Hello everyone! With everything easily available on the internet nowadays, even troubleshooting things that need fixing at home can be learned through YouTube. This can be helpful when it comes to savings from hiring someone to fix things for you. With this in mind, I'm curious if you guys ever tried learning some home troubleshooting skills on the web. Have they been effective in helping you fix things at home?
Yes me and my husband are certainly into fixing stuff in our home our own. We have fixed plumbing, electrical, ceilings and other things on our own. We sometimes look online for help but most of our knowledge comes from others and our parents (my dad is a carpenter and his dad knows his way around electrical and plumbing).
Several times, and even without a tutorial. Observation and common sense can greatly contribute into the process of thinking a suitable way to fix a problem. In youtube you can find several approaches to fix the same thing. Pick one that you are capable to apply.
I'm constantly learning how to fix things from Youtube or just googling tutorials. I actually had to trouble shoot my tablet because it wasn't acting right. I had to reboot it completely and reinstall all the original settings. Then it worked fine.
I know how to fix my own computer because I used to have a computer repairs shop. So I hardly need to take my computer to the shop at all. All I need is to buy the spare parts I need. That I cannot make myself! For other things like lights and plugs, it's no big deal. I, or my son, will do it ourselves. It's really simple once you know how to do it. Why pay someone to do something which you can do yourself, for free?
I always look to the internet for advice. Recently we had a wasps nest and I didn't have a clue what to do. My parents all had old ideas but none worked and in the end they accepted the advice I had found on the internet. The nest is now gone, and we are looking at ways to prevent it happening again. I have used the internet to source information on how to do certain things and what tools and products I need too.
I see that most of us here do fix things on our own whenever we could. It's just so expensive to be calling for fixing and maintenance people every time there's a need. Like some of you, I've also learned some of my skills through experience and through other people's tips but when there are things that I really don't know of, I try researching on how to do them first before I decide on whether I should really call someone to do them for me. Calling someone else for fixing things has become a last resort for me these days.
My issue with repairing things is not so much the lack of knowledge, but the lack of money to invest in tools. I wish I had invested in some tools and lawn equipment before I ran out of money, because they would really come in handy now. I have switched out most of the switch plates in the house, as well as some of the actual switches, and also installed a chandelier and doorbell. Those changes didn't require power tools, so I was able to do them. Of those, the most difficult was the chandelier, because it's just me here, and I have chronic pain and limitations, so I had a hard time holding the chandelier up while I was working on the wiring. What I did was put a stool up on the table, and stood up on the table myself, and braced the chandelier on the stool, since it was too heavy for me to hold against me while working with the wires. I also add my own refrigerant to my vehicle when it needs it, although that's getting more difficult, because it takes a toll on my hands/wrists. I learned how to do these things via YouTube videos.
There are many things you can learn on the web which will be useful. Many home repairs don't require expert knowledge. As long as you can use a hammer or use a saw or mason's trowel you can do most repairs yourself. Anything involving wiring, that you shouldn't try to learn on the net.
I wouldn't chance it, because I'm useless at that type of thing LOL However, my husband is very hands on and will have a good go. It's the sort of thing he enjoys, and he loves it when he's able to make use of information he's found online. However, we only keep it to the basics. If it's anything that requires specialised technical expertise, we leave it to the professionals, especially if it involves wiring and electrics. I remember last year having an accident involving a very hot splash of coffee and my MacBook last year, and panicking and trying all sorts of solutions we found online and not getting anywhere. I think we were wary of doing something that could potentially ruin it beyond repair. In the end, nothing worked and we had to have it replaced because the motherboard was wrecked and it would have cost enough money to get another one anyway I guess it's about being cautious and knowing how far you can go, your limitations.
@Diane Lane That was such an admirable thing you did with your chandelier knowing that you didn't even have anyone to assist you. If it was me, I wouldn't be able to do it alone. You've mentioned about investing in good tools when you have the resources. I think that it's really a good idea to do so. I'm lucky to be the recipient of some of my dad's hand-me-down tools whenever he buys newer ones so I didn't have to buy most of my tools at home.
I like buying tools, too. However, from my personal experience, I found that it was very easy to misplace or lose tools as well. So, one of the first things I buy would be a tool box. Then I can keep all my tools in one place. It's rather frustrating to need a tool and have to hunt all over the house looking for it. When everything is put in the toolbox, finding the tools is not a problem any more.
I think its always worth a shot to try looking something up on youtube before hiring someone else to fix it or throwing it away. You can find almost anything on youtube now a days. A lot of times things seem more complicated then they really are. I am not handy but I always give things a shot first.
I have fixed things on my own-but sometimes you have to call a professional, because you don't have the skills to fix something or enough time either. I have learned many things by watching tutorials also on YouTube-but a lot of hardware stores like Lowe's or Home Depot, both hold classes and workshops to make homeowners more comfortable with doing their own work around the house. They can help you from spending a fortune on contractors and specialists overall !
It is must these days, and just lately we got a warranty on one of our appliances which just means that they ship you the part and expect you to fix it. It never hurts to have that know how though.
My take on this topic is to evaluate the problem very well before deciding. There are items that you can repair by studying and there are items that are reserved for the professional. Like a broken leg of a chair, it’s either we buy a new one or call a professional repairman. But there are items that I can repair like a broken electric plug that is easy for me.
I don't know a lot about the gardening and alot of things are remained unfixed. And on that note I'd say that sometimes fixing things are not that easy. And you can see that garden can be really work. And one has to learn on fixing tools and the stuff. Also that sort of the tasks are big work on their own as well.
Internet has been a major help to me in my life. Whenever I have some issues going around on my house, I will always search it on Youtube and it always does the job and fix it. I'm thankful that these kind of things exist in this world because some repairmen are so expensive.
Really interesting thing i come to know here from all of you. I am so sure that this will be really a helpful for all.
Yes you are right today while internet makes everything easy to learn, any one can learn at his own that how to do this. My brother is one example of it he loves to learn new things, he do everything like cooking, backing, electricity goods repairing, wood work and gardening. He learned a lot and always surprise us with his amazing skills of learning, no matter what he is trying to learn. At end he will master in it.
