Keeping your home working properly can save money, improve safety, and generally simplify your life. When something goes wrong, it’s important to know if you can repair it yourself or if you should contact a professional. Here are four of the more common household problems and how you can fix them.

Tripped Breakers

When a portion of your home suddenly loses power, you’ve probably tripped a breaker. These safety devices are designed to shut off power if the demand on a circuit becomes dangerously high. Breakers often trip when a heavy power user like a vacuum cleaner or power tool is being used when other devices are already in use on the same circuit. Simply find which breaker is in the “tripped” position, turn it off, and then turn it back on. If the breaker keeps tripping, contact an electrician.

Cold Water

Your water heater should reliably give you hot water within a few seconds, with the obvious exceptions of when lots of people have showered or lots of laundry is being done. If your water is too cold, you may just need to adjust the temperature setting. Follow the instructions in the owner’s manual or on the water heater itself. If you can’t get hot water at any setting, it may be time to talk to an expert about having gas water heater installation done.

Slow Sink Drains

With frequent use, any drain in your home may eventually accumulate enough debris to create a partial or complete blockage. This is a recipe for disaster, but it’s easy enough to fix. A bathroom vanity can often be unclogged by removing the sink plug. This is done by removing the threaded cap that holds the pull lever in place. This is located on the back of the pipe that drains the sink. Remove the lever and the plug, then use a piece of wire to remove accumulated hair and grime. Replace the plug, lever, and cap, and you’ll be back to normal.

Clogged Gutters

When a buildup of leaves is letting your gutters overflow, the water can create muddy areas, wash away mulch, or create a wintertime slip hazard. Keeping downspouts and gutters clear is easy as long as you can safely access their high locations. Remove the screws that attach the downspouts to the gutter. Clear out the “s” curve that connects them and spray a garden hose down the spout to make sure it’s clear. Then take your house to the opposite end of the gutter and spray water until all the leaves and shingle grit have run out of the downspout connection. Then reattach it and clean up the mess you’ve created.

Some jobs are not appropriate for homeowners to do, but many others are. As long as you understand which jobs are which, you’ll be fine. The more you can do yourself, the more money you’ll save.

Guest Post By:

Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.