Fatherhood Factor

For all the "dealings" of dads...

DIY

What To Do When Your Home Appliances Stop Working

By Leave a Comment

It’s a headache we all dread—an appliance in the home suddenly stops working, leaving us frustrated and helpless. Whether it’s your stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, or other household machines, the sudden malfunction of any device can throw off your daily routine. As a homeowner, you need to know what to do when something goes wrong with an appliance so you can get it running again as soon as possible. Discover some tips on what to do when your home appliances stop working.

See if It’s Plugged In

Imagine you’re trying to make your morning coffee, but the coffee maker won’t turn on. Frustrated, you start to wonder what could be causing the issue. Before you give up and head to the coffee shop, take a few deep breaths and remember the first rule of appliance troubleshooting—see if it’s plugged in! It may sound silly, but you’d be surprised how often this simple step can solve the problem. Take a minute to make sure your appliance is properly plugged in before looking for other solutions.

Verify the Outlet Is Working

The next step is to verify that the outlet is working properly. This step can often solve the problem and save you time and money. To check if the outlet is working, you can use a voltage tester or plug a different device into the outlet to see if it works. If the voltage tester indicates no power, or the other device doesn’t work either, the issue is likely the outlet itself. In that case, you may need to consider calling an electrician to fix the problem.

Check the Circuit Breaker

It’s upsetting when an appliance suddenly stops working; sometimes, the cause can be hard to pinpoint. However, before you assume the worst, it’s worth checking the circuit breaker. By looking at the circuit breaker and flipping the switch if needed, you can save money and avoid unnecessary repairs or replacements. This easy step can go a long way in ensuring that your appliances stay in working order.

Call an Appliance Repair Technician

When one of your appliances stops working, the first thing you might do is give it a quick once-over to see if you can identify the issue. If you’re not comfortable tinkering around with your appliances, the final step is to call in the professionals. An appliance repair technician can help you identify and fix the problem quickly and efficiently. However, not all technicians are created equal. For this reason, knowing what questions to ask when hiring appliance repair technicians is beneficial. Once you find the right one, you can schedule a time for them to fix the issue.

Now that you know what steps to take when an appliance stops working, you can use these strategies at the first sign of appliance malfunction. Minor issues like clogged filters and dusty vents can easily be resolved with a few preventative maintenance measures. If problems persist, though, don’t hesitate to call in professional help.

Car Parts Most Likely To Wear Out With Heavy Use

By Leave a Comment

If you own a vehicle, you probably have had to deal with numerous auto parts breaking and needing immediate attention. Every car employs a vast number of components that work in harmony to produce a smooth-driving vehicle. Some of these components are designed to eventually peter out in a safe way over time, while others are more likely to fail early in a vehicle’s life, often in disastrous fashion if left unchecked. To help you get a hold on which are most likely to break down, here are the car parts most likely to wear out with heavy use.

Oil and the Oil Filter

The oil in your automobile is meant to lubricate the engine pistons and cylinders so they don’t wear against each other, which would decrease both the efficiency and life span of the engine. Changing your car’s oil on a regular basis is part of proper automobile maintenance, whether you enlist the help of a qualified mechanic or you do it yourself. Failure to do so may cause dirt and debris to accumulate, resulting in engine failure. The oil filter in your automobile is in charge of catching any debris before it reaches the engine. Although some technicians may change the oil filter every time the oil is changed, the industry norm is every other time. It’s also worth noting that synthetic oils are made to last longer.

Car Battery

One of the most likely parts to wear out with heavy use on a car is the car battery. The battery is prone to stop working in the beginning stages of your vehicle’s life span. It is in charge of initiating and operating the vehicle’s electrical systems. If your car battery is showing signs of wear and tear, you should consider replacing it sooner rather than later. If possible, a competent professional should keep an eye on this and advise you in the appropriate route.

Suspension

The suspension is susceptible to damage with heavy off-roading use and can render your car undrivable. In most cases, suspension breakdowns result from collision or just plain old use over time, as in the case of ball joints and control arms. When components such as these fail, it can lead to disastrous consequences, including losing control of your vehicle as well as permanent suspension damage. Because of these factors, it is always best to have your suspension checked regularly.

We hope our list has inspired you to take care with the daily maintenance to ensure that even with heavy use, your car still runs just like new! Car parts just need some TLC to make sure they keep you safely on the road.

Easiest Car Repairs You Can Do Yourself at Home

By Leave a Comment

Owning a car comes with a lot of responsibility. You must keep up with regular maintenance, but you also have to be ready for unexpected repairs.

Many people think that working on their car is too complicated, but there are lots of easy repairs that you can do yourself at home without even needing to take your vehicle to the mechanic.

The next time something goes wrong with your car, save yourself some money and try one of these easy repairs at home.

Battery Replacement

One of the most common car repairs is replacing the battery. This replacement is a pretty straightforward repair that anyone can do. You need to purchase a new battery and remove the old one. Make sure to disconnect the negative terminal first and then the positive one.

Installing a new battery requires the reverse process. Connect the positive terminal before the negative one.

Oil Change

Another common repair is an oil change. Every few months, you should do this repair to keep your car running smoothly. To change your oil, you’ll need to purchase the correct type of oil for your vehicle. After you get it, you can drain the old oil.

To do this, locate the oil drain plug and remove it. Once the old oil has drained out, replace the drain plug and fill the car with new oil.

Changing your oil is a great way to save money, and it only takes a few minutes to perform.

Paint Touch-Up

If your car has a few scratches or chips in the paint, you can easily touch them. First, clean the area around the scratch or chip. Then, apply a small amount of color to the area and allow it to dry.

You can find touch-up paint for your car at most auto parts stores. Just match the paint code to the code on your vehicle, and you’ll be able to find the perfect match.

If you need to do more than a touch-up, you can. There are many ways to prep a car for primer, paint, and sealer to give it a fresh coat without taking it to a professional.

Brake Pads

Over time, your brake pads will wear down and need replacement. This repair you can do at home, but it’s a little more complicated than others on this list.

To replace your brake pads, you’ll need to remove the old ones before putting in the new ones. You’ll also need to bleed the brakes to eliminate any air in the lines.

These are just a few of the easiest car repairs you can do yourself at home. Our car is one of our most important possessions, so you should take care of it and know how to do basic repairs.

When your car needs some work, save yourself some money and try to repair it yourself. With a bit of time and effort, you may be surprised at how much you can do.

Home Improvement Projects That You Should Never DIY

By Leave a Comment

Dads often have big to-do lists for projects around their home, ranging from replacing a doorknob to replacing screening on a porch. Some projects are easy, and some are more complicated. Complex projects aren’t inherently dangerous and can often prove rewarding to complete. However, there are some home improvement projects that you should never DIY due to safety concerns.

Paint Removal

Many people think that painting is one of the easiest projects to DIY since it just involves some paint cans and brushes. However, before you can get to that fresh coat of paint, you may have to remove the old one. Most old paint is lead-based, and even after some remodels, forgotten areas like baseboards could still contain this poisonous product. Instead of removing old paint yourself, call a professional.

Bathroom Remodel

Bathrooms are one of the most used spaces in a house, so it makes sense that you want to make the area look better. Though it may seem like no big deal to change a light fixture or update a sink, doing so is sometimes dangerous. Plumbing and electricity are often very close together in bathrooms, so working on either by yourself can lead to flooding or even electrocution. It’s safer to leave the nitty-gritty of bathroom remodels to the professionals.

Insulation Removal

The right insulation can save you money on energy and keep your house more comfortable, so replacing it is just common sense. However, old insulation can contain asbestos, which may cause cancer when it’s re-exposed to air. Always call a professional to remove old insulation and keep them around for the new installation as well. While there are some differences between fiberglass and spray foam, both insulation options are great because they never require replacement when installed correctly. Let the professional finish their job so you never have to worry about it again.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

You probably already know that you can’t tackle a whole kitchen remodel by yourself, but a paint job sounds easy. Redoing kitchen cabinets, though, isn’t just a paint job. Grease from cooking and the oil on our skin builds up on kitchen surfaces, including cabinets. Instead of just putting a new coat of paint on top of the existing grime, you’ll have to use a de-greaser and spray on an oil-based paint. For better, safer results, leave this job for the professionals too.

There can be a lot of pressure on dads to handle home improvement projects like painting, remodeling, and installing. However, there are some home improvement projects that you should never DIY. Instead, commit to projects that you know you can safely accomplish and call the professionals for everything else.