Replacing Electrical Outlet

Replacing your electrical outlet on your own can save you about $40 you would pay an electrician to come out to the house to do it for you. You really don't need to know much about electrical work to just replace an existing outlet, you just have to make sure you follow the simple directions below and always make sure your main breaker is turned off before you begin working.

Materials Needed
1) Replacement outlet (Match existing)

Tools Needed
1) Flat head Screwdriver
2) Voltage Tester

The first step you need to do is make sure that you turn off the breaker that powers the outlet that you are changing. Once your power is turned off make sure to check the outlet you will be replacing with the voltage tester to make sure that there is no electricity coming in.


Remove the face plate of the wall outlet.


Remove the two screws that hold the actual outlet in place and pull the damaged outlet out.


Once the outlet is out I always double check to see that the wires are not live by checking with the voltage tester at the contact points on the outlet. (Better safe than sorry)

The next step if pretty much taking one off at a time and placing it on the same location except on the new outlet. The hot wire is usually black or red and will be connected to the side that has the shorter slot on the outlet, and the neutral wire which is white will be connected to the side where the slot that is bigger. The ground wire which is usually green or bare copper will be grounded to the outlet casing which has a green screw indicating the ground.
   

Now that you replaced the outlet you simply screw the new outlet back into place and attach the cover and turn your breaker back on. You have successfully replaced your damaged wall outlet. See you soon!

Regrouting Shower

Regrouting you shower tile can be an easy job if using the correct tools. It is important to invest into a dremel or borrow one from a friend to be able to effectively regrout you shower tiles.

Tools Needed1) Dremel
2) Grout removal bit
3) Shop Vac
4) Protective Eye wear
5) Grout Sponge
6) 5 Gallon Bucket
7) Wiping rags
8) Grout Spreader

Materials Needed1) Grout
2) Grout Sealer

The first step to regrouting your shower tiles is to score the existing grout lines to at least a 1/16" deep. The best way I have found to do this is to use a dremel with a grout removal bit that you can purchase at your local hardware store. It is important to use the grout removal bit because they are specifically made to be used on grout. Depending on the thickness of the grout lines will determine the grout bit size you will need, they come in sizes from 1/16" to about a 1/4" thick.

I find it easier to start the dremel off at a lower speed until you get comfortable with the way you handle the dremel and then simply up the speed. It is important to be patient and take your time until you get a good technique to passing the dremel through the grout lines. I usually start from the top and work each line from top to bottom and work one line at a time. Once I have completed the vertical lines i move on to the horizontal lines and work those one by one also. It is important not to miss any lines because you have to score each line at least 1/16" deep so the new grout will stick.

The second step once you have removed all the grout is to clean up the mess you made with a vacuum and wipe down the entire area you were working on. Once everything is cleaned you can begin to spread the grout into the scored joints using a grout spreader. Try to not leave excess grout on the tiles it makes it harder to wipe up once you are ready for clean up.



Once you have spread all the grout into the scored grout lines it is time to wipe off all the excess grout off the tiles with a grout sponge. Make sure the grout sponge is not soaking wet because you will take the grout out of the joints you just filled.



Once you remove the excess grout from the tiles you can let the new grout dry for at least 24 hours and you can come back and seal the new grout. I usually use a grout sealer that will not penetrate the tile so you can simply spray grout joints, let it sit for about 5 minutes and wipe off the excess. You usually have to let your sealer dry for about 24 before being able to use the shower. I hope you enjoyed learning how to regrout your shower.

Replacing Above Stove Microwave

Replacing a microwave above that is attached to the cabinet above you stove is a very easy job to complete with the help of another person and can save you about a $80 installation fee. You will simply need a screwdriver and the help of a friend.

Step 1
First unplug the microwave and have a friend hold the microwave that is in place while you remove the top two screws that are located in the cabinet directly above the microwave.

Step 2
Once you have removed the two screws in the cabinet above the microwave your friend can slowly allow the microwave to come down, it is attached to a bracket behind it that allows the front of the microwave to pivot down and then you are able to lift it up out of the bracket once you have enough clearance. Place the microwave to the side. The picture below shows the mounting bracket that holds the microwave in place.

Step 3
Remove the existing mounting bracket and make sure that the new mounting bracket is installed to the height and specifications that your specific brand microwave is calling for; different companies have different types of mounting brackets. Once you have installed the new mounting bracket, you and a friend can lift the microwave into the bracket and screw the top two screws back into place. The top two screws are usually placed in the same area on the top of all microwaves so you do not need to drill new holes for the new microwave. Make sure the screws are tight and plug in your microwave and you are ready to go.

Replacing torn window screen in metal frame

A torn screen in your window can start to become a problem when you have mosquitoes or insects start to invade your home. The easiest way to fix the problem is to remove the damaged screen and replace it with a new screen. Before you begin you need to make sure you have the following materials and tools.

Tools & Materials Needed:

Spline Tool

Screen

Needle nose pliers

Flat Head

Utility Knife

Scissors

The first step you must do is remove the screen from the window unit so you can work on it on a flat surface. It is important to carefully remove the screen so you don't damage the screen framing.

Next place the screen on a flat solid surface so you can work on the screen without damaging it, make sure that the screen spline is facing up so you can remove it carefully. Use a flat head screwdriver or a pair of needle nose pliers to remove the twine from the framing. 

After you have completely removed all the spline from the frame you can easily remove the damaged screening. Cut a new piece of screen to the outside edges of the framing that you are working on. It is better to cut a little big than a little short, you can always trim excess screen. Make sure that the new screen is aligned over the frame.

Once you have the screen cut to size use the spline tool to carefully begin to insert the spline into the channel in the frame. It is important to be gentle when using the spline tool because you may accidentally cut the screen if you are not careful. Start with the top of the screen first and then do one of the sides. Once you have the top and one side done it is important to pull the screen snug before you complete the bottom and remaining side. If you feel that there is a little slack in the screen, it should tighten up as you complete the bottom and the side.

The last and final step is to carefully trim off any excess screen that remains along the edge of the channel. Be careful not to cut the new screen!

Now that you have your new screen installed it is time to put it back were you got it, carefully place the new screen back into the window were you removed it and you just learned how to replace a damaged screen. Stay tuned for more helpful handy man tricks! See you soon.

Take a look at the video below it shows everthing I just explained above.

Patching a Hole in Drywall

When you have a hole in your drywall and can't just cover it up with a picture the next best thing is to fix it. Depending on the size of the hole determines what you need to do to fix it. For small holes like nail holes you can simply fill them with drywall spackling, if your hole is smaller than two inches square you are able to cover the hole with fiberglass self adhesive joint tape and fill it with spackling. Now comes the hard part, what do you do with holes that are two big to fill? Below is a detailed description for each scenario.

Materials Needed:
Drywall (usually 1/2" thick on most homes)
1 1/4" Drywall Screws
Self Adhesive Thin Fiberglass Joint Tape
Spackling
Medium and Fine Grit Sandpaper

Tools Needed:
Spackling Knife
Measuring Tape
Utlity knife or drywall saw
Wood Saw

Drill

Holes that are smaller than 10" square:

The first step to do is to cut a square around the perimeter of the existing hole, make sure that no electrical wires are running behind the drywall. I always use a utility knife and make the length of the blade long enough to only cut through the drywall.

The second step you need to do is cut two pieces of wood that are about 3 inches wider than the hole so you can use it as a back support for the new piece of drywall, I always attach the wood at the top and bottom of the hole unless its to wide so you need to attach them at the left and right side. You can use any scrap wood you have laying around as long as it fits behind the drywall, I've even used the wood paint mixers they give you at the local store just grab a few extras if you're doing a patch repair.

The third step is to measure the dimensions of the hole and to cut a piece of drywall the size that you measured. Once you have the piece cut to size, just pop it right into the hole and screw it to the back support you just installed. Don't get to close with the screws to the edge of the drywall because it can crack the drywall easily.

The last and final step is to apply a thin layer of spackling compound to fill any cracks between the existing and new piece of drywall, then you apply the thin joint tape to all the edges and go over it again with the spackling compound. You want to make sure that you cover the tape entirely and I always taped out away from the hole so it makes it easier when sanding. Make sure not to glob it on because this will cause you more work when it comes time to sand. Use the medium grit sand paper to start and finish with the fine grit sand paper. It may take up to three applications to completely cover the tape and make it look smooth; let the spackling dry between each application.



For Holes Larger than 10" Square:

The only step that changes if you are covering holes larger than 10" square is step one. You must cut the existing hole large enough to reach from stud to stud behind the wall. Then you can install the back support in between the wood studs as shown below.

Repeat the steps starting from step three and you can successfully repair a hole in your drywall. I hope you learned something and feel free to leave any comments and questions.

2D Barcode

Replacing Toilet Bowl Wax Ring

Does you bathroom sometimes have a funny smell in it? You might have to replace your wax ring. Your wax ring is located under your toilet bowl and is meant to prevent water, smells, and gases from coming up from your underground septic tank and plumbing and into your lovely bathroom. You must remove your toilet bowl to get to the wax ring, before you remove your toilet seat make sure to shut off all the water and disconnect the water feed to the toilet. You need to flush your toilet once the water is disconnected to be able to clear the toilet of any water.

Once you removed the toilet carefully place it to the side and clean off any existing wax residue that is left from the previous wax ring. Make sure you remove all the old wax from the bottom of the toilet and from the plumbing pipe in the floor. You can purchase a wax ring at your local hardware store for about $5. I recommend buying the wax ring that is made for industrial/ commercial use, they carry a higher percentage of wax and cost about the same as smaller household ones. Once you have the old wax removed simply place the new wax ring on the bottom of the toilet and carefully place it back into its place, you may have to push it down to have it sit firmly in place. Tighten the nuts that hold the toilet in place and replace your water line and turn your water on, you are ready to enjoy your bathroom without those horrible smells!