I love to fix stuff and I like to know how things work (as if you couldn’t tell from reading my blog). What I don’t like is paying someone to repair or replace something I can do myself. Plus, fixing something myself gives me a huge sense of accomplishment. So, can you fix it? I say, yes you can!
What You Need
With the right tools, parts and how-to videos, you can fix, repair or replace almost anything. For better or for worse, I have a tendency to assume that if someone else can do it, I can too. I figure we can always call a professional if I can’t fix something or make it worse, which has happened. Hey, they can’t all be winners.
But I’ve had far more successes than failures. I’m confident I’ve saved us enough money over the years by repairing things myself that we can call a professional when we need to. I’ve provided some of my success stories and failures below.
One instance I will tell you about here and reference below for example purposes is when I replaced our refrigerator ice maker. First, I did some research and tried some troubleshooting. When nothing worked, I watched a few how-to videos on how to replace the entire unit. It didn’t look that difficult so I found the part online and replaced it myself, pix below. The ice maker has worked great ever since!
How To Videos
Thanks to YouTube, you can find how-to videos on anything and everything. If you know what needs to be repaired or replaced, watch a few videos to see if it’s something you can do. Once you find a how-to video that you find easy to follow, text it to yourself so you can play and pause it on your phone while you work. Or use a laptop if you can.
As an example, below is the how-to video I used to install a new ice maker in our LG refrigerator. The gentleman in this video from Appliance Parts Pros makes a lot of good videos with easy to follow instructions.
Parts
Anyone can order parts on the internet. The trick is knowing exactly which part/s you need. If it’s a home appliance, start on the manufacturer’s homepage. Even if you have an old model that’s not being made anymore, chances are the owner’s manual and installation instructions are on the internet somewhere.
If you can, locate the model number and serial number. Most are located inside the door, back or bottom of the appliance. Once you have the make, model and serial numbers, you can search online for user manuals, assembly instructions, troubleshooting tips, replacement parts, and how-to videos.
There are countless websites to order parts from. A few sites I’ve used are Appliance Part Pros, Genuine Replacement Parts and, of course, Amazon. Home Depot has a great DIY Dare To Repair page where you can find troubleshooting, how-to videos and replacement parts. I ordered the new ice maker from Appliance Parts Pros.
Tools
You must have tools on hand to perform any repairs. Sometimes it’s just the basics, such as screwdriver, hammer, pliers, drill, tape measure, etc.
Ratchet It
My favorite and most used tool is my ratcheting screwdriver. It came with a variety a bits, making it several tools in one. The ratcheting motion allows you to pivot the tool back and forth without removing and repositioning it. Plus, the ratcheting motion is reversible. This makes for quick, easy work and less hand and arm fatigue.
Another great option is a ratcheting wrench, also known as a right angle screwdriver. It too comes with a set of interchangeable bits and the ratcheting motion is reversible. I have one and LOVE it.
A ratcheting wrench works exactly like a ratcheting screwdriver except that it operates horizontally instead of vertically. The advantages of this style are being able to fit into tight spaces, extra torque (easier to put your weight behind a lever to tighten or loosen screws) and some may find a lever-like handle easier to work with (more arm than wrist).
A ratcheting screwdriver or wrench with a comprehensive set of interchangeable bits ensures you always have what you need.
If you’ve ever put together furniture from Ikea, Wayfair or the like, you will appreciate these ratcheting tools! The hexagon shaped bits will replace that crapy Allen wrench they send, aka, the dreaded little L-shaped tool. Trust me, I have put together SO many pieces of furniture over the years I could work for Task Rabbit.
Having the right tools makes all the difference. The ratcheting screwdriver or wrench will speed up assembly and save your fingers. I highly recommend getting one (or both).
Power Up
But if you really want to make fast work of what you’re doing, you’ll need a power tool. You can buy an electric screwdriver or a drill. I prefer a drill because it’s more powerful (20-volts versus 4-volts) and more versatile. You can’t drill holes with an electric screwdriver.
I love my DeWALT compact drill. It’s a 20-volt cordless, variable speed drill that came with a bag and two rechargeable batteries, so I never have to worry about my drill dying mid-task. The drill rotation is reversible, enabling me to take out screws as quickly as I can put them in.
In addition, the drill is lightweight and has an LED light to help you see what you’re working on. I used to have a Ryobi cordless drill, which was also good. The Ryobi drill pictured here comes with a set of bits and a carrying case. Bits for the DeWALT drill are sold separately. There are several different sets available in a variety of prices so you can buy a set with the bits you think you’ll use most.
Get A Grip
No toolbox is complete without a good set of pliers. I am particularly fond of my needle nose pliers since they are useful for tiny tasks, like fixing jewelry. But all pliers come in handy at one time or another, even if it just to hold a nut in place while you loosen or tighten a screw.
Project Specific
Certain jobs require specific tools. For instance, to replace the screen of a window or sliding door. For that you need a special screen roller tool that looks like a pizza cutter. The roller wedges the screen and spline (a rubber or vinyl cord) into the groove around the frame of the screen door or window. It is the spline that holds the screen material to the frame and keeps it taut. Replacing a screen is actually very easy to do, I’ve replaced a few over the years. You can buy the parts separately or buy a screen replacement kit.
Success Stories
A few years ago, we needed to replace the doorknob on the door from our house to the garage because the latch kept catching in the strike plate. Instead of replacing it with the same type of simple key lock knob, I installed a programmable keyless entry lock, which we love.
I recently replaced the deflector (floor cover) of our bottom oven. It had a faulty design that caused the oven igniter to break. So I asked the guy replacing the igniter (because I was not about to play with fire, literally) what part I needed. I bought it online, replaced it myself and saved us over $250.
Some projects are simple repairs, not replacements. We have an old refrigerator in our garage that had started to get rust spots. So I bought some Rust-Oleum white spray paint and, voilà, we have a refreshed fridge.
As you can see, the sill of our sliding door was banged up and there was some rotting wood. So I dug out the bad spots, patched them with wood filler, sanded and painted it. It was a lot less expensive to buy wood filler and reuse the exterior house trim paint we already had than it would have been to replace the entire plank of wood. And, if you don’t look too closely, it looks brand-new.
A Flapper Flop
One time I tried to replace a toilet flapper, which I’d done successfully before. This time, the old flapper was being stubborn. I might have used excessive force to get it off because I ended up breaking the flush valve hinge in the process and had to call a plumber. Oops. They can’t all be winners and I’m OK with that.
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