Maintain & Repair
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Prepare Your Lawn for Winter
There are a few tips you should follow when preparing your lawn for winter. Mow grass to a height of 2-1/2 inches and leave clippings on the lawn. This simple step returns at least 25% of the turf's nitrogen back to the soil. Lawns should be put to bed over winter at the...
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Clearing a Fixture Drain Line
If your sink is backed up but the clog isn't in the trap, it's probably further in the drain system - in the drain lines inside your walls. To reach this kind of clog, you'll need a snake - a tool designed just for this type of job. An inexpensive hand snake, sometimes...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 2 hours
Running New Supply Lines
Running new supply lines requires planning in order to choose the best route for the pipes and break the job down into manageable phases. Hot and cold supply lines can be either copper (as shown here), CPVC, or, if code allows, PEX.
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Cleaning a Sink Stopper (Pop-Up)
Sink stoppers close off the drain hole in your sink so you can fill it with water. Occasionally, they can get gunked up with hair and soap and cause your sink to drain slowly – or not at all. Pop-up stoppers – the ones that close when you pull up on a little knob ...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Patching Small Holes in Wallboard
Small holes are defined as those that are less than about 2 inches in diameter. There's no need to make a wallboard patch for these little holes because a peel-and-stick repair patch works just great and provides a quick and professional looking repair.
Skill: Beginner
Time: 2 hours
Installing a Plunger-Valve Ballcock
A ballcock is basically a toilet's only mechanical part. It has a number of moving components that can wear out or break. When that happens, you'll need to replace the ballcock. It's not a difficult job. There are several types of ballcocks – plunger-valve, ...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Cleaning a Plunger Tub Drain
To fix a tub that doesn't drain properly, first identify what type of drain you have. If the drain hole of your tub is open or covered by a coarse screen, you have a plunger-type stopper. Plunger-type drains are a bit complex as far as household drains go. They have moving...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Patching Large Holes in Wallboard
Wallboard repairs are necessary for a number of reasons. Whether it's careless movers wielding appliances, kids hustling through the house, or just natural settling of the house, wallboard cracks can appear. But these simple projects can come to the rescue.
Skill: Beginner
Time: 2 hours
Clearing Sink Drains with a Plunger
Sinks get clogged and backed up when soap, hair and grease build up and clog the trap or the drain line. When that happens, don't reach for the drain cleaner. Instead, try to clear the drain by cleaning gunk off the sink stopper or plunging the sink.
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Fixing Ceramic Disk Faucets
A leaky faucet may be caused by a leaky disk faucet. When this happens you lose energy and money. To fix the problem, follow these instructions for fixing ceramic disk faucets.
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Cleaning a Pop-Up Tub Drain
To fix a tub that doesn't drain properly, first identify what type of drain you have. If the drain hole features a metal plug that goes up and down, it's a pop-up type. Pop-up tub drains are a bit complex as far as household drains go. They have moving mechanical parts...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Adding a New Circuit
To install a new electrical circuit, ensure your service panel can accept a new breaker. Now plan a circuit that won’t be overloaded. To buy a breaker to fit your panel, note the brand and model number of your current breakers, or bring a sample to the store. Install the...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
Patching Peeling Paint
When old paint chips, flakes or peels, it leaves behind a shallow depression. You'll need to repair these spots before painting – new coats of paint won't hide the indentations. Use a fast-drying patching compound to fill the hole.
Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour
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