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Books: The Woman's Hands-on Home Repair Guide

Facts

Author: Lyn Herrick
ISBN: 10:0-88266-973-7
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Storey Publishing

The Back Cover

Solve your own fix-it problems and save money in the process with home repair expert Lyn Herrick at your side. With her upbeat, no-nonsense style, Herrick offers basic fix-it rules, along with step-by-step instructions for repair and renovation of the things that can, and will, go wrong in and around your house.

You’ll learn how to fix:

• Appliances, from washers and dryers to disposals and ice-makers
• Fuses, switches, outlets, and lighting fixtures
• Dripping faucets and clogged drains
• Broken windows, stuck doors, and faulty latches
• Holes in walls and creaky or worn floors
• And much more!

Introduction:

There is nothing worse than waiting for somebody else to fix your problem. The Woman’s Hands-On Home Repair Guide is a how-to book for fixing most of the little, and not so little, things that go wrong in a house or apartment. With the necessary information and the seed of self-confidence, you’ll find that you can undertake and complete most repair projects on your own. Even if you are unable to repair the broken object, you will have enough understanding of the problem to talk intelligently to a service person. You’ll no longer be afraid of being taken advantage of or appearing ignorant.

Often people assume that they are incapable of solving a problem. However, once they see a friend do it, they become more interested in doing it themselves. Thus, once you become inspired to help yourself, there is no limit to the inspiration you can give to others. Go into each project knowing that you can do it, laugh at your mistakes, and you will be surprised how many friends you make in your journey toward self-sufficiency.

There are many funny stories in connection with my fixing projects. Some were not funny at the time, but in retrospect can be laughed at. After you have undertaken a few of the tasks in this book, you may have some amusing incidents to relate. More importantly, I hope that you will have gained the confidence to continue to fix and to learn more about how things work and why they don’t work.

Helpful Hints

Before you set out on your fixing projects, here are some tips on what tools and parts to buy, where to buy them, and how to maintain them.

This book refers to hardware stores, building supply stores, electrical supply stores, and plumbing supply stores. In different parts of the country, different types of stores carry the necessary parts and pieces for the projects you’ll need to address. Some large building supply stores will have most of the repair and replacement parts that you need. It is very helpful and convenient to find a hardware store that carries “just about anything.” The advantage to these types of stores is that the employees usually know something about everything and they can be very helpful if you are having problems.

Keep all service manuals and receipts for your household purchases and automobile needs. Maintain these manuals and receipts in a file for the life of the part, appliance, etc. These manuals and receipts are invaluable for determining parts numbers, dates of purchase, extent of the warranty, and so on.

In order to accomplish even the simplest task around the house, you must have a supply of basic tools. Assemble yourself a small but useful tool chest. Here is a list of basic tools to include. For a discussion of how to use these tools, see pages 176-183.

• Straight-slot screwdriver
• Steel tape measure
• Phillips screwdriver
• Long-nose pliers
• Adjustable wrench
• Portable electric drill
• Pipe wrench
• Utility knife
• Pipe cutter
• Putty knife
• Vise grip
• Crosscut saw
• Pliers
• Hacksaw
• Hammer
• WD40

Basic Fix-It Rules

Rule #1. Always turn off the power or the water or both when working on any of these projects. (See pages 8-9 and 40-43.) With electricity, this rule is crucial to your safety. With plumbing, it may help avert a flood.
Rule #2. Take one step at a time and read the directions before you start your project. Make sure you note what is connected to what as you disassemble something. Mark all wires and make diagrams and notes if you are faced with putting something back together. Even though a project looks easy, read the directions if you have them. This will save time and aggravation.
Rule #3. “Right is tight, and left is loose.” Remember that to tighten screws and nuts you turn them clockwise or to the right. To loosen them, turn them counterclockwise or to the left. In a few situations you will turn them the opposite direction. Bike pedals and an occasional plumbing part will be threaded backwards. If you cannot get a screw or nut tightened by turning it to the right, try the other direction. Sometimes the threads on the screw or nut are stripped or damaged and will not tighten in either direction. In this case, replace the defective fastener.
Rule #4. Do not start a project with a limited amount of time available. You need to be able to take your time to understand what is happening. Nothing ever takes as short a time as you would like. You do not want to rush anything. Rushing only causes problems.
Rule #5. Dress properly for these projects. Plan to get dirty or wet while undertaking these fix-it repairs. You may not get dirty or wet, but it is wise to be prepared for it.
Rule #6. Be aware of plumbing and electrical code law. In both cases, these laws are written by local governments. The general rule is that an individual may undertake repairs that restore an electrical or plumbing component of their house to its original condition. For changes or additions to your plumbing or electrical systems, a permit may be required. Consult your local building inspector.

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