DIY Life

Want to know what my biggest pet peeve is? OK, it may not be my biggest, b/c I have quite a few, but this one's high on my list. Ready? I hate nothing more than unpacking my seasonal items, only to find that they've been broken, or were, in fact, broken upon storing them.

Naturally, I'm beginning to store my gardening tools in preparation for a chilly winter season, and I'm making sure everything is in tact for next spring. After all, there's nothing worse than dragging out your garden hose, only to realize you failed to repair it last fall. First on my repair list? The sprinkler head:



One important thing to keep in mind when tackling a sprinkler head repair:
When using a hand trowel or old serrated knife to cut through the lawn or dirt surrounding the sprinkler head, be careful not to cut into the water line, which could make this project much more costly in the long run!

That's it --- get to work! Good luck, and thank you, Eric!

Your roof is wearing out – right now. Thanks to the UV radiation that bakes roof shingles until they are brittle, the summer sun takes more years out of a roof's life than any other environmental factor. If your roof is looking a little worse for wear, the summer is also a good time to think about having it repaired or replaced.

On my national home improvement radio show, roofing ranks among the top ten most asked-about topics; of those questions, the decision to repair or replace is a frequent area of confusion.

First, roof leaks can almost always be repaired without replacing the roof. Most roofs leak due to flashing problems, typically at an intersection of two roof components; roof and plumbing vent, roof and chimney, roof and wall, etc. An easy way to help pinpoint that leak is by strategically rinsing down each area with a hose until the offending spot is found.

To learn more about replacing a roof, read on.

If the temperature is cold and you're not running water regularly, there is a risk that your water meter will freeze. This instructables post teaches us how to thaw a water meter. I'm sure some of you will see a subtitle with the word fire, and be that much more interested, while others would rather steer clear. The author warns that the instructions involve the use of fire, so make sure that you use appropriate caution, and only apply these instruction to a water meter. If you're still interested, read on for the materials, and check out the full post for the instructions and pictures.

What you'll need

1. Channel lock pliers
2. Vice grip Crescent wrench
3. Lighter
4. Newspaper
5. marshmallow
6. Stick
7. A friend to help out

You can fix this yourself unless the meter is actually cracked in which case you'll need to call the water company for a repair or replacement. In very cold conditions, it is suggested that you leave a very light stream of water running through the night to avoid freezing.

If you haven't already put up your Christmas lights, now is the time to do it. Christmas is less than three weeks away, and by the time you get the lights up, it will be time to take them down again, storing them away for another winter.

If you have come across a string of lights that has some burned out bulbs, don't throw the lights away. Read up on how to fix those Christmas lights. Maybe you just have a bad fuse, maybe you stapled through the electrical wire, or maybe the entire string is bad. If you have had that string of lights for 10 years, then maybe it is time to replace it, and start from scratch.

My lights are so tangled up, not to mention old, that if I start checking them now, I just might have them ready to hang up by next Christmas! In the meantime, I'll be checking my properly stored lights and fixing them for another season of Christmas cheer. Make sure to check yours too, and please be careful!

How energy efficient is your home? If your heating bills are out of control and your environmental impact is worsening then it's time to do a self check on your energy usage. This DIY home energy audit is a detailed, 9 step approach to evaluating and improving upon your energy consumption.

Getting to know your energy bills is the first step. You can't notice patterns and set goals if you don't know what you're spending and why. Once you know your bills you can start to work to bring them down. The full instructions explain how to examine your heating and cooling equipment along with your appliances. Looking for and repairing air leaks and energy sucks will make a big difference. You'll also want to replace your bulbs, and be mindful of light usage. Lastly, gauge your results. How have the changes impacted your energy bills? What changes can you continue to make? If you want added information or a more in-depth energy audit, this web based audit tool will be perfect.

Review the 9 step audit process and make changes around the house. You'll notice a savings on your energy bills and you'll lessen your environmental impact.

I was going to write a blog post for you about how to replace a light switch. As I did my research in an attempt to present the information in a complete and concise manner, it occurred to me that all I was doing was trying to reinvent the wheel. So, rather than writing something which would simply qualify as another layer on top of a multitude of existing quality information, I present you the highlights from: "Gary's favorite electrical switch replacement tutorials:"

How to replace a light switch from About.com

Better Homes and Gardens, replace a switch.

Michigan State University explanation of how to replace a wall switch.

I invite you to review these three step-by-step tutorials. You will find that they each provide a good basic guide to getting the job done. I've also included a nice list of electrical safety tips from the Natural Handyman that you can review and share with your friends and loved ones.

Always remember that when electricity is not treated with the appropriate respect, it can become an effective killer in the blink of an eye. When it comes to electrical repair, there can be no guess work involved.

There comes a time in the busy life of every home that the kitchen faucet must be replaced. That time came to my kitchen faucet today and after about one hour of light work the job is done. Not only did I replace the faucet. I upgraded it a little. The fixture I installed today is a fair standard better than the $29.95 model I installed a couple years ago.

The process is fairly simple and requires only a new faucet kit, Teflon pipe tape and a few of the proper tools. If you are a little handy, a lot patient and able to get under the sink on your back, you can do this plumbing job. I have outlined the project for you and I have included some pictures to help you along.

I think it's safe to assume that you all know how to change a light bulb. What you may not know is how to change a broken light bulb. Broken bulbs that are still in the socket can be hard to change and very dangerous. A potato can be your saving tool.

What you'll need

1. 1 raw potato
2. 1 knife
3. 1 replacement light bulb
4. 1 bag for trash/glass shards
5. Gloves
6. Protective eye wear
7. Vacuum

The instructions on how to change a broken light bulb with a potato are simple, but you should pay particular attention to the safety tips. Next time you break a bulb in the socket don't mess around trying to pick through glass, just grab a potato and remove the bulb with ease.

AOL Money has an interesting article: Top 5ive Things Never to Repair. Although you'll need to check the article itself to understand the reasoning behind it, if you're curious, the five items are:

• Computers
• Digital cameras
• MP3 players
• Microwaves
• Cell phones

Read more about it after the break!

My wife I chose our last apartment based largely on the fact that the other tenants' complaints that the landlord never stopped by or cared much about the condition of the property. This was a welcome change from the pair of knit-picky, nosy, voyeuristic landladies we endured during our first years of marriage. However, that meant that minor home improvements were up to me if I wanted them done in a timely manor.

Most of the outlets in the apartment were so worn out that lamp cords would fall out the moment my hand let go. At best walking across the floor caused lights to flicker and the radio to shut off. Fortunately, fixing the problem is as easy as homemade sin and dirt cheap (so you don't have to worry about investing much pocket change into someone else's property).

All you need to do the deed is a 39¢ outlet from the hardware store (or Walmart's hardware dept.) and a #2 ("regular" size) flat screwdriver. Most electrical outlets are designed to accept both flat ( | ) and Philips ( + ) screwdrivers so if you have a Philips grab that too (it can be easier to use) but it's not necessary. A novice should expect to spend about 15 minutes from start to finish.

I have assembled a list of no cost and low cost strategies that home sellers can easily use to sell their homes quicker and for better prices. Most of these ideas will cost nothing more than some time and good hard work. None of these ideas should individually cost over $400 depending on your region and the size of your home and that money spent should be returned by double or even triple when your home sells.