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 July 22, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
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 25, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, appliances, kitchen
If your keys are stuck...
Having a grand piano in one of the rooms of your house is great - not only can you practice on it, but you can use it to entertain guests. But if a few of the keys on your piano are stuck, it takes away from the whole "piano-as-decor" theory. It can also be frustrating every time you try to hit that natural G. But every time you try to fix it, you don't seem to get anywhere.
Causes of Stuck Keys
There are a number of reasons a key might get stuck. The first - and most obvious - is dirt and debris getting into the cracks between each ivory key, essentially sticking two keys together. In order to clean between the keys, you'll need something that can get in between them. Because something sharp can scratch your piano, you might want to use a liquid. Water and a few drops of dish soap can often handle the job; just make sure that you don't go overboard with the liquids.
You'll also want to watch for swelling in the piano. Since most pianos are made of wood, one cause of a stuck key might actually be that wood underneath has swollen. Even if you're not sure how this came about, you might want to get inside to see if this really is the case.
Fixing Stuck Keys
To begin fixing a stuck key, look around the area of the key in order to ensure a proper diagnosis. Is there debris in the way? Might there be wood swelling? Does the problem go deeper than that? The problem will drive the kind of repairs you need to make.
Sometimes, the fix is as easy as cleaning out the cracks in the method already described. But if there seems to be something deeper in the piano, you'll probably have to remove the keys. For some people, looking under the keys can be an awakening of sorts, similar to the mess you might find under your couch after a few months.
The best way to make sure keys aren't stuck is prevention. Keep your house dry and regularly dust your piano. You won't have to clean it much if you don't bring drinks or food nearby, but if you absolutely must, then be sure to be careful not to spill.
Remember the essential rule of fixing anything: to fix something, you need to get down to the level of the problem, possibly doing some destroying in the process. If you need to take somthing apart in order to build it back up, that can often be better than simply replacing the unit as a whole.
Photo Credits: melinnis
Originally posted 2009-08-20 03:34:45.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 20, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Musical Instruments
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