A Chinese proverb states “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” Well, while not everyone fishes, they still benefit from learning and practicing at least a few home DIY tasks – the kind that can give you a nice sense of accomplishment AND save you money.
All you need is the will to learn and try these and other routine matters around the house:
Toilet 101 – Sooner or later, a toilet will clog, but the fix can be quite simple. If the bowl is threatening to overflow, shut off the water supply to the toilet and use a small bucket to empty out about half the water. Then, proceed with the plunger. If that doesn’t do the trick, get yourself an auger and take another try.
Clearing Gutters – If a ladder is needed to reach the gutters, use a stabilizer. If you and ladders don’t get along, you can still tackle this task with special attachments for your wet-dry vac or leaf blower.
Finding Wall Studs – If you ever want to hang a mirror, artwork, or shelving, you’ll want to know where the studs are. You can use a magnetic stud finder that will beep when it finds nails in the boards or, do it the old fashioned way – knock on the wall and if it sounds solid, chances are there is a stud behind it.
Install a Thermostat – Still using the old-style thermostat? Up your efficiency factor and install a new programmable thermostat. Turn off the breaker to your HVAC system, remove the old thermostat, only leaving the wiring in place. The number of wires you see (two or four) determines what type of thermostat you need. Purchase the correct one and follow the installation instructions.
Change Home Comfort Filters – One of the easiest and most effective ways to maximize your heating and cooling system’s energy efficiency is to change the filter every month or so during the heating or cooling season.
Caulk It – From weatherproofing doors and windows to sealing the area around a bathtub or shower, knowing how to use a caulk gun will come in quite handy all over the house.
Painting – Before painting, clear the room of furnishings, or move them to the center of the room. Vacuum the walls, ceiling, and floors, and tape off areas you don’t want painted. Remove outlet and switch plate covers and place a drop cloth on the floor to protect it from paint splatters. Finally, patch and sand any imperfections as needed. Now you’re ready to paint!
Most people would say replacing a thermostat might be the most challenging of the tasks just listed. We agree. More than that, we encourage you to contact Optimum Air if you’re even a little unsure about what to install in place of what you already have and exactly how the installation should be performed. Plus, we can install a more sophisticated thermostat – one with a Wi-Fi connection and multiple convenience settings – and show you how to use it, one simple step at a time.
If it has to do with heating and cooling, it has to do with Optimum Air.