Common Home Problems and How to Fix Them: A Practical Handbook for Homeowners

Just like pretty much everything else you buy, homes don’t last forever. At some point, you’re going to have to invest your time and money in them to keep them in good condition. 

Most homeowners know this intrinsically. Purchasing a home means that you’ll spend around 1 percent of its value on upkeep every year – perhaps a little more if it’s run down. 

But where, exactly, will you be spending your money? That’s the topic of this article. We take a look at some of the commonest home problems and how to fix them. Read on to learn more. 

Squeaky floors

Squeaky floors are annoying, especially if people in your household are light sleepers. Creaking sounds in the night are enough to drive anyone mad and wake people up.

The good news is that fixing squeaky floors is usually easier than you think. Usually, the problem is gaps between the various elements in the flooring. For instance, if you have access to the underside of the floor, you can use wood shims or glue to fill the gaps between the floorboards and the joists. You can also use a special kit on carpeted floors that allows you to drive screws through the carpet without damaging it. Again, this helps to hold the entire structure together to stop it from creaking or sounding awful when you walk over it. 

Blocked drains

Blocked drains are another common home problem you’re likely to encounter as a long-term property owner. At some point, someone is going to flush something down the toilet they shouldn’t, and that will create a blockage. 

Your best bet is to contact drain clearing services. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to clear the blockage yourself. However, if you have a plumber’s manual drain snake, you can experiment with clearing the blockage, but it may be too far down for this approach to be effective. 

A leaky faucet

Another problem you can usually solve yourself at home is a leaky faucet. The best way to do this is to replace the worn-out washer or cartridge. To do this, you’ll need to follow these steps:-

1. Turn off the water supply to the faucet and plug the drain with a rag or a stopper.
2. Remove the handle by unscrewing the screw or popping off the cap.
3. Use a wrench to unscrew the nut that holds the stem or cartridge in place.
4. Make sure you have a cartridge or replacement part that matches the model of faucet you have. 
5. Put the whole unit back together and test it to observe whether the dripping or leaking has stopped. If it hasn’t, you may need to call out a plumber. 

Stuck window

Lastly, most homeowners have to eventually deal with a stuck window. Stuck windows are a major problem because they limit ventilation and deny you a means of emergency escape. 

The most common problem is paint sticking to the window and window frame. Try cutting through it with a utility knife. Failing that, use a block of wood and hammer to gently tap the window frame until it releases.