10 Home Repairs You Can Do Yourself Instead of Calling Someone

A service call to fix a running toilet or a clogged drain can cost a lot for a job that takes fifteen minutes. Plenty of common household repairs need nothing more than basic tools, a cheap part and a little patience. Here are ten you can handle yourself, plus the jobs that really should go to a licensed pro.

Before any repair: turn off the water or power to what you're working on, take a photo before you take anything apart, and bring the old part to the hardware store so you get an exact match.

1. A Running Toilet

A toilet that keeps running or refills on its own usually has a worn flapper, the rubber seal at the bottom of the tank. Shut off the water at the valve behind the toilet, flush to empty the tank, unhook the old flapper and clip on a new one. Adjust the chain so it has a little slack. If water is overflowing into the tube in the middle, adjust the float so the water stops about an inch below the top of that tube.

2. A Slow or Clogged Drain

Start with a plunger, with enough water in the sink or tub to cover the cup. For sinks and showers, a cheap plastic drain cleaning strip or a small hand auger pulls out hair clogs. Under a sink, you can also unscrew the curved trap pipe, with a bucket under it, and clean it out. Go easy on chemical drain openers. They're hard on pipes and dangerous if they splash, and they don't mix safely with other cleaners.

3. A Dripping Faucet

A drip usually means a worn washer, O-ring or cartridge inside the handle. Shut off the water under the sink, plug the drain so small parts don't disappear, remove the handle and pull the cartridge or stem. Take it to the hardware store and match it exactly. Many faucet brands also sell repair kits.

4. Holes in Drywall

Nail holes and small dents need only spackle and a putty knife. For holes up to a few inches, use a self-adhesive mesh patch, cover it with joint compound in thin coats, let each coat dry, then sand smooth and paint. Bigger holes need a piece of new drywall cut to fit, screwed to a backing board or to the studs.

5. Caulk Around a Tub or Shower

Moldy or cracked caulk lets water get behind the tub and into the wall. Cut out the old caulk with a utility knife or caulk removal tool, clean the joint and let it dry completely. Then run a steady bead of kitchen and bath silicone caulk, smoothing it with a wet finger. Let it cure for the time on the tube before using the shower.

6. A Sticking or Squeaking Door

A squeaky hinge usually just needs a little lubricant on the hinge pin. A door that sticks or won't latch often has loose hinge screws. Tighten them. If a screw spins without grabbing, replace it with a longer screw that reaches the framing behind the jamb.

7. A Jammed Garbage Disposal

With the disposal switched off, and unplugged if it plugs in under the sink, look for a hex socket on the bottom. Insert the hex key that came with it, or a matching one, and work it back and forth to free the jam. Remove anything stuck inside with tongs, never your hand. Press the red reset button on the bottom, then test it.

8. Furnace and AC Filters

A clogged filter makes your system work harder and can raise energy bills. Find the filter at the furnace or a return air vent, note the size printed on its edge and the airflow arrow, and replace it. Check monthly and replace as the manufacturer recommends, more often with pets or a dusty job.

9. Drafty Doors and Windows

If you can feel air or see daylight around a door, replace the weatherstripping. Most foam and rubber weatherstrip installs with adhesive or tacks. An adjustable door sweep fixes gaps at the bottom. For windows, rope caulk or removable weatherstrip seals drafts through the cold months.

10. A Tripped GFCI Outlet

If outlets in a kitchen, bathroom, garage or outside suddenly go dead, look for an outlet with Test and Reset buttons. It may be in another room on the same circuit. Press Reset. If it trips again right away, something on that circuit may have a fault. Unplug everything and try again, and call an electrician if it keeps happening.

Leave These to a Licensed Pro

• Gas lines and gas appliances. If you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas company from outside.
• Electrical panels, new circuits and new wiring. Many areas require permits and licensed electricians for this work.
• Main water lines, water heaters and sewer lines.
• Structural work, like removing walls or anything touching the foundation.
• Roof work and anything at serious height without proper fall protection.

Local codes vary, so check what your area allows and requires before taking on electrical or plumbing work beyond simple swaps.

A Basic Repair Kit

Wondering which of those tools to splurge on? See which tools are worth paying more for, or browse all of our guides.