Three Different DIY Projects that Could Save You Big Money

Many home repairs can break the bank, especially those that require a specialist to come in and do the work. Of course, there are some things that should be left to the pros, like electrical work, but there are plenty of projects that you should be able to tackle on your own.

Water Heater

Replacing a water heater can be expensive and should be tackled by a pro, but you can perform some maintenance to help prolong the life of your tank. First, you can test the temperature relief with a bucket and a few minutes. The bucket should be placed under the extension pipe. Next, open the valve. You should see water flowing when you do this. When you close the valve, the water should not flow at all. After this, it is recommended to set the thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Checking the pilot light is also important. Without the pilot light, your gas water heater simply will not provide hot water. The flame should be steady and blue. If there is no flame, look on the side of your unit for instructions on how to safely and properly relight the pilot. For affordable supplies, check out this site .

Roofing

Laying down a completely new roof is tedious and pricey, but you can do your own roof repairs. For example, if you notice that a few shingles have blown off due to some heavy winds the day before, you can replace these quite easily. Buy some shingles that match the ones currently on your roof. You will also need roofing nails, a hammer and a ladder. First and foremost, be safe when doing this. Wear shoes with good grips, make sure you feel steady and have someone on the ground holding the ladder for you. Then, simply place the missing shingles and nail them into place.

HVAC

Many HVAC tasks should be left to the pros, but with a few HVAC supplies and a little spare time, there are some maintenance tasks that you can do to save money and keep your system running strong. One of the most important things is to replace the air filter monthly. You AC unit is just like a car, the air filter gets full and simply has to be pulled out and replaced.

Before each warm season, turn the power off and clean the coils and fan blades. Always make sure the power is off first. You can gently brush away debris and dirt and then just put the fan blades and fan grill back on.