Crusty Ice Maker
An ice maker can be a great convenience around the homes, but they're not a necessity. For that reason, when an ice maker breaks down, it's tempting to put off its repair for a while, simply choosing to live without the convenience of ice-on-command. But what if you did know how to fix some common ice maker problems, or at least knew what the problems might be caused by? You might be a little more inspired to get the thing up and running again - hopefully in a flash.
If your ice maker is making too much ice, you're probably looking at a problem with the shutoff arm - test the shutoff switch to make sure that it's working properly.
If there's ice but it won't come out, you might be looking at an ejector gear problem. ice makers have "ejector gear" in them that helps the ice come out when you place a cup underneath it to capture the ice. In this gear, you'll find an ejector motor - be sure to check that and be sure that it's working. Other problems can include the thermostat and the ice mold heater.
If your ice maker is making no ice, there are a lot of problems you might be having. You'll want to check the shutoff gear, including the shutoff arm and checking the shutoff switch. You'll also want to check the water supply line so that you're sure that water is actually pumping into the ice maker. The temperature is something that contributes, of course, to having ice or not having ice, so be sure that the temperature in the ice maker is correct. You can check the thermostat as well. Be sure to check the water inlet valve as well. You can find an excellent resource for fixing these problems here.
If your ice tastes bad, be sure to check the basic supply lines like the water inlet valve. You'll also want to wash out the ice maker as well as the surrounding area. If you're still having problems, check the places in your refrigerator that your ice water might travel through. If only your ice cubes taste bad - and not your regular water supply - there is probably something along those water lines.
If water is leaking, check the water inlet switch and water inlet valve, as well as the refrigerator's level - consult this guide for a little more information on that. You'll also want to make sure the supply line is running adequately as well as the fill cup alignment (click here).
Photo Credits: Wyscan
Originally posted 2009-12-22 03:25:11.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 18, 2012 in
appliances, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
Loose Spindles.
When your wood furniture is loose and your wooden dowel seems to move around too generously, you know that it's time to tighten up the loose ends and make sure that your furniture spindle won't suddenly go flying off in the right direction. Luckily, wooden chairs and tables that have been put together with dowels and spindles are actually very easy to repair: that is, if you know what you're doing. By the time you're done reading this article, you will.
The first thing you'll need to do - and this is the case in many around-the-home repairs - is actually to take your furniture apart. Don't worry; this is the point. If you don't take the spindle out of the dowel socket and retreat it, you wouldn't be able to fix much. Remove the spindle from the furniture socket and take a look at the edge. In all likelihood, the point of the spindle has seen its glue worn off, which explains why it has become loose. It's time to use a tool to remove the glue that remains. If you have a power drill, you should be able to use a grater-like tool in order to do this. Failing that, try some sandpaper.
Now that the wood is exposed, dry without the glue, and you will be able to re-treat the end of the spindle. Apply some basic glue to one side of the spindle, making sure to wrap silk thread around the entire area - don't try to puncture the glue. The thread will help expand the radius of the spindle, keeping it tight once the glue sets.
Once the spindle is ready, apply some more to the tip, and then on the inside of the socket. Slide the spindle into the socket, and then set the entire thing aside (with a clamp if you have one) so that it can dry - usually, you'll want to let wood set overnight. Once the glue is dry, take out the furniture and see how stable it seems. If it's still a little loose, you may need the glue to dry a bit longer. Another possibility is that there is another spindle that needs fixing.
Now that you've fixed your spindle, however, there's a good probability that the chair will feel good as new. Now if you ever come across another piece of furniture that has lost its sturdiness, you'll know just what to do with the spindle.
Photo Credits: jek in the box
Originally posted 2009-08-19 03:30:19.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 17, 2012 in
Furniture, Handyman, How to Fix
A poor roof can greatly increase your utility bills and carbon footprint, and leave you feeling cold in the winter even with your heater running full blast. A home with a poor roof on it can actually lose a vast majority of the heat it produces as the heat rises and simply escapes without effectively heating any of the home. However, there are a few things that can be done to help you repair your energy wasting roof:
Paint it White
Traditionally, roofs are black and made of heavy shingles. The black color absorbs heat from the sun, and can make any floors located near the roof unbearably hot when the sun is out. To make your roof a little more efficient, paint it white. The white color will reflect the sun, and it will greatly reduce your utility bill as your air conditioner won't have to work as hard to cool your home down.
Reinsulate
One of the biggest things that make a roof inefficient is inadequate insulation. Before considering a complete re-roofing, make sure that your insulation is up to date. All you may have to do is replace the insulation, and your roof may become as efficient as any new roof. When shopping for roof insulation, make sure to get insulation that is best for your climate. Certain types or more prone to mold and mildew, and are intended for dryer climates, while other are intended for areas with more extreme weather.
Reroof
Re-roofing a home can be expensive, but replacing your old shingles with something more ecofriendly, such as metal roofing, can great increase your roof's efficiency and greatly reduce your monthly bills. If you decide that your roof is in need of a complete replacement, look into a variety of materials before deciding to do so. There are many more sustainable options now for roofing, and certain areas even offer grants to homeowners who are trying to make energy efficient upgrades.
Don't throw money away each month on heating and cooling simply because your roof is old or outdated. There are several quick ways that you can improve your roof and increase its longevity, you just have to be prepared to roll up your sleeves and give them a go.
Originally posted 2011-10-05 09:26:55.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 16, 2012 in
Roof
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 May 14, 2012 in
Drywall
How to Save Space In Your Bathroom
Let's face it: when most people build houses, having a luxurious, gigantic bathroom or series of bathrooms isn't always the highest priority. For most people, building a house is about efficiency: and setting aside square footage simply to have more tiles near the toilet isn't the way to achieve that. Others might disagree and say that a good bathroom is worth the expense, but if you want to have an open bathroom and efficiency, you'll probably want to learn how to save space.
Bathrooms can be a bit clumsy and small - if you want to squeeze as much ambiance in them as you can, it's time to learn how to save space where you can. That's why this article will tell you exactly how to achieve that.
- Install over-the-door towel bars.
Making room for the towel bar (or even a towel cabinet, in some cases) can be a little difficult. If your walls are close together, you might want to look elsewhere to hang your towels: on the door itself. Hanging your towels on the door will potentially put a little distance between your towels and your shower, but that doesn't mean you can't simply pick up a towel on your towel bar and place it near the shower. These towel bars can be easy to mount; just make sure that your floors aren't slippery when you walk from door to shower!
- Think vertically.
When we think about space, we usually think in two-dimensional terms: the floor goes north, south, east, and west. But what about up and down? You can create more efficiency by looking at the different things you can stack in your bathroom. Do you have too many appliances scattered on your counter? Buy a mini-cabinet that stores them upward, creating more available countertop space. A combination bath/shower is also efficient, which is why many people love to have those installed in their bathrooms, as well.
- What can you remove?
Sometimes, efficiency isn't about adding more; it's about cutting the fat. If you've been putting up with a bathroom that has cabinets way out in space, you might simply consider removing them and replacing them with more efficient, space-saving cabinets. Look around your bathroom and ask yourself what else you can remove: towel bars, shelves, and unnecessary decorations come to mind.
Remember that saving space in your bathroom isn't always about physics; it's about what you can imagine. Try to keep your mind open, see new perspectives, and ask yourself what you would do to save space if someone forced you to do it. You might find that the new efficiency helps you in the long run.
Originally posted 2009-08-05 03:30:56.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 13, 2012 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix
Replace that broken fridge handle quickly and easily.
Around the house, the refrigerator is probably one of the appliances we take most for granted. It keeps our food fresh for days, keeps liquids cool, and the freezer can store foods for months. If you have a broken refrigerator handle, you've already experienced what it's like when this appliance doesn't work like it usually does. You probably have one thought: "I need to get this fixed immediately!" Though the handle breaking can be a minor inconvenience, it's something you'll want to taken care of. Here's how to fix it yourself.
Fortunately, repairing a refrigerator handle is an easy thing. Why's that? Because the simplest way to do it is simply to replace the door handle itself. And in order to accomplish this, you'll follow a few, simple steps.
First, you'll want to get rid of the old door handle. Presumably, you've left this handle on. Identify the areas on the handle that are attached to the refrigerator via screws, and then loosen the screws. Make sure to keep those screws in case you need to use them with your new refrigerator handle. Even if you buy the exact model of refrigerator handle from the manufacturer, there's no guarantee that they'll include the right screws you need. Rather than go through the trouble of finding new ones, simply save the old ones! (This is unless, of course, the screws were the problem in the first place).
Next, it's time to install the new handle. Line it up with the matching holes and twist in the top screw - this will allow the refrigerator handle to hang. Don't necessarily tighten this screw right away, as you'll want some flexibility for later. Next, twist in the bottom screw to near tightness with some flexibility. Now, use the flexibility of the new handle's position to align it correctly with the refrigerator. Tighten the top screw and then the bottom one. Voila!
Often times, repairs like this can be as simple as going online and ordering the right parts. Some manufacturers will even replace broken parts for free - some will do this while requiring that you send them the old part. In either case, make sure to explore your options and take care of this right away: don't let your house deteriorate. You never know when a guest might show up unexpectedly and try to open your refrigerator.
Photo Credits: Avoir Chaud
Originally posted 2009-08-10 03:13:33.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 12, 2012 in
appliances, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
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 May 11, 2012 in
appliances, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
Frosted Fridge?
We all love refrigerators because they keep our food cool and fresh, but when we want our food cold, we put it in the freezer, not the "fridge." So what happens when your refrigerator is running too cold? Instead of freezing all of your food and drinks, you can try a couple of simple steps to fix the temperature.
When a refrigerator is running cold, it means that the temperature settings or control are out of whack: much of the work you do to fix your refrigerator will include "diagnosis" work in which you try to figure out the source of the problem.
The Refrigerator Temperature Setting
The first thing to do is check the refrigerator temperature setting itself - is it set to cold? You may not have a problem with a refrigerator; instead, you may have a prankster on your hands. You can adjust the refrigerator temperature setting simply by adjusting the setting manually. You'll want your refrigerator to run at about thirty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.
You can confirm the temperature of the refrigerator by placing a simple cooking thermometer in there and letting it sit for a good amount of time - give it a couple of hours just to be sure. If your refrigerator temperature setting does not seem to be the problem, it's time to test the temperature control itself. This will entail some more involved electrical work, so if you're not up to the task, simply be ready to call a repairman. They'll be able to help you, and be sure to tell them whether or not the refrigerator is powered.
Testing the Temperature Control
Note: Before you begin testing the temperature control, be sure that you unplug the refrigerator, disconnecting it from any power source. This will help you avoid electric shock.
In many refrigerator/freezers, the cooling system for the freezer is simply a vent that regularly lets in cool air from the freezer. To get started testing the temperatur control, remove the temperature setting controls, often by unscrewing them.
Once you've made it that far, you'll be able to find that the control within is connected to two wires - make a written note to remember where the wires are originally. For the next steps, consult these instructions which give you pictures explaining in greater detail.
If your refrigerator is still having problems, try and check with a professional and think about buying replacement parts - or even a replacement refrigerator.
Photo Credits: tranchis
Originally posted 2009-11-19 03:19:56.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 10, 2012 in
appliances, Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
Looking to fix your credit? You came to the right place. Let's not waste time and dig in right away.
How to Fix Your Credit Report
The first step in fixing your credit is to start with your credit report. If the credit bureaus have bad information on your credit history, the end result won't be pretty.
- Get Your Free Credit Reports - Before you know where you are going, you have to know where you have been. Once a year, you can get free credit reports from all three major credit bureaus from a href="http://www.annualcreditreport.com/">AnnualCreditReport.com. It's a good idea to see what credit bureaus are seeing.
- Look for Bad Information - The credit bureaus deal with billions of transactions a day. It's almost impossible for them to bat 1.000. So look for anything information that doesn't seem right. See if anything has been sent collections that shouldn't have been. Make sure there are no payments that have been incorrectly posted as late.
- Correct the Bad Information - If there is bad information, you have the right to dispute the information in an attempt to get it correct. Each credit bureau has it's own dispute resolution process - it's best to go to their website and read up on that process.
How to Calculate your Credit Score
Now that you have fixed your credit report, your credit score should improve. However to fully fix your credit score, you may want to know how that score is calculated. Unfortunately, Fair Isaac Company, the ones who guards that secret closely. So while we don't know the exact credit score calculation, we do have a roughly idea.
- Payment History - 35% - With payment history being a majority of the score, you want to make sure you get those payments on time.
- Credit Utilization - 30% - If you are using high percentage of your available credit, that's a potential credit risk. One way to fix this is by buy actually getting more credit - and not using it. This will lower your overall credit utilization.
- Credit History - 15% - Having a long history of good credit makes Fico believe that you are a very low credit risk. If you have credit cards where you've paid on time for a long time, it's best to keep that card (and it's lengthy credit history) active.
- Credit Inquiries - 10% - You want to minimize the number of "Hard Pulls" or "Hard Inquiries." If you are applying for credit, it is best to ask if the inquiry is a hard one or a soft one. You can read more about this at Wikipedia
- Types of Credit - 10% - It is best to have multiple types of credit. FICO wants to see that you are using different types of credit.
With that information fixing your credit should be easy.
Originally posted 2010-04-29 11:07:50.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 9, 2012 in
Credit
Four Tips for Typical Lawn Problems
One of the frustrating things about growing a lawn is that even if you work hard on it, unforeseen problems can arise that simply stump your landscaping knowledge. Instead of overworking yourself and burning out, you'll want to simply increase your range of knowledge so that you know how to address these typical lawn problems when you see them. That's why this article will explain some common lawn problems and some easy tips to help fix them.
Tip #1: Take out bare spots through aeration and repair.
Bare spots in your lawn can mean a number of problems, but often it means that your grass may be fighting off a disease and losing the battle. If you need to reinvigorate one particular area on your lawn, make sure to treat that spot specifically. Aerate the area to loosen the soil, perhaps add some fertilizer and make sure that there are enough seeds to allow grass to grow there again. If one area of your lawn is stepped on a lot, it can mean compacted soil, which can lead to poor grass.
Tip #2: Avoid weeds by cutting your grass high.
There are a few reasons for cutting your grass high, but one of this is quite simple: clipping your weeds at their high point will help avoid weeds. First, longer and healthier grass will have stronger and deeper roots, starving out the weeds by taking up most of the nutrients in the area. Short grass won't need as much strength, and this will allow weeds to spring up by using up all of the soil. Mowing your lawn high will clip the weeds and allow your grass to simply starve them out.
Tip #3: Water deeply and less frequently.
You might have noticed how healthy lawns can look after a really wet rainstorm. This is because deep watering can promote healthy grass by forcing roots to go deep in order to soak up all the moisture that they can. Deep, infrequent watering will support your longer grass and help build up their strength, making grass look healthier and making sure that there are less nutrients for the weeds to use up.
Tip #4: Make sure to test your soil at the start of the season.
Testing your soil - even in different areas - can help you understand what potential problems you might be potentially running in to. If you must, test your soil after you've noticed a problem, and see if the problem is being caused by an issue with your soil.
Photo Credits: chippenziedeutch
Originally posted 2009-07-24 03:30:05.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 8, 2012 in
How to Fix, Landscaper
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