People are truly creative when it comes to home repairs. We’ll find innovative ways to fix a leaky faucet or pipes with household items, or develop creative wiring methods to provide electricity where we need it. Of real concern is our ability to repair items in such a way that they can cause serious harm. For this reason, I would like to mention some things that I see very often, so that you can avoid these mistakes.
Note: There is not enough space here to go into detail about how to perform these tasks. Also, there are several good books, which have easy-to-follow steps and diagrams. I’ve found repair manuals like these at used book stores, but they aren’t as bad elsewhere. These volumes are great for homeowners who want to tackle projects on their own.
Extension cord plugs seem to be the preferred means of supplying power to outdoor equipment. I have seen small extension cords cut in half and threaded through the wall where there is a small opening. The wires are then taped back together, so that water can get in and short the circuit. Most cables this size aren’t rated to handle the kind of use you plan on handling, so they start to overheat and the casing will melt. If you need an outlet for your holiday lights, I recommend installing an outlet in your ceiling. The soffit is the board below the roof overhang. Find a junction box in the attic from which you can run a cable. Look for where a beam goes down to connect the outlet box to. The outlet does not need to be GFCI in this location, but it would be a good idea to go ahead with a GFCI outlet here. Secure cables to joists and beams with wire clamps. If you need an outdoor tool outlet, the easiest method would be to run the cable through a conduit to the outlet box. Here you would definitely need a GFCI outlet with a cover. Make sure the conduit and box are securely fastened to the wall. Any wiring that extends outside the building should be secured with clips every few feet. The other big wiring problem I see is using the wrong junction box, particularly without a cover.
Putting silicone drips seems to be the common fix for a plumbing leak. The really amazing thing is that most of the plumbing parts that need to be replaced for a leak aren’t really that expensive, but here’s the rub: you have to buy the right part. If you know the manufacturer of your accessory, finding a replacement part is much easier, but I have found that by going to a good hardware store you will find someone to help you find the right part. Gaskets, seals, and o-rings eventually fail over time. However, sometimes the pipes or tubes are hit causing damage to their threads or their walls. In this case you will want to buy a new one. Some mysterious bathroom leaks are from the wax seal under the toilet. Trying to make a similar looking part fit and do the job will cause more problems.
About silicone, one type of silicone is not always acceptable for all uses. Look at the label to make sure you’re getting the product that will work. The best product might not be a silicone. There are latex and polyurethane caulks that are far superior to silicone for one application. Latex caulks are great for paint jobs and polyurethane caulks are great for outdoor situations.
Duct tape is not for duct. If you need to repair an attic duct, use the bright tape designed for the job. Also, a conduit is not a conduit, which means there are actually several different types of conduit, so make sure you install the right one for the application. Conduits for different uses are not designed to be joined together.
The last common mistake involves fasteners. Screws, nails, and bolts come in different sizes and types. There are special nails for attaching roof tiles and screws specifically for drywall. We like to use what we have on hand (or what we can easily find in the garage or shed), which is the best fastener for the job. I have seen people nail hinges to the cabinet. What made it worse was the fact that the nails were too long, so he could stick himself with them inside the cabinet. Some hardware stores sell boxes with a variety of fasteners. This is a great deal if you don’t want to buy a lot of different packages. The right fastener will make the job easier to do (and undo).
Perhaps I should say that all of these errors boil down to planning, preparation, and execution errors. Think about what needs to happen before you start. Then think about how to fix it if you need to redo it. (How will they get that nail out of the hinge?) Plan all the steps and you’ll be fine.