Summer is on its way. No, really! The Fix-It Club is ready with ten simple Fix-It Tips for June to make your summer — and other seasons — better. Free repair help from the Fix-It Club!
Fix-It Tip #1
CD players and other electronic devices are dust magnets. Every month, carefully clean the interior of these devices with canned air or a vacuum. From CD Player Repair.
Fix-It Tip #2
Depending on what type and how much fuel you burn in a fireplace, have the chimney and flue inspected regularly during the summer months by a professional. The CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certifies chimney sweeps who can clean a chimney and perform a general structural inspection. From Fireplace and Stove Repair.
Fix-It Tip #3
When buying replacement filters, buy enough for a few years at once so you have them on hand. And when you change the filters, write the date on the filter or on a tape stuck to the outside of the furnace so you can determine when to next replace it. From Oil Furnace Repair.
Fix-It Tip #4
At the end of the heating season and every month or two during it, inspect the heating system for filter condition and clean as needed. In addition, older furnaces require the motor to be lubricated periodically. Newer units have permanent lubrication. You can tell which your system has by looking for oil ports where the lubricant, a few drops of light, nondetergent oil, is added. From Oil Furnace Repair.
Fix-It Tip #5
Some two-stroke engines need special fuel that includes lubricating oil. Four-stroke engines use separate fuel and lubricant. Follow your owner’s manual suggestions for mixing fuel and lubricant for a two-stroke engine, or buy premixed fuel/lubricant. From Small Engine Repair.
Fix-It Tip #6
Soft-water systems add minerals that can harm an electric steam iron and your clothes so don’t fill the iron with softened water. Instead, use filtered or distilled water. From Electric Iron Repair.
Fix-It Tip #7
Wear leather work gloves when working around sharp edges such as the mower blade(s) and deck to prevent injury. You can take them off for the delicate work, but will be glad you have them on when you handle sharp edges. And never put your hands, or anything else, under the mower while it’s running. From Riding Lawn Mower Repair.
Fix-It Tip #8
Weatherstripping requires a clean surface for it to adhere. Before applying self-stick weatherstripping, wash, rinse, and dry the surfaces to which it will be applied. From Window Repair.
Fix-It Tip #9
Clean a glass skylight in the same way you clean any glass window. Clean a polycarbonate plastic skylight with a mild soap or detergent solution. Use a weak ammonia solution to clean an acrylic plastic skylight. From Window Repair.
Fix-It Tip #10
Refer to the trash compactor owner’s manual for specific information on and sources of replacement parts. Make sure you specify the model and serial number, typically found near the door, when ordering replacement parts. You’ll also want to read the manual for instructions on lubricating and maintaining your trash compactor. An hour once or twice a year can extend the compactor’s life by many years. From Trash Compactor Repair.
