maintainence from my parents, so without the internet is probably be out of luck (or trying things without instructions and making problems worse).
We budget a certain amount towards home maintainence each month, and anything that’s not used accumulates for larger expenses that will eventually come up.
Trying to figure out DIY vs professional is a constant battle at our house. Living essentially in the forest, in the Pacific Northwest and in a 30 year old house means there constantly little projects to take care of. I’m pretty confident in my skills but have drawn the line a few times and called in the pros. Mice showing up in the house. Pros. Installing a new kitchen island. DIY. Leaking metal roof in December. Definitely pros. Gutter repair. DIY. Drywall repair from the leaks. Pro.
There have been a few very expensive lessons along the way like calling a plumber for a clog. Tip: buy a drain snake and save the $150. At least in these situations you can learn by watching them work.
It’s all a balance on time, tools required and whether or not I might die when attempting to do the work myself.
Rodents are definitely something I’d call in the pros for. I’m thinking of getting routine treatment for them on our investment property, since we’re not there all the time to notice if there any actively.
I already got a drain snake, but not one that’s appropriate for use in a toilet, so I’m just hoping never to have a clog in one that a plunger can’t resolve.
I love DIYing for my apartments, but I would NOT have been up for that wasp invasion unless I had a suit! Even then I’d probably be way too freaked out @__@
I did build my own closet with closet brackets from Home Depot when the room I was renting didn’t have one, but that thing fell down so many times I probably should have hired a professional. But finally like…20 drilled holes in the wall later…it worked!
Oh cool. I’ve been wanting to replace some bifold closet doors that drag on the carpet, but I’m thinking about trying to cut them to fit instead
My wife and I try to utilize Youtube as much as possible to fix things around our house. We figure if we break it that’s ok the professional can fix it. We’ve been fortunate enough to fix everything over the years so it hasn’t been a problem so far and we’ve clearly saved a ton of money 🙂
If it takes too much of your precious time then you probably must hire a professional, however if you feel like you could have that done in no time – then why not give it a try! DIYing is fun though!
The diy is fabulous! I love her color, finding out the truth and even getting a contractor or a handy man to come to our home is a major project.
Ofcourse i have to hire a Pro DIY. Or else!!! everything will be messy..