LET’S FACE IT… Home repair emergencies typically don’t give any us any sort of notice! Who’s had those annoying house crises pop-up where you felt you weren’t prepared to deal with them? They’re bound to happen to ALL homeowners and especially, NEW homeowners. Our BLOG series will highlight some of the typical tasks that ALL homeowners should be able to handle. It surely doesn’t cover everything you’ll need to know about your house BUT it’s a great place to start!
Put a Tool Kit Together
The following MUST-HAVES should be in every new and seasoned homeowner’s tool kit: curved-claw hammer, adjustable wrench, needle-nose and standard pliers, regular and Phillips head screwdrivers and a pair of safety glasses.
An electric drill and a set of twist bits are also invaluable. Cordless drills are convenient but may not offer enough torque to handle those heavier jobs. If you start with a corded drill, you can later pick up a convenient cordless for those lighter jobs. Investing in good-quality tools is worth every penny. Take care of them and they’ll last for years!
Find the Water Main Shutoff
When a water pipe leaks, it needs to be handled immediately! Water shutoff valves for individual pipes are typically found along supply lines and near fixtures, but those valves can break. Therefore, it’s important to know HOW TO STOP the water supply to the whole house.
The main shutoff valve might be right next to an outdoor meter or may even be inside the house or garage. Some water lines have two shutoff valves, one on each side. If yours does, it is recommended that you use the valve farthest from the street. As a precautionary measure, open and close the main water shutoff valve once a year to help prevent it from corroding!
Restart a Garbage Disposal
When disposal blades jam, a little force may be necessary to dislodge them. Most units have a hole on the underside of the disposal that an Allen wrench fits into. Check underneath the unit to see if an Allen wrench is attached. If not, you can buy a set of Allen wrenches inexpensively.
Unplug the disposal AND turn off the power at the electrical panel. Insert the Allen wrench into the hole and work it back and forth until the blades are freed. Knowing that you have turned the power off to the unit, remove any debris from the disposal. Press the reset button which is usually on the bottom of the unit and then turn the power back on.
Check out our Trusted Vendors List for contact info for local Hernando County vendors if you need assistance with any repairs.
We hope you found our blog post interesting, helpful and informative.
Thinking of BUYING OR SELLING a home in the Spring Hill, Brooksville, Weeki Wachee or the Hernando Beach areas of Hernando County, Florida? Be sure to visit www.GailSellsFloridaHomes.com to explore our state-of-the-art MLS Map Search Feature where BUYERS can SEARCH MLS listings and SELLERS can SEE what their competition is doing!
For a “sneak peek” of what Hernando County has to offer you and your family, simply click on this link to access our Aerial Video Tour … www.ComeHometoHernandoCounty.com … For your viewing pleasure, we recommend you have your speakers on!
Until then… it’s all about YOU!