Home Maintenance and Repair Tips

Many common problems are quickly and easily fixed with a screwdriver. You'll need both a Phillips (cross-head) and a slotted (flat-head) screwdriver. They come in handy kits with several sizes and lengths of both types of screwdrivers. As a home owner, rest assured that you'll find a use for all of them. When the light switch is loose, tighten the screws. When the knob comes off a kitchen cabinet, screw it on from the back of the cabinet door. When the screen door is rattling, tighten the screws.

You will also find the need for a couple of hammers in your tool box. If you're tacking up posters in a teen's room, use tacks and a tack hammer for a smaller hole. If you're hanging pictures, use a medium-weight claw hammer to put the nail in straight. If you mess up, use the claw end of the hammer to pull the nail back out. If you have a level in your box, be sure you use it to make sure the pictures you're hanging are level. If you want them the same height from the floor, use a tape measure or yard stick.

Complete your hammer collection with a rubber mallet. It won't leave a mark when hammering down a tile. And it can be used to safely determine if there is something behind a wall or in a pipe. Speaking of pipes, be sure you have a crescent wrench to tight loose plumbing fixtures.

If you find (or put) any unwanted holes in the wall or other painted surface, you should have a repair kit containing a five-in-one tool, spackling compound and a paintbrush. Use the five-in-one tool as a scraper and putty knife. It can also be used to remove nails, flat-head screws or industrial staples. Having a paintbrush on hand ensures you can do that touch-up work right away. No need to run out to the store.

There are also some miscellaneous tools you should have on hand, such as pliers, tape measure, wire cutters and a collection of various sized nails and screws. You'll find a wet or dry vacuum invaluable when facing a leak or cleaning a dirty garage. A lubricating compound like WD-40 will help you cure a squeaking door or reluctant window. And don't forget to have a couple flashlights on all floors of the house. You never know when the lights might go out.

Each house will also have its own specific needs, like fuses for a fuse box, spare filters for the HVAC unit or specialty light bulbs for the bathroom vanity. As you get to know your home, these will become apparent.

To store your tools, you can use anything from a conventional tool box to a couple of shelves in a storage closet. The important thing is that you keep them together so you know where to find them when you need them.

Of course, you will need to break out your tools when something needs fixing. But if you're smart, you'll establish a regular rhythm of household repairs. When you have your screwdriver out to tighten a knob, check all the knobs in the room. Check the light switches, electric outlets, etc. That way your house stays in good repair and you don't get overwhelmed when everything starts falling apart at the same time.

Each season there are certain jobs you should assign yourself. For example, autumn is the time to clean and repair the gutters and storm drains. Don't let the falling leaves clog your drains before the snow comes. And with winter right around the corner, reinforce the exterior calking and check seals on the windows.

When winter arrives, tackle the interior chores. Check the grout in the bathroom, clean the dishwasher and replace the filters in the heater for optimal efficiency. Consider shampooing the carpets and bleaching the grout in the bathroom tiles. Be sure you have plenty of ventilation for both chores.

Get outside when spring arrives. Conduct an inspection of the grounds, looking for torn screens that need repairing and decks and siding that need power washing. These tasks will make your summer more enjoyable.

And come summertime, look for outdoor tasks like sealing the driveway or fixing the gate. And if you have children complaining of nothing to do, break out a can of paint and let them change their room color. Just be sure you invest in several drop cloths and blue painter's tape to minimize messes.