Handy Home Maintenance Tips

Whether you want to make improvements to your home before selling it or are simply looking to enjoy what you already have, there are a few simple ways of solving the most common problems. Some home repairs and maintenance can be carried out on a DIY basis whereas some other issues should definitely be left to those in the know.

Small holes and cracks in the walls should be easy enough to fix yourself. If you have some patching to do, start by covering nearby floors and furniture with cloths to protect them from dust.

Next you should carefully cut away any rough edges around the hole or crack, sand gently, and then wipe away any dust. Using a small putty knife apply a generous first coat of wall or crack filler, allow the area to dry completely and then sand again.

Apply a second coat of filler to the entire area using the same technique and sand with finer sandpaper. Wipe away any dust and you should be ready to paint the area.

Leaking taps are a common home problem that can be fixed without having to call a plumber. There are small thin washers inside both the faucet and the handles on your sinks. If you have a drip or leak it is highly possible these washers need replaced as opposed to the whole tap itself.

The first thing to do if attempting a repair to a tap is to isolate the water supply. This can be done by turning the isolating valve beneath the tap, if there is one, or simply switching off the stop cock.

Next you need to remove the tap handle so you can see the inner workings and you should then be able to identify the washers with ease. Try replacing the washer even if it doesn't look faulty and if this doesn't help with the problem then it may be time to call the experts.

A top tip if you are taking a sink faucet apart is to place something over the drain so you don't lose any small parts whilst making the repair.

If you have a leaky pipe or tap that you cannot fix yourself and are waiting for a plumber to arrive you can minimise damage to your home simply by wrapping the pipe or tap tightly with a strip of cloth and putting a bucket under the leak.

Any sort of heating or electrical work should be taken care of right away before the problem has time o worsen. A boiler repair is generally best left to qualified professional as you could end up making the problem worse and having an even larger repair bill as a result.

Some organisations now offer a pay as you go system for heating repairs so you only pay to have things fixed when they actually break down. It is also advisable to ensure your gas engineer is gas safe registered so you have the ultimate guarantee of quality and safety.