Harry Homeowner quick repair for a water-stained ceiling. We had a leak around the base of our chimney. The water stained the drywall on our ceiling in our guest bedroom. Now that the leak is repaired I can fix the stain. ********* Now that the drywall is completely dry, I need to patch the holeContinue reading “Quick Repair for a Water-Stained Ceiling”
Author Archives: fitz1
Drain Cleaner (that actually works)
At some point every homeowner will need to unclog a drain. Over the years I’ve tried many different products that all claimed to work. This one actually does work. But you have to follow the directions. (This was recommended to us by a plumber.) Basically you mix this product with water and pour it intoContinue reading “Drain Cleaner (that actually works)”
Unclogging a Vacuum Hose
Harry Homeowner Tip of the week. Nothing is more frustrating than having the tube to your shop vac clogged by debris. Here’s an easy way to break up the blockage. Take a short piece of Romex electrical cable (a piece of stiff wire will also work), fold the end over so it doesn’t get stuckContinue reading “Unclogging a Vacuum Hose”
Hose Shut-Off Valves
Sometimes having the right tools makes work much easier… When Harry Homeowner turns on his hose he doesn’t want some wimpy water flow. He wants WATER. The valve shown at the top in the second picture is what is available in a retail location. The lower one, which has a much larger opening,Continue reading “Hose Shut-Off Valves”
Smoke Detector Battery Replacement
Friendly reminder from Harry Homeowner. Change the batteries in all your smoke detectors regularly. I do mine every New Year’s Day. And if you have detectors hardwired into your house, check that they work too. You don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night to a chirping detector, or worse, find outContinue reading “Smoke Detector Battery Replacement”
Thermostat Battery Replacement
Every Fall I change the batteries in my thermostats. Most models have a low battery warning, but some models automatically program themselves based on your routine, so there’s no reason to check them regularly. For these models you may want to check the batteries regularly. Most thermostats today have a small battery compartment with aContinue reading “Thermostat Battery Replacement”
Garage Door Maintenance
You probably don’t think often about your garage doors. As long as they work, why bother, right? But if you want your doors to last, keeping the hinges, pulleys, rollers and chains lubricated is important. The more these bind due to accumulated dust and moisture, the more strain this puts on the motor and chainContinue reading “Garage Door Maintenance”
Quick Fix for a Leaky Roof
With all the rain we have had recently I now have a small leak in my roof. Since it will be a few days before anyone can come to fix this – and more rain is on the way – I needed a way to prevent further damage. So I took and awl (a longContinue reading “Quick Fix for a Leaky Roof”
Fixing a Wobbly Doorstop (or almost any stripped screw)
This is an easy, 5-minute fix for a wobbly doorstop (or any screw that is too loose in a hole in wood or drywall). Remove the doorstop. Break off 2 or 3 short pieces of a toothpick and put them in the hole. (Make sure they are short enough that they don’t keep the screwContinue reading “Fixing a Wobbly Doorstop (or almost any stripped screw)”
Harry’s Rules for Homeowners
Many people are intimidated when they are faced with simple repairs in their homes. I still get flustered by some tasks, but I’ve found that if I follow a few simple rules I can get through most jobs. The rules are pretty simple: Evaluate the size and complexity of the task. Some jobs look harderContinue reading “Harry’s Rules for Homeowners”
Harry Homeowner 