To Honey Do or Not to Do: 3 More Safety Tips for DIY HandyPeople

The practice of doing it yourself handiwork can be a challenge that many don’t see coming. Any overzealous homeowner looking to knock some things off their to-do list or prove their fix-it skills to their spouse can take on a project that seems easy and turns into a nightmare. It’s one thing to think a project will take twenty minutes and it turns out it takes 2 days, it’s a totally different thing to be rewiring your home or installing that 50 lb light fixture on your vaulted ceiling above your stairs. When you are not trained to make some of the more complex updates to your home, don’t attempt it. You can put yourself in some serious danger. Attempting to perform home renovations and repairs without the proper equipment and training can lead to bodily injury, as well as severe damage to the home.

Luckily, here at Maintenance KC, we have experience in these kinds of fixes and are here to help any homeowner or repairman tackle the tough jobs. This is the second in our series of tips and tricks for your Honey-Do List, if you missed our first blog, check it out – Home Maintenance Tips for Aspiring DIY-ers.

Our following tips go beyond the initial honey-do list of painting and hanging pictures. Read more for some more serious honey-do list safety tips.

Tip 1: When a Smell is More than a Smell

Some larger home repairs revolve around the heating system. This integral system can be prone to a host of dangers if the repairs aren’t made properly. When a heating system is improperly installed or repaired, there are several signs that something could be wrong. 

One of the clearest ones is the smell of gas in the home! The smell, often compared to rotten eggs or propane, can be a sign of anything from an improperly secured coupling to a faulty regulator, all of which can be dangerous. Heating repairs beyond the changing of fluids and other simple repairs are usually best left to experts. Gas leaks can be extremely dangerous, and if you notice any of the signs or experience symptoms of exposure such as lightheadedness, nausea, or fainting, leave the area immediately and contact your local emergency services department to resolve the leak. 

Tip 2: Hanging Things Without Hurting Yourself 

Hanging anything from a simple wall mount shelf to a more complex ceiling fan can require a lot more skill and tools than most people think. It’s important to use the right kind of mounts and equipment to hang whatever it is you’re attempting to hang, especially if what you’re hanging comes with its own mounts and screws. They come with these things specifically because it’s the right tool for the job, and if you try to cut corners using something else you may find the screws or mounts are too short, too long, or too wide. Any of these could lead to your perfect wall hanging coming crashing to the floor taking some drywall down with it, or worse falling right on top of you or someone else. It’s always smarter to use the proper mounts and screws than to use something you have lying around. 

Extra Tip: When mounting something on the wall that needs to be more secure (ie – shelving, heavy picture, or decor) always look for the wall stud. You can do this by lightly knocking on the wall. The drywall will sound hollow and when you hit the stud you should hear the difference. Or you can always purchase a stud finder at your local home improvement store.

Tip 3: Plumbing Problems with Common Fixes

Plumbing problems can be some of the nastiest for new homeowners to come across, due to the huge messes they tend to create. Overflowing toilets, backed up drains, and spewing showers have messy beginnings, and DIY fixers can panic when they see water come bubbling up through every fixture in their brand new bathroom. Luckily, several of these problems can be solved with a few of the same tools that we recommend keeping on hand. Liquid drain cleaner excels at breaking up organic clogs in sinks and showers, handheld drain snakes can remove larger clogs such as hair and organic build-up, and the standard trusty plunger will clear up any clogs in the toilet, as well as smaller ones in showers. These simple tools are something every homeowner should keep on hand in case of one of these common household problems. 

When the Honey-Do Becomes a Honey-Don’t Call the Maintenance Experts

Not every home repair needs some high-end procedure and expensive tools to fix. Sometimes all you need is some simple tools and a little elbow grease. But when it is something that requires more than that, know you can turn to the qualified experts at Maintenance KC. Get a free quote on our website and watch your honey-do list become a thing of the past.