Why don't you fix it yourself????
By bird123
@bird123 (10643)
United States
July 30, 2011 10:50pm CST
Everything manmade breaks down. When it does, do you call someone to fix it or do you tackle the job yourself? You guessed it. I tackle the job myself. One thing I have discovered. Simply because you have never done something doesn't mean you can't do it.
I asked a repairman one time. Do you ever worry about breaking it worse than it already is? His reply is the answer we must all keep in mind. Well, how can I hurt it?? It doesn't work now!
The first step to fixing anything is getting information. Search the library, the internet,ask family and friends. For plumbing, there are handy people at hardware stores who can not only help but make sure you have the right parts.
Fixing something is a learning experience. Once you discover how the thing really works, it becomes much easier to fix it yourself. Sure, it's going to take much longer for you to fix than a professional, but look how much money you will save and how much knowledge you will gain. There is a downside. Once your family and friends know you can fix it, everyone will be calling you to help. You are going to become very busy.
Remember, working on many things can be very dangerous. You know such things as electricity, gas, or even cars. Be sure to get plenty of information so that you do know not only what you are doing but the codes that will make them safe. THe information to do the job right can be found. I want no short cuts!! If you aren't going to be safe, call a professional.
1 person likes this
16 responses
I normally ask around if any friends or relatives can fix it or know someone else who can fix it... if not, I just throw them away...
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
1 Aug 11
Kind of hard to throw the plumbing in your house away. When the plumbing doesn't work, it can be an emergency. I would show up to help but you live so far away. The real solution is for you to tackle the job yourself. Plenty of women have learned to be handy. Get the knowledge and information first then try it. This could be your hidden talent. I believe in your multifaceted abilities. You can do anything. If you get into trouble, Cook those EELS. Someone will show up to help for your home cooking if nothing else. 
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
2 Aug 11
I can hear you now. Won't some of you strong men out there help little ole me??? I have the EELS hot, cooking on the stove for when you get done. This is when you hit them with that wonderful smile and bat those eyelashes at them. 
Suddenly you have half the town over at your house fixing things. 
Yes, I do know a few ladies who have become pretty handy. Sometimes it's easier to just fix it yourself. Of course, we all have our talents. Can't get anyone to fix it for me. Perhaps my adversity has taught me to fix it myself. 
Suddenly you have half the town over at your house fixing things. Yes, I do know a few ladies who have become pretty handy. Sometimes it's easier to just fix it yourself. Of course, we all have our talents. Can't get anyone to fix it for me. Perhaps my adversity has taught me to fix it myself. 
@urbandekay (18278)
•
31 Jul 11
Things I do for mysen;
1. Building work, all except bricklaying and though I can plaster I would usually pass on
2. Plumbing, though some heating work I will pass on
3. Electrical work
4. Furniture restoration
5. Vehicles, service and repair our vehicles and bikes
6. Tree work
7. Landscaping and garden work
8. Computer servicing and repair
9. Dog care, training and minor healthcare
10. Caring for my elderly and infirm relative but with help of district nurses
11. Service, repair or replacement of domestic appliances
12. Engineering and welding
13. Minor lathe work
14. Musical instrument refurbishment
Hope to start keeping chickens and growing food.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
31 Jul 11
Well, I need a pipe bender capable of bending 2" stainless tube and a tig welder then maybe anything. We did at one time contemplate building a plane, that my mate designed.
The best policy is to be that strange mixture of fool and angel that both rushes in and fears to tread at the same time
all the best urban
@urbandekay (18278)
•
31 Jul 11
Also, my main vehicle is a Land Rover Defender, so it hardly ever goes wrong
all the best urban
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
31 Jul 11
I do like the sense of achievement from fixing or getting something going again that's been given up on...I did an electronics servicing course years back and never got to try it in a work situation,so it's still a hobby level pursuit..My Brother and 2 of my nieces had earlier model ipods that had quit..I got 2 of them going again by getting batteries off ebay and replacing them,My electric shower quit,and looking on an equipment user website saw that my particular model could develop a known fault that was an easy fix with a new part,among others..But as You say,know your limits..I'm not going up on my roof for any repairs,or trying DIY plumbing..
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
1 Aug 11
The thing about electronics is,if it's going to cost more in labour costs to fix it,they'd likely recommend you dump it..but there's not many gadgets need you getting out a soldering iron to fix them-most of them,it's just swapping out a part like a battery or the screen or whatever..
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
31 Jul 11
What? No moutain climbing on the roof????? I did roof my house not too long ago. It took me a week where the roofer would have been done in a day. Carrying all those shingles up there is a lot of work. Still, it all worked out, no leaks. That has been several years ago. Plumbing??? I'll try it all. Getting those hot water heaters in the attic are a big job, but waters heaters last a long time. As far as electrical, I'll work on that too, however I haven't had the opportunity to work on circuit boards. I haven't changed out transistors and that sort of thing. That sounds like something you are real handy at. Any advice while I have you here??
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
2 Aug 11
Hi birfd: Well I'm glad for you. I mean the fact that you are so pro active but in my case, I think I couldn't do this because I am not very athletic and I would probably make a mess. I just repair things if I have the abilities but repairing a celing, oh no, I prefer to call the professionals. if it's something concerning my cell phone or my laptop and I can search on the net a possible solution I do this.
ALVARO
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
2 Aug 11
Athletic????? You think I am??? Will is 90% of everything. Sure you might make a mess once in a while but you also learn how to do it. Can't give up simply because it looks scary. Call the professionals to show you how to fix it after you mess it up. You still come out with an education. So you are pretty good at fixing those electronics. That's great. Sounds like it's time to EXPAND your capabilities.
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
2 Aug 11
Athletic????? You think I am??? Will is 90% of everything. Sure you might make a mess once in a while but you also learn how to do it. Can't give up simply because it looks scary. Call the professionals to show you how to fix it after you mess it up. You still come out with an education. So you are pretty good at fixing those electronics. That's great. Sounds like it's time to EXPAND your capabilities.
@xuyxuy (432)
• Philippines
1 Aug 11
Yes I agree with you bird123. I do fix things on my own. If I don't have an idea on how to do about it, I use the internet and search what to do. So far I always encounter answers and fix things. Yes fixing things by yourself is additional learning that will be credited to us. You can also save if you know how to fix things.
@whatrow (792)
• United States
16 Sep 11
One thing I have learned about doing things myself is that everything is a lot more difficult to do than the professionals make it appear. I struggle, but things just don't work out the way I want them to. Professionals can do the same task quickly and easily. I am glad it works out for you.
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
16 Sep 11
Sure, it can be tough but remember few things worthwhile come easy. After you complete a few tasks, you will gain experience. This will make future projects easier. If you are a bit afraid, watch how the professional do things while they are at your house. Many love to answer questions while they work. There are many shows on PBS that show how things are done. Even search the internet. There is only one way to get good experience. You must take on a few challenges yourself. I remember the first few I did. As I look back, it's even funny. Now, I always attempt things myself first. If it gets tough, I get stubborn and work it out.
@ShawnBoB (215)
• United States
31 Jul 11
I like learning, and attempting to fix things myself. I have also learned there are some things you just shouldn't mess with. For me it is fixing a car mechanically... because last time I even attempted to help... my thumb got busted open when the socket hopped off the bolt. Which basically the end of the socket slammed with a lot of force against my finger, slamming it against the motor of the car. So in that area, I would possibly just take it to a shop.
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Yes,sometimes the things we fix can bite back. I can't count how many slipped wrenches or skinned knuckles I have had. Some of this is part of working with your hands. don't allow that to discourage you. I'm all healed up. When you are having alot of trouble working on something, take a brake and think about it or even sleep on it. Things often go much smoother when you return.
@strawberrychocodahi (4818)
• Philippines
31 Jul 11
If it with regards to computer problems and troubleshooting, I leave it to my hubby and he is the expert for that. But when it comes to other appliance problems and such, we really do call a technician to repair especially we don't want to just risk trying to solve a problem which is not our specialty.
We haven't got problems on water pipelines and drained or clogged sink, what we usually encounter was only computer problems. About Appliances, we haven't got any problems at the moment. But if we have circuit problems, we do call electrician to fix it.
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Yes, sometimes those computer problems can make one pull their hair out. Just like fixing anything, the more you do; the more you learn and the better at fixing you get. You can always watch the repairman you call then learn from watching. Ask them a few questions. The customer is always right. Any answer they give can teach you something.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Thank you for your encouragement, and thanks for the helpful information. I always want to be a handyman myself. I want to be able to repair things, and fix things. So I can save money. I want to learn to fix cars too, so I don't have to spend over a couple of hundred of dollars on the shop. I wish that everything I do will be right, and like you said, I don't want make it worse than before.
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Newer cars are harder to work on however much can be done. Many auto parts places will put a tester on them that tells you what is wrong. You can get the part while you are there. The library has all kinds of car repair books. I bet searching on line one can not only find fix it books but places to help you figure out what is wrong. It's a lot of work but everything you do fix makes you smarter at fixing.
@Mackenzie_jad228 (556)
• Philippines
31 Jul 11
Yes i also tried fixing things on my own. All I hve to do is used the internet if I know nothing about it and sometimes i will observe the repairman then the next time i will handle it on my own
@changjiangzhibin89 (16762)
• China
31 Jul 11
One can't know everything.I can at most repair the wooden chair or stool and the like.If something has gone wrong with my household electric appliance,It is far from me to take the plunge to fix it.No way should I learn it from scratch either.If I have only a superficial knowledge and fix it,I am none the less in danger.
@QeeGood (1213)
• Sweden
31 Jul 11
When I lived in my own house I did fix and mend most of the things. What I didn't know I went for information to know how to do it as you do. But when I am living in a rented apartment I do not have the same, that I can or need to fix things. It's the owner of the house, who is in charge for the service and the expenses.
@iamsummer (192)
•
31 Jul 11
hum ..as for me,until now i can't remember i have repaired anything,the reason why i never do that maybe because that i relay on my families to do that.And if they even repaired it well,we will call the repairman to do that.however i knew repair it by myself can not only abundance my experience but also save money.but i do afraid of making it worse than before.
@goggles213 (735)
• Philippines
1 Aug 11
After a bad experience with a computer technician, I told myself to never again will I waste money on another repair job that's not done well. I taught myself how to repair a computer through research, on hand experience and by asking questions to some professionals. Now, I never bring my computer to a technician, if its broken, I can fix it. I hope I can say the same thing for my car and the plumbing, I'm still the process of learning them.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
31 Jul 11
This post is very appropriate as our dryer has recently conked out. Some screws got loose, and the drum is now making a lot of racket when you turn it on. I was deciding on whether I would fix it myself or call a repairman.
At first I thought I would fix it, but because it's an apartment type washer-dryer combo, it would take a lot of effort just to get it out, so I could attempt to fix it. I thought I'd pass.
Yesterday, I went to a local repairman shop to see how much it would cost for him to come over. It was $60 just for the call, and $70 per hour. That's not including whatever part it needs to get it fixed!
I think I am coming back to my original plan to fix it myself.
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Hmm? If it's the drum making the noises, there are rollerwheel assemblies that help support the drum. Probably going to have to take the top off then the front then remove the drum to get to everything. There is also a squirrel cage in some, accessing from the back that an eyeliner pencil got in there one time in mine and made the loudest sound. Hmmm??? Wonder how that got in there. Check your local library or the internet. I'm sure you can get a layout drawing of how it's all put together. That way you will be able to put it all together when you are done. I want no spare parts after it's back together. Good luck.
@cathzuya (187)
• Philippines
31 Jul 11
well it depends.. if the things that got broken is easily or lets say i could manage to fix it my self, then i wont ask for someone to do it. but if it is something i know i don't know about, well i guess its better to asked someone for help rather than experimenting it if you're able to fix it or not. it might get worse.
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
31 Jul 11
Get worse??? It doesn't work now. OK. I understand what you are saying. I must say I usually dive right in then worry about calling for help later. Getting plenty of information is important before one tackles it. If there isn't going to be research, it would be better to call for help instead.
