Introduction
You can save money on home repairs and upgrades by doing them yourself! These DIY money-saving hacks will help ensure your home is well maintained and keep it looking great.
Check the water heater.
The first thing you should do is make sure your water heater is in working order. Check the thermostat and pilot light, as well as the temperature and pressure relief valve. You should also make sure that there is gas supply to the water heater, as well as sufficient gas pressure coming into it (this can be checked with a gauge).
Run a vinegar test.
A vinegar test is a simple way to see if your windows and mirrors are clean.
To do it, take a clean white rag and dip it into some vinegar (about 1/2 cup). Rub the rag over the entire surface of your mirror or window. If there are still streaks after you’ve wiped off all of the liquid from the glass, then repeat this step until they’re gone.
Get your windows cleaned.
- Get your windows cleaned professionally.
- Use vinegar and water to clean windows.
- Use a squeegee to remove excess water, then dry with newspaper or cloth towels.
Boost your insulation.
One of the easiest ways to save money on your energy costs is by installing insulation in your home. Insulation can be installed in walls, ceilings and floors (or even the garage). It’s a good way to keep your home comfortable year-round and reduce noise from outside.
To install new insulation:
- Remove old insulation from areas where you want more of it using a utility knife or other sharp tool (like scissors). Be careful not to damage any wires that may be behind it!
Stop drafts from the inside.
At the end of the day, you can’t control the weather. But you can take steps to keep your home warmer and more energy-efficient.
Here are some simple DIY fixes for drafts:
- Seal cracks with caulk or weather stripping. If you have small gaps around windows or doors (especially around window casings), apply caulk or weather stripping to block out drafts. You might need to use multiple products if there are several areas in need of repair–and don’t forget about baseboards!
- Replace old windows with newer ones that have better seals around their frames. This will help keep out air from outside and lower energy costs by reducing how much heat escapes through these areas over time as well as improving insulation overall within your home’s walls because they’re better able keep cool air inside when summer rolls around again next year (or whenever). It may seem like an expensive project now but over time it’ll pay off big time by saving money on heating bills later down road when temperatures start dropping each autumn season begins again.”
Weatherproof your home’s exterior.
When you’re weather-proofing your home, there are a few steps to keep in mind:
- Check the exterior of your house for any cracks or holes in windows or doors. If you find any, fill them with caulk. This will help prevent wind from coming through and damaging anything inside.
- If there is any damage to siding or shingles on your roof, call a professional to repair it before winter hits! The last thing you want is ice dams forming on top of those areas during freezing temperatures because they can cause major leaks inside when they melt away later on (and who wants those?).
Fix leaks in the basement.
If you’re lucky, the leak is coming from a small hole in your basement ceiling or wall. If this is the case, you can fix it by taping off the area with painter’s tape and applying some caulk or putty over top of it. Once dry, inspect for signs of mold growth (mold will be black) and if present clean up with bleach solution.
If there’s no obvious source for your leak but you know there must be one somewhere nearby (as in: water stains on walls), use a moisture meter to locate where moisture levels are highest around your house before making any repairs.
You can save money on home repairs and upgrades by doing them yourself!
You can save money on home repairs and upgrades by doing them yourself!
- You don’t need a lot of tools to get started. All you really need are some basic hand tools, like screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers. If you’re looking for something more advanced, there are plenty of tutorials online that will show you how to make all sorts of things from scratch–from furniture to lighting fixtures or even art projects (like this one). You can also find instructions on how to do basic repairs like fixing broken faucets or hanging pictures on the wall without having any experience beforehand.
- It’s easy to learn how to do these things if they interest you enough; all it takes is practice until they become second nature! The point here isn’t just saving money but also being able to take pride in what we create ourselves versus buying something pre-made off the shelf at Home Depot/Walmart etcetera…and let’s face it: sometimes those stores don’t always have exactly what we want anyway!
Conclusion
We hope that these hacks have inspired you to get out there and make your home a little more affordable. Whether it’s something small like checking the water heater or making sure your windows are clean, or something bigger like weatherproofing your exterior or boosting insulation in the attic, we think it’s important to remember that every little step counts when it comes to saving money–and that goes double when it comes time for repairs!
