Do it yourself or hire a professional?

October 20, 2015

Good Neighbor Tips. A blog by Erin Doan, Erin Doan State Farm Insurance, Scottville;www.erindoan.com.

Hiring out isn’t always necessary for small repairs around the house. You can complete each of these three home repairs in a few hours — for a fraction of the cost.

How to Fix a Leaking Toilet

Leaking toilets can waste large amounts of water. To troubleshoot the issue:

Inspect the float and inlet valve: As you flush, lift the float arm until the water stops.
Tighten the screw at the top of the ballcock so that the level of the float does not rise above the inlet valve.
If the water does not stop during step 1, you may need to replace the ballcock assembly.

How to Replace Tile Grout

Grimy tile grout can detract from a home’s appearance. To replace it:

Remove existing grout with a grout rake or electric tool.
Scrub the area with a stiff-bristle nylon brush to remove loose debris.
Use a grout float to smear new grout across the surface and into the joints.
After 20 minutes, clean the area with a grout sponge. Once the grout has cured, apply sealer.

How to Patch Drywall

To quickly fix a hole in the wall:

Remove loose drywall behind and around the hole. Sand the edges of the hole.
Adhere a wall-hole patch over the hole.
Apply drywall-patching compound to the patch and surrounding wall.
Sand the area once it’s dry.
Spray the area with wall texture spray (if needed) and add a fresh coat of matching paint.