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Homeowners are often reluctant to tackle projects they’re not familiar with since they aren’t sure how much time, effort, and expertise will be involved. We’ll take the mystery out of half a dozen common home repairs and upgrades that may not be as hard to handle as you might think.

These do-it-yourself home improvement projects cover everything from minor plumbing and electrical repairs to woodworking and laying ceramic tile. Remember that when using or installing any product, it’s important to read and follow the manufacturers’ directions. You also might want to consider renting, rather than buying, specialty tools that won’t be used very often.

Replacing a Showerhead

Using a strap wrench to replace the showerhead.

Showerheads are available in an array of styles and finishes, from water saving models to ones that pamper you with a luxurious massage. Rather than marring the chrome with a pair of pliers or a pipe wrench, use a strap wrench instead. Remove the old showerhead, and wrap the threads of the pipe with Teflon tape to prevent it from leaking. Screw on the new showerhead, tighten it up, and turn it on to check for leaks.

Five more DIY projects are featured on this episode:

Other Tips From This Episode

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Installing Carriage Bolts

Installing Carriage Bolts

While carriage bolts are great for joining pieces of wood, their square heads have a tendency to slip in the hole, making them hard to tighten. To solve this problem, insert a few finishing nails in the hole beside the bolt before hammering the bolt into place. The nails will fill any gaps between the hole and bolt and make it easy to tighten the nut. (Watch This Video)

Best New Products with Emilie Barta:
Delta H2OKinetic Technology Showerhead

Delta H2OKinetic Technology Showerheads

Delta’s new line of H2OKinetic Showerheads save water without sacrificing comfort by changing the shape of the spray and using larger water droplets that retain more heat. The most efficient models of these Delta showerheads use only 1.6 gallons of water a minute, resulting in a 36% reduction in water usage.

Delta H2OKinetic Showerheads are available at The Home Depot.

Ask Danny:
The Basic Toolkit

The Basic Toolkit

“What would you consider the most practical tools to have around the house?” -Lisa from Nashville

The basic toolkit that every homeowner should have includes a tape measure, hammer, screwdriver with interchangeable bits, pliers, adjustable pliers, needle nose pliers, adjustable wrench, torpedo level, handsaw, cordless screwdriver/drill, safety glasses, earplugs, dust mask, scissors, gloves, and a putty knife.

Other important items to consider adding are a ladder, car battery charger/tire inflator, fire extinguisher, flashlights, and a water cutoff tool. (Watch This Video)

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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