When we become independent, we might end up having to live by ourselves. During such times, it is very common to end up living in a small apartment, but some people manage to strike a deal and rent a house or a big apartment instead, perhaps with the help of some friends while you and they live together as roommates.
Regardless of the situation, being independent comes with a lot of responsibilities, and most of them are not taught at school or by our parents, so we have to learn how to deal with them along the way. Things like properly doing our laundry, keeping the floor and bathroom clean, cooking our own meals, and taking care of our health, are among the things involved in the process.
But at times, we might have to face circumstances that can put us in very uncomfortable situations. A sink breaking and flooding the floor with nasty water, unpleasant odors inside the bathroom or a kitchen because of the piping system, problems with the electrical wiring system or appliances, stains in walls and floor tiles caused by mold… The list is way too big to cover it all.
How do you react to such situations, if you know nothing about them, though? Well, you can always learn how to do it! In this guide, we will talk about some of the things you can DIY, and how to actually approach the process.
Of course, there are occasions in which dealing with a problem or task by yourself might not be doable, and that’s where you can always count on professionals instead. For example, handyman services by Residential Improvement Doctor focus on big projects related to home improvement including remodeling, repairs, and installing components to a house or apartment.
What to Consider Before DIY
When we say DIY, it means Do It Yourself, a very popular trending that has taken over the internet for a very long time. It motivates people to try doing things themselves and take the challenge before hiring a professional service provider.
Although this trending is very healthy and at times can help people with very specific situations, even more considering the quarantine situation all around the world, there are occasions in where doing things by yourself is just not possible.
That is why, before deciding whether to DIY or hire a professional, there are certain things you should consider first, and the main thing to have in mind is the complexity of the situation.
Certain tasks are too complicated to be dealt with by inexperienced people, and these tasks tend to require specific tools to be done properly and meticulous knowledge. At times, some of the tasks that enter this category can be dangerous as well.
Some of the problems you should always avoid can be checked in this article over here, but I can share some of the most common problems you should always avoid:
- Electricity Problems
- Mold or asbestos removal
- Tree removal
- Pest infestations
If you visit the previous link, you will get a solid idea of why some of the problems you might face are better deal with by professionals, so I really recommend you to check it out.
Overall, if the task is too dangerous or requires you to invest money in equipment or tools that are just too expensive, you might as well hire a professional instead. If you feel like the problem might worsen if you take on the challenge, always hire a professional!
Things You Can Deal by Yourself
Now, there are still things we can do to save up some money on repairs and professional services. These, in comparison to the problems I mentioned earlier, are much simpler tasks that might require little to no investment in tools and equipment, and the amount of knowledge required to deal with them is almost null.
Normally, DIY repairs and installations can be done if you have a drill, wrenches, hammers, nails, and simple tools that require very little training to be used. Among the things included in this category, we can add:
- Adjusting a water pipe to deal with a water leak: this can be done easily with a wrench, and some pipes can even be adjusted by hand.
- Performing maintenance to the water pipe system: thankfully, you can get your hands on water pipe cleaning solutions very easily, and as long as you follow the instructions, you will be fine.
- Cleaning stains from floor tiles, walls, and furniture: there are also cleaning products to perform maintenance for tiles, walls, and furniture. Always consider their material before purchasing any product.
- Performing maintenance to window frames, and windows and door hinges: depending on the material of the window frame, you might want to perform regularly to unregular maintenance.
Steel and aluminum frames require less maintenance than window frames, for example. Hinges, though, are a different case, since they are the ones that deal with most of the movements.
- Cleaning the air conditioning unit’s filters: depending on how complex the air conditioner is, maintenance can be a piece of cake or a real challenge. Research is recommended before deciding whether to do it or not.
- Unclogging a toilet or sink: this can be done either with an unclogging tool or with a cleaning solution.
You should check this article https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/at-home/do-it-yourself-home-repairs.html if you are interested in more detailed information about these tasks. A general rule of thumb is to always research the problem before trying anything, and decide whether to do it or not based on the information you get.
