10 Home Repairs You Can Do in Just a Few Minutes

Maintaining a home can sometimes feel overwhelming, but not every repair requires a contractor or a full day’s work. Here are ten quick and simple home repairs that you can tackle in just a few minutes, saving you time, money, and effort.

1. Fixing a Leaky Faucet

A dripping faucet can waste a significant amount of water over time and drive up your utility bills. Most leaks are caused by a worn-out washer, which you can replace in just a few minutes.

Steps:

1. Turn off the water supply to the faucet.
2. Remove the faucet handle.
3. Take out the old washer and replace it with a new one.
4. Reassemble the faucet and turn the water back on.

2. Unclogging a Drain

A slow drain can be annoying and unsanitary. Luckily, unclogging it can be quick and straightforward.

Steps:

1. Remove the drain cover.
2. Use a drain snake or a plunger to clear the blockage.
3. Rinse the drain with hot water.

3. Patching Small Holes in Walls

Small holes from nails or picture hangers are easy to fix with some spackling compound.

Steps:

1. Clean the hole to remove any debris.
2. Apply spackling compound with a putty knife.
3. Smooth it out and let it dry.
4. Sand the area lightly and touch up with paint.

4. Replacing a Light Bulb

This is one of the simplest repairs but often overlooked until the bulb burns out.

Steps:

1. Turn off the power to the light fixture.
2. Remove the old bulb.
3. Screw in the new bulb and turn the power back on.

5. Tightening Loose Cabinet Handles

Loose cabinet handles can be annoying and reduce the functionality of your kitchen.

Steps:

1. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws holding the handle.
2. If the screws are stripped, replace them with slightly longer screws for a firmer hold.

6. Re-caulking a Bathtub

Old, cracked caulk can lead to water damage. Re-caulking is a quick fix that prevents bigger problems.

Steps:

1. Remove the old caulk with a utility knife or caulk remover tool.
2. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol.
3. Apply a new bead of caulk and smooth it with a caulk finishing tool or your finger.

7. Replacing an Air Filter

A dirty air filter can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system and affect air quality.

Steps:

1. Locate your HVAC system’s air filter.
2. Remove the old filter.
3. Insert a new filter in the correct direction.

8. Fixing a Running Toilet

A running toilet can waste a lot of water. It’s often caused by a faulty flapper.

Steps:

1. Turn off the water supply to the toilet.
2. Remove the lid from the tank.
3. Replace the flapper with a new one.
4. Turn the water back on and test the toilet.

9. Lubricating a Squeaky Door Hinge

Squeaky doors can be easily fixed with some lubrication.

Steps:

1. Apply a few drops of WD-40 or a similar lubricant to the hinge.
2. Open and close the door several times to work the lubricant in.
3. Wipe away any excess lubricant.

10. Resetting a Tripped Circuit Breaker

If your power goes out in part of your house, it might be due to a tripped circuit breaker.

Steps:

1. Locate your circuit breaker panel.
2. Find the tripped breaker (it will be in the “off” position or between “on” and “off”).
3. Flip the breaker to the “off” position, then back to “on”.