DIY Home Tips to Try Before Calling a Handyman

I like to believe there are many people in the construction and handyman industries who do outstanding work. However, in many people's minds, the home repair business has some unscrupulous individuals who give us a bad name.

I have found that giving people helpful and free DIY advice always brings them back. So here are some helpful DIY appliance repair tips to know before you call a handyman or home repair service:

1. Garbage disposal not working

Before you call a plumber: try clicking the reset button located underneath the disposal. Or, if the blades are not turning, you can manually turn the blades with the tool supplied by the manufacturer, which resembles a hex wrench.

2. HVAC problems

First, check to see if your breaker has thrown on your electrical panel and just flip it back.

Or, in some cases, turn your thermostat to “off” and then go to your HVAC unit and flip the switch to “off,” too. Wait for three minutes and then switch your thermostat back to heat or cool and also flip the switch on your HVAC unit to “on” In many cases, this resets the system and you've just saved yourself a service call.

3. Electrical outlet not working

In many bathrooms, garages, kitchens and outdoor living areas — anywhere water exposure is possible — the outlets are GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupters. Simply push the reset button located on the outlet. This is an easy fix that saves you from calling your electrician.

4. Ceiling leak

Diagnosing a ceiling leak can become very frustrating. There may be several factors causing this and you just don't know what it is — all you know is that you have leak and you want it fixed now.

I tell my clients to lightly tape two to three sections of tissue paper to the ceiling then closely watch the tissue paper to see when the tissue gets wet and when it happened. For example, did it get wet after someone flushed the toilet? Did it get wet after someone used the sink? You may have to stop using one of these fixtures temporarily and see which one is causing the leak.