DIY Skills Everyone Can Learn

Before you get that shiny new tool for Christmas or commit to building your new puppy an insulated dog house, go through our list of DIY skills that you'll surely put to use in the new year and beyond.

Master a Cordless Drill/Driver

The cordless drill/driver is the most reached for power tool among home DIYers. The 12-volt size are compact enough to store in kitchen drawers. Gain a better feel for the clutch, speed, and power of your cordless drill/driver and you'll finish projects in less time and with more confidence.Project: To build confidence, drill pilot holes and drive screws into scrap 2x4s. Then step up to hanging photos or even building a work bench.

The cordless drill/driver is the most reached for power tool among home DIYers. The 12-volt size are compact enough to store in kitchen drawers. Gain a better feel for the clutch, speed, and power of your cordless drill/driver and you'll finish projects in less time and with more confidence.

Project: To build confidence, drill pilot holes and drive screws into scrap 2x4s. Then step up to hanging photos or even building a work bench.

Maintain Your Heating and Cooling System

There's no need to call in an expert to give your furnace or air-conditioner a seasonal checkup. You can maintain your heating and cooling system yourself by following the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule, which will help prevent problems before they begin. Project: Depending on what type of furnace you have, you'll want to grab a flashlight and inspect the flue pipe for leaks, change the oil and air filters, and clean the floor and wall vents. Air-conditioner maintenance consists of cleaning or replacing air filters to keep the unit running at peak performance and clearing away any dirt and debris that may have accumulated around the air-conditioner coils which rely on clear airflow around the condenser.Here's a list of common heating and cooling problems to look out for, and how to fix them.

There's no need to call in an expert to give your furnace or air-conditioner a seasonal checkup. You can maintain your heating and cooling system yourself by following the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule, which will help prevent problems before they begin.

Caution: HVAC systems, especially oil and gas heaters, can be dangerous to work on. Carbon monoxide, fuel, and oil, are all toxic and should be treated with the utmost caution. It's best to hire a pro for a yearly checkup, who can point out areas of concern for you to look out for during the year.

Project: Depending on what type of furnace you have, you'll want to grab a flashlight and inspect the flue pipe for leaks, change air filters, and clean the floor and wall vents.

Air-conditioner maintenance consists of cleaning or replacing air filters to keep the unit running at peak performance and clearing away any dirt and debris that may have accumulated around the air-conditioner coils which rely on clear airflow around the condenser.

Patch Holes in Drywall

Your walls can show damage from door knobs and nail holes, but the repairs are easy with do-it-yourself drywall repair kits that are available at any home center. These kits include: spackle, mesh, sandpaper, and a putty knife.Project: Depending on the size of damage to your wall, there are a few different techniques for fixing them. Here are 5 fixes for damaged drywall that cover the most common sized holes.

Your walls can show damage from door knobs and nail holes, but the repairs are easy with do-it-yourself drywall repair kits that are available at any home center. These kits include: spackle, mesh, sandpaper, and a putty knife.

Build a Wood Toy with Your Kids

Young children are fascinated with how things work, and by building a toy from scratch their curiosity will hit an all-time high. The satisfaction of building something with your child is priceless and now more than ever there are ways to do this no matter what your DIY skill level is.Project: Home Depot and Lowe's have basic woodworking kits for building cars and boats. A small hammer is all that's needed to assemble them. Encourage children to paint them or decorate with stickers when they are complete. If your kids are older and you're ready to up your DIY game, our list of 9 backyard builds will keep your family busy having fun all year long. 

Young children are fascinated with how things work, and by building a toy from scratch their curiosity will hit an all-time high. The satisfaction of building something with your child is priceless and now more than ever there are ways to do this no matter what your DIY skill level is.

Project: Home Depot and Lowe's have basic woodworking kits for building cars and boats. A small hammer is all that's needed to assemble them. Encourage children to paint them or decorate with stickers when they are complete.

Paint a Room the Right Way

Painting might seem like the simplest of DIY tasks, but to do it right takes time and attention to detail. Don't skimp on cheap brushes for interior walls and take your time to prepare the area by clearing it of furniture and taping off windows and moldings.

Project: Prepping your wall surface is the key indicator of a successful paint job. Use soap and water to clean your walls before painting and patch and smooth out any drywall holes. Also remove any outlet or switch plates for best results and to spend less time taping. 

Simple Ways to Save Energy This Winter

Replace Worn Weather Stripping

Worn and torn weatherstripping around doors and windows creates drafts and lets in cold air. Seven to 12 percent of a home's heat loss occurs around windows and doors, according to Black Hills Energy, and these leaks often prompt homeowners to turn up their furnace to keep comfy. Even if they don't turn it up, they're losing warm air, causing the furnace to work harder. "Weatherstripping around doors, and caulking around doors and windows, can cut down on drafts," says Jeff Rogers, president of the Energy Audit Institute, an energy audit training and certification company in Springfield, N.J. Some weatherstripping needs to be replaced every few years because of wear. Replacing it is typically as simple as pulling off the old and tacking on the new. 

Adjust Door Thresholds

If you can see daylight under your front door, then you're losing the indoor air you've paid to heat. "If the door is not in contact with the threshold, the air is going right under the door," Rogers said. Some thresholds have four or five screws that let you adjust the height to eliminate a gap. Turn the screws counterclockwise to lift the threshold until daylight is mostly gone. A little light in the corners is okay, but don't raise the threshold so high that it interferes with opening and closing the door. And the door shouldn't drag on the threshold or it'll wear out the weatherstripping. 

Plug Holes In Exterior Walls

Pipes, gas lines, and electrical cables that enter your house often have gaps around them that have been haphazardly filled with some kind of caulk. But that caulk eventually cracks, peels, and falls off. These gaps let in outside air, plus they are ideal entry points for mice and insects. Seal the gaps with expanding foam. For water pipes under the sink, unscrew and pull back the escutcheon ring, then caulk around the pipe. "The ring is just decorative," Rogers says. "It's not going to block airflow." 

Keep Heating Registers Clear

The warm air blowing out of your registers needs a clear path into the room to provide even heating. So, if you place your favorite recliner or a sofa over the register, you're limiting the flow of heat. It's like leaving the vent partially or completely closed. To cut heating costs, arrange your room so that the register is as unobstructed as possible. 

Lock Doors and Windows

Notice how when you lock your windows, you can often feel them pushing together more tightly? It make a difference for your heating bill. Even when doors and windows are closed, they might not be pressed tight against the weatherstripping if they're not locked, which allows cold outside air to infiltrate the home. Lock your windows early, especially if you live up north. If they freeze in their current positions, then they won't move and you won't be able to lock them without a lot of work.