Is your dishwasher acting up?
The dishwasher is one of the modern conveniences that we often take for granted - until it starts failing us and we realize how much easier it made our daily lives. If you have an annoying dishwasher, it's best not to put off the problem for the future. Instead, you can nip it in the bud by seeing if you can diagnose the problem and using some good old fashioned elbow grease. Here's how to fix an annoying dishwasher.
First it helps to understand how a dishwasher basically works. A dishwasher has a lot of water flowing in and out of it on a daily basis - first, it uses a heated water and detergent mix in order to complete a wash. This dirty water is then drained from the dishwasher. The dishes are then rinsed with water and a rinsing agent, and then this water is drained and the dishes are left to dry, often with heat added to the drying process. When you open up your dishwasher door again, you have a clean set of dishwasher and silverware waiting to be put away.
At least that's how it's supposed to work. If your dishwasher is having problems, empty it and take a look at some of the basic parts. For example, there is a water inlet valve which lets water in, a float that helps the dishwasher know when the water is high enough, and a motor which pushes water into a pump that sprays the dishes clean. If any of these parts look like they need to be replaced, replace them.
It helps to keep your dishwasher clean on a regular basis - dishwashers do have a lot of clean water going through them on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean the dishwasher itself will be clean; only your dishes. Make sure your dishwasher is clean and try another load to see if it cleared out whatever might have been causing the problem.
If you're still having trouble with your dishwasher, consult an owner's manual (it's best to keep your owners' manuals in the same secure spot) and see if there's anything you can do. Replace what needs to be replaced. If you're stuck, call in a repairman and see if they know what the problem is - as you do, be sure to have them explain the problem to you in case it ever comes up again. Chances are that you'll learn something about your dishwasher that just may come in handy in the future.
Photo Credits: zenobia_joy
Originally posted 2009-12-15 03:10:54.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 27, 2012 in
appliances, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
Water damage.
Let's face it - with all of the economic and financial issues troubling us these days, the last thing most people need is another expense that will add more frown wrinkles to your face. So when you realize that you're paying way too much for your water usage, are you prepared to actually go ahead and fix it, or do you simply sigh and try to find the extra money for this month?
Sigh no more. Let's take a look at some ways you can fix those high water costs and bring them back down where they belong.
First, let's start with a simple trick. Your toilet fills with water during every flush, including in the toilet tank. But once your water gets up to a certain level, it stops. If you want to displace some of this water volume, fill up a water bottle and place it in the toilet tank. Since this displaces water, you'll start saving water after each and every flush. Just make sure that you know how a toilet works, or else you might end up doing more harm than you originally intended. (By the way, if you have a toilet flushing more than 1.6 gallons per flush, it's time for a new toilet).
Next, remember that a lot of the water you use in your house goes through your washing machine. You may think that you drink a lot of water, but it's nothing compared to the amount of water you might be using for clothes. You can cut down on this water by simply doing less loads of laundry. Don't be wasteful with this water, so only wash clothes that actually need to be washed - make sure that you wear some clean clothes more than once and that you don't end up washing too many clean clothes. This will cut down on the amount of loads of laundry you have to perform every week.
Also, be sure to monitor the water that you waste. If you keep a bucket of "greywater" around, you can dump the water you didn't drink from a glass in there and use it to water plants.
There's plenty more to learn about fixing your problem with high water costs. The most important thing is to look at your individual situation, find out where much of your water usage comes from, and work to optimize your own water expenses.
Photo Credits: thirteenthbat
Originally posted 2009-10-21 03:03:42.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 26, 2012 in
appliances, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet, water
First figure out what type of faucet you're working with.
One of the most common household repairs is the faucet-fix; it wouldn't be such a common repair if these devices worked all of the time! The bad news is you don't always feel like you have time to fix a faucet right away. That's why this article will help explain how to fix a faucet in a jiffy, even if you have a specific type of faucet that you aren't sure how to manage.
First, let's explore the faucet types.
The Ball Faucet: The ball faucet is your classic single-handle faucet on top of a large round base, allowing for a certain mix of hot and cold water with just one nozzle. Many homes today have ball faucets, but you might also want to be aware if your single-handle faucet is actually a disk faucet, a recent innovation.
The Disk Faucet: This faucet is also single-handled. The Disk faucet essentially works by operating with disks instead of a ball. These will also have a round base, so you won't always be able to discern a disk faucet from a ball faucet simply by looking at it. Be sure to find out what kind of faucet you're using before you try and fix it.
The Compression Faucet: Double-handled, the compression faucet works with two valves in each handle allowing for the basic blocking and allowing of flows.
The Cartridge Faucet: These can be a little tricky to discern as they can be single or double-handled. These operate using cartridges, and you might be able to recognize these by the motion they use: a double-handled cartridge faucet should require the faucet to be moved up and down for flow and twisting the knobs for temperature.
So how do you fix these individual faucets in a jiffy? You'll need to know the basics. The first rule with any of these faucets is to turn off the water supply leading to the faucet - either find a valve under the sink or turn off your house's water supply temporarily.
After you've turned off the water, turn the faucet on to let the rest of the remaining water flow out. To prevent dropping anything into the drain, try putting a towel over it. Begin to take apart the faucet and look for the problem - if you need to replace parts, bring that part with you to the hardware store so you can search for duplicates.
Find a guide or blueprint for how your faucet should look on the inside, and try to identify the problem. Online guides that show you how to fix each individual faucet can also help.
Photo Credits: Joe Shlabotnik
Originally posted 2009-09-10 03:41:27.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 25, 2012 in
faucet, How to Fix, Plumber, Sink
Fixing old doors.
With winter rolling around and tough economic times, the name of the game for many people across the northern hemisphere is this: how to save money on heating in your home without investing in a new heater or breaking their back to improve their home. One of the best ways you can fix the problem is by attacking the key areas where your home is losing heat - and one of these areas is simple: your door.
Many doors today already come with weather-stripping that traps in air automatically with every time they're shut. But that's no guarantee your door has the same. Here's a quick guide to setting up weather stripping on your door.
One of the first things to do is consider the material you want to use: weather stripping is seen in rubber, foam, metal, and plastic. Go to a local hardware store and find the appropriate materials - but not without measuring your door fir so that you understand exactly how much weather stripping you'll be needing.
You can attach the stripping to the door as directed at your local hardware store - it's not a bad idea to ask for help if you're stuck here, especially when it comes to all of the different varieties of weather stripping available. Once you are ready to attach the stripping, go ahead and do it, being as thorough as possible and working to make sure everything stays symmetrical and relatively tight.
Once you've attached the weather stripping - and before you move on to the next door - test to see how well you've done. Some people do this by lighting a stick of incense near the door to see if there are any areas that are leaking air. Light the incense and go to the other side of the door - once there, if you see incense floating out, you need further stripping. Make sure you note where the incense is getting through so that you can fix the appropriate location on the door when you come back around.
After you have a handle on your weather-stripping abilities, go ahead and install weather stripping on all of the doors in your home that needs stripping. Now, you're all set! You can enjoy a more thoroughly-insulated home this winter; this means a tighter energy bill and a more peaceful state of mind. One more tip: keep the money you save on energy to invest in more home improvements!
Photo Credits: boboroshi
Originally posted 2009-12-24 03:39:54.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 24, 2012 in
doors, Handyman, How to Fix
Squeeeeeeeaaaak no more.
It's usually the stuff of horror movies: a door opening slowly always seems to produce an eerie creaking sound. It's enough to make one wonder why every haunted house seems to have rusty hinges. In real life, a squeaking door isn't always scary, but it can be downright annoying after a while. If you want to know how to fix your squeaking door, you've come to the right place.
First, you'll want to understand exactly what causes a squeaking door. It's not very complicated: sound vibrations are caused when two parts rub against each other. When it comes to doors, most hinges are designed to be as silent as possible, so the squeaking noise indicates a problem with alignment, usually with the door hinge.
Lubricant eases this friction, but only on a temporary basis. This means that a household item like WD-40 will be able to handle the job, but that doesn't mean your door will permanently stop squeaking.
For a long-term solution, you'll have to take a good look at your door hinges and really determine what's causing things to rub against each other contrary to their design. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply re-tighten and re-attach a hinge by tightening loose screws. Be sure to check the top hinge on your door first, since much of your door's weight actually hangs on that area.
Most long-term fixes usually require a bit of tearing down before you build back up: this is the case if your door itself is actually out of alignment. You can use a balance to check your door's alignment, and if it needs adjusting, you can loosen your hinges and make the necessary changes. Oftentimes, simply undergoing this process will fix whichever point on the door was causing the squeak, even if you can't pinpoint it directly.
After you've tightened everything back again and the hinges seem in proper alignment, you can give your door a test swing. Swing it back and forth with your hand, and also try a "slow" movement to see how your door handles it. If your door is now silent, you've fixed the problem. Be sure to listen to it occasionally in order to be sure that the treatment has stuck.
Remember that everything can be repaired - or at least replaced. Don't assume that a squeaking door is out of your league even if you've never fixed anything in your life. You might surprise yourself.
Photo Credits: ocean yamaha
Originally posted 2009-08-11 03:31:01.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 23, 2012 in
doors, Handyman, How to Fix
Deadbolt with Key.
Having a quality deadbolt lock on your door can be vital to your home security, so it's best not to put off on any repairs or replacements that are needed. Don't let a thief take advantage of your broken deadbolt before you get a chance to take a crack at repairing it. If you need to replace your deadbolt lock, this article will make a handy guide for getting started.
First, it helps to understand that there are generally two types of deadbolts - internal and external. An interior deadbolt will generally be more secure, but can be a little more difficult to remove or install, while an exterior deadbolt will be the opposite - not quite as secure, but easier to remove. If you're a solid do-it-yourselfer, you should have no problem installing a quality interior deadbolt.
When it's time to replace your deadbolt, you'll want to make sure you prepare adequately. This means you'll want to test the quality of your door's wood - if it's so old that nothing will come out, it's generally a good idea to simply buy a new door. You'll also want to look and see how your current deadbolt is installed for any clues you can get about installing a new one. Also, make sure you do proper research and preparation in terms of your new deadbolt - it should be able to fit properly once you place it in the door.
To begin, simply remove the screws from the old deadbolt and remove it as best you see fit - generally, you'll want to remove the smaller pieces before the bigger ones, though this rule isn't always set in stone. Remember to make a mental note of what you're doing in case you need to work the opposite way when you install the new deadbolt.
When you put in the new deadbolt, do your best to follow any instructions you have. Your new deadbolt should be able to fit if you've done your homework. Make sure you install the right side up - a good way to check this is to make sure any writing isn't upside down - and make sure that the new deadbolt is properly installed and secure in the door. Give it some tests, having someone help you by locking it from the inside and having you try to open it from the outside. After a few tests, you should be good to go. Congratulations! You've installed a new deadbolt.
Photo Credits: The Suss-Man (Mike)
Originally posted 2010-01-14 03:47:53.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 22, 2012 in
doors, Handyman, How to Fix, Locks
You don't have to drain the pool to fix the leak.
Swimming pools can be like an oasis against the heat in the summer, but even an oasis needs to be maintained. Owning a swimming pool means understanding pool maintenance and cleaning - or at least employing someone else who does. And sometimes, even when you try to maintain the best pool possible, you'll run into unexpected problems, such as a torn pool liner.
Many backyard pools have a vinyl liner - they are usually inexpensive compared to more costly fiberglass or gunite options - and while this liner is generally sturdy, it does have the ability to break. Since they're inexpensive, it will cost less than repairing a different pool liner, but that doesn't mean you can skip out on fixing the tear.
Some pool owners will be ready to drain a pool at the first sign of trouble, but if you know what you're doing, you should be able to avoid this costly experience. Draining a pool will also lead to lost summer days if you don't know what you're doing, so make sure you explore your options to fix a torn pool liner before you have the pool drained.
Once you've decided to fix the pool liner itself, you'll have to find the leak. This is often the most difficult part about fixing a vinyl pool liner, since finding a leak in a pool can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. But if you are careful to track the leak, you should be able to find its source.
Once you've found where the leak is coming from, you'll probably have two options: a dry or a wet patch. You can find pool patching, but you'll have to be wary of the size of the leak. Make sure you inspect the area thoroughly before you make a purchase - you need to know how big the leak is so that you can purchase a patch that's even bigger. Vinyl liner repair kits are also available, so make sure you explore that option as well.
After purchasing the patch, you should be able to apply it, and then make sure that you observe the pool to check for more leaks. If the leak seems to have stopped, the pool should be repaired and ready for swimming again. Make sure you keep the leak in mind if you consider future maintenance and upgrades on your pool.
Photo Credits: Kikos Dad
Originally posted 2009-08-07 03:09:52.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 21, 2012 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Pool
Most homes are now constructed in much the same manner, and the same applies for the way our walls are built. In the past, most walls were made of plaster, but this is becoming increasingly uncommon. If your home was constructed in the last fifty years, chances are you have a walls made of drywall.
Drywall is the common building material because it’s cheap and easy to repair. However, drywall is very easy to damage because it’s so thin. Chances are if you have drywall in your home, then you have marks, cracks, or holes in the surface of your walls. This happens all the time and with the wear and tear of living and raising children, it’s practically inevitable. Here’s how to fix these problems.
If you have minor damage to the surface area of your walls, you don’t need to replace entire sections of your wall. Often, it just takes simple cosmetic work and you’re good to go. You can go to any hardware store and pick up a paste-like substance called spackle. This is a finishing product and the only other thing you’ll need is a putty knife which is used for applying the spackle. For any cracks or pot marks, apply a small dab of spackle and smooth the surface with the putty knife. It’s important to note that if the spackle you bought is pink, grey, or some other color, don’t worry because it will dry white.
If the damage is a little more severe than a simple crack or mark, then you might need to replace a section of the drywall. Depending on the severity of the damage, it might only call for a drywall cutter or heavy-duty box cutter. Cut out the section that is damaged and throw it away. Measure the size that you need to replace and cut a replacement piece according to need. You’ll want to anchor the piece to support beam that runs every sixteen inches along your wall’s interior. After the replacement piece is set, fill in the gaps with spackle and smooth it over. This will dry and look seamless. You’ll have to repaint the area, but after you do so the wall will look as good as new.
For more heavy-duty repair, you may have to replace entire sections of your wall. Before you do this, you should move your furniture to another room or rent a space with a self storage company until the job is done. Replacing entire portions of a wall can be a messy job and you don’t want to damage or destroy any of your furniture. Make sure to wear a mask or something to protect your mouth because a lot of dust and debris will be floating around. When replacing entire sections of a wall you should be careful it tearing out the old and make sure you have large enough sections to accommodate the width and height of the room.
There are many reasons why you might need to replace the drywall in your house, but if you have mold growth, it’s best to cut out a larger portion to replace that just the small area that you see. Often times the mold has reached the interior of the drywall and the infected area is twice the size of what you can actually see. If you don’t feel that your skills are sufficient for the job at hand, then you should contact a licensed contractor that can do the job. In most cases, this isn’t necessary as replacing drywall is one of the easiest home construction projects.
Originally posted 2011-07-29 06:37:09.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 20, 2012 in
Drywall
Leaky Toilet Flange? No problem!
When we see some sort of liquid forming around the bottom of our toilet, we tend to get a little peeved. After all, with all of the liquids that form the usual daily traffic around a toilet flange, this means that a broken toilet might mean some dirty repairs. If you're curious about how to fix a leaking toilet flange so that you won't have to worry about it again - and so that you can stay dry the rest of the day - you've come to the right place.
First, you'll have to diagnose that the problem is with the flange itself and not with some other spot on the toilet. Sometimes, your toilet might not even be broken - a son or daughter might have gotten bathwater in the wrong spot. But if the toilet is rocking more than it should, you'll probably want to take a look at the flange underneath, which means pulling your toilet out of its place.
Once you look at the flange leading into the plumbing underneath, you should have a better idea of what's going on with your toilet. You can usually see if your flange is broken because there aren't many parts that go into its connection with the toilet: check that connection and see if anything has snapped or has become loose.
In order to repair the leaking flange, you'll actually want to replace as much of it as you can - you can buy a new toilet flange at a hardware store, or even purchase a "spanner flange" that only partially reinforces your flange in case you don't want to repair the entire object. Unscrew the part of the toilet flange you want to lift up - you can use a power drill if need be - and then remove the toilet bolt. (Note: if the toilet bolt is the problem, be sure to replace this, as well.) Place the toilet bolt under the spanner flange and drill the flange into the rest of the hardware.
Be sure to customize your repairs to your own needs - if you have more problems with your toilet flange, simply replace the entire unit and buy new toilet bolts. You can drill new holes to make sure that your screws fit into place, and voila! You should be able to re-attach your toilet to the flange and the toilet should be steady and leak-free. Now you can enjoy many more days of dry toilet usage.
Photo Credits: Omega Man
Originally posted 2009-08-04 06:00:32.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 19, 2012 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
How to Fix Chipped, Broken Plaster
Plaster can be a great material to use in construction because of its flexibility, but it also has some downsides. One downside? It can easily become chipped or cracked, which is why the do-it-yourselfer in your home will want to make sure to understand some quick, easy ways to fix and smoothen out that plaster. If that's what you want to learn today, you've come to the right place: let's explore some quick steps to restoring a plaster finish.
- First, get your tools ready.
What will you need when you're fixing up some plaster? A good utility knife, a plaster compound (such as plaster of paris), brushes, a scraper, a wood block, sandpaper, primer, and paint are some general items you'll either find in your tool shed or at the local hardware store. Once you have these items ready, you're ready to take a better look at the chip in your plaster.
- Treat the chip first.
This usually includes cutting away loose chunks of plaster with your knife while making sure that you don't do anything to cause further damage to the surrounding plaster. Once you've cleared the debris, shake off smaller particles with a towel and use your vacuum cleaner to get the hard-to-reach dust and plaster bits.
- Next, get out your plaster compound.
Mix it up into a hearty paste - try to make it less flexible rather than erring on the side of making it too thin. Before you apply the plaster, moisten the area by using your brush - this will help when applying the plaster of paris. Next, apply your plaster compound, making sure that it is well-set into the chip. Smoothen out the surface with your scraper and then take 24 hours off while your plaster compound hardens.
- Sand down the area after 24 hours.
Once your 24 hours have passed, it's time to take another look at your chip repair. Chances are that it doesn't look that good yet - but that's why you're going to want to sand down the area and smoothen it out. You can also re-plaster any areas that haven't been fixed yet, but remember that you'll want to give it 24 hours to dry.
- After sanding, apply primer and then your paint.
After you've sanded out the area smooth, it's time to apply your primer. Your primer is crucial for creating a smooth, durable coat of paint. Once your primer has dried (this might take a considerable amount of time), you can then apply your paint and let it try. Voila!
Photo Credits: amarette.
Originally posted 2009-07-23 08:00:37.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on January 18, 2012 in
Handyman, How to Fix
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