Nine of the Easiest DIY Repairs You Don't Need a Professional For

This post originally appeared onFamily Handyman.

Remove the aerator by turning it clockwise when you’re looking down on it.

You may have to grip it with pliers to unscrew it.

Take it along to the hardware store to find an exact thread match.

Our proplumbergot a call to unplug a toilet he had recently installed.

He was surprised because he had put in a toilet that he knew was almost impossible to clog.

Save yourself a service call.

Use the wastebasket for garbage.

Got a Leak?

Look at the valve to see if water is leaking out around the valve stem.

If it is, try turning the packing nut about an eighth turn with a wrench.

Some high-efficiency water heaters don’t have a pilot light that stays lit all the time.

If you have one of these, check your owner’s manual.

Check the temperature dial and cooling coils.It could be as simple as turning the dial to a cooler setting.

Our proplumbersays it’s not uncommon to find that the refrigerator controls are set wrong.

Even gas stoves need power.

Usually the answer is yes, and the fix is easy.

Lift the stove top and try reinstalling the terminal block.

Also try spreading the terminals slightly to create a tighter connection.

Test and reset them.

This may solve your problem.

Check the furnace filter and air vents.

One of the most common causes of insufficient heat or cooled air is a plugged furnace filter.

Another common cause of cold rooms during heating season is a blocked cold air return.

Image adapted frommayamayaandDiana Rich(Shutterstock).

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