When it comes to home repairs, many homeowners love calling the repairman. DIY repairs can be a bit of a challenge, even for more experienced DIYers.

Home ownership comes with its share of pros and cons, but it can be a genuine joy if you put in the effort. One way to make home ownership fun and more cost-efficient is by tackling some DIY home maintenance projects.

Many projects are well within the ability of an average person, even if you don't consider yourself particularly handy. Apart from that, working on your house is a great way to feel more connected to your property and build your house into a home.

Here are 10 DIY projects you can easily tackle around the house.

1. Toilets

In order to curb long-term repair costs, it's best to tackle a leaky toilet quickly and head on.

The problem is that it's often to know whether you have a leaky toilet. An easy trick is to put some red food coloring in the water tank. If you come back in an hour and the water in the bowl is pink, you've got a leak.

If it's leaking from tank to bowl, you'll need to replace your flapper. Turn off the water by turning the valve located on the pipes directly behind the toilet. Take off the lid to the toilet and flush it to clear out the water.

After that, simply remove the flush chain from the lever and slide the flapper off the overflow tube. Put the new flapper back on over the overflow tube, connect the chain, and turn your water back on.

Just like that, the problem is solved.

2. Faucets

If you've got a leaky faucet, chances are it's related to an old washer. Over time, they wear out and get loose, and this process can take place rather quickly. Luckily, this is an easy fix.

Start by turning off the main water supply. Then simply remove the leaky handle, take out the old washer, and drop a new one in.

3. Garage Door Lubrication

A garage door looks pretty solid, but it is actually made up of a series of moving parts. Like any machine or device that features moving parts, eventually, those parts will require lubrication.

Without lubrication, the moving parts of a garage door will begin to interact less smoothly with each other. Wear will increase as they begin to rub with each use and the unprotected metal may even begin to rust.

It is this wear and rust that will result in a very costly repair, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually. Yet, with simple lubrication, you can make that "eventually" come much later for your garage door.

4. Air Filters

If you have central heating and air, they rely on air filters to keep them running smoothly and keep the air in your house clean. The fact is that most people neglect their air filters for way too long. Especially during peak usage months, you can't let that happen.

In an average month, you should check your air filter monthly. In high usage months, you should do it every two weeks.

If you need to replace it, it's is as simple as popping the old one out and a new one in, so you won't have any trouble there.

5. Water Heater

Talk about an expensive appliance to replace. Doing regular maintenance on your water heater will increase its life span and prevent an untimely and costly bill.

The main thing that causes damage to water heaters is the sediment that builds in them over time. As the sediment in the water sinks to the bottom of the water heater, it degrades the bottom of the appliance.

In order to curb this, you should drain it once a year and clean out the bottom.

In order to do this, first shut off the power supply to your water heater and your home's main water supply. Then attach a garden hose to the water heater's drainage valve and run it somewhere the hot water won't cause any damage, such as your driveway.

Turn on all the hot water faucets in your home and open the drain valve on your water heater.

After it's drained, turn the water supply back on with the valve still open to clear out any excess sediment. Close the valve, refill the tank, turn the water back on, and you're done!

6. Shower heads

This one is a super easy little cheat. If you have a loose shower head, simply surround it with some expanding foam. This will lock it into place and at least temporarily solve the problem.

This works for any wobbly pipe. It's not a permanent solution, but it will do the trick for quite a while.

7. Refrigerator Door Seals

There are few home appliances that get as much use as your refrigerator. That's why it's imperative that you keep it running as it should. One way to do this is to regularly check door seals.

In order to do this, close the door on a 5 dollar bill. If you can't easily pull it out, the seal is working properly. If you can, it's time for new seals.

Refrigerator seals can be purchased at any hardware store and are easy to install. This is a little job with a big payoff in terms of conserving energy and money.

8. Sink Head

If there's one thing you need to be functional, it's your kitchen. More often than not, when a sink head starts acting up, it's due to a dirty or clogged aerator screen. This is a very simple fix.

Remove the aerator with pliers and then soak it in some vinegar. This will remove any deposits. After that, scrub it with a toothbrush to take care of any remaining gunk. This should solve the problem.

9. Water Stains

Water stains on the ceiling are unsightly, but you don't necessarily have to repaint the whole ceiling just to cover them up. Often, a bleach solution will do the trick.

Combine water and 10% bleach in a spray bottle and spray the affected area.

Let it sit for a day or two. Many times, that will take care of the problem. Just make sure to cover walls and other objects with plastic and use eye protection to account for the bleach spray.

10. Painting

This is one of the easiest and yet most dreaded household projects, but it shouldn't be. There are few better ways to bond with your space than to give it a fresh coat of paint.

You can do it yourself or with your family. It can be a valuable family experience, and it can make an old space feel brand new. Painting is also a creative endeavour that can be genuinely beneficial to your health.

You'd be surprised what something as simple as a fresh coat of paint can do, but rest assured, it works wonders and anyone can do it!

Simple DIY Home Maintenance Projects Anyone Can Do

This list is full of DIY home maintenance projects that are easy to perform but extremely crucial. Not only will it save you big money, but it also comes with a sense of satisfaction that's hard to replicate.

By tackling projects DIY, you're empowering yourself. Why not extend that empowerment to the community and get all your DIY supply needs locally?

For more DIY home maintenance tips and to learn more about what we're doing in our community, contact us.