Patrick Johns
Home Improvement Specialist
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Co-authored Articles (63)
Build a DIY Potato Cannon: PVC Spud Gun Instructions
Launch potatoes into the next dimension with this simple guideYou may love to eat potatoes, but firing them out of a massive cannon is way more exhilarating. Building a potato gun (also known as a spudzooka, potato canno...
How to Adjust a Pressure Switch
Is the pressure on your pump too low? Or, maybe it’s too high. No matter what kind of pump you’re working with, adjusting the PSI to raise or lower the range is easy, and can be done with just a standard wrench. Keep...
How to
Lubricate a Garage Door
An improperly maintained garage door can cause it to become loud and squeaky. More importantly, a noisy door is a sign that your garage door isn't greased enough, which could lead to more serious damage later on. Luckily...
How to Drain & Refill a Hot Water Heater
Empty your gas or electric hot water tank to clear out sediment It’s best to drain your water heater 3-4 times a year to flush out any sediment that may have built up inside, which can cause it to work less efficiently...
How to
Protect a Wooden Post from Rotting in the Ground
Wooden posts that have been set directly into soil are likely to begin rotting as soon as their base absorbs some water. Once a wooden post has started rotting, your only option is to throw it away and sink a new post. F...
How to Remove a Garbage Disposal
Removing a garbage disposal can be expensive if you hire a plumber, so doing it yourself will save time and money, and it's pretty easy to tackle on your own. Remove a few PVC pipes, either by hand or with a wrench, and ...
How to Easily Patch and Repair PVC Pipe
If you’re dealing with a leaky PVC pipe, there’s no need to worry—there are plenty of at-home fixes at your disposal. If you’re looking for a quick fix, pipe repair tape, sticky repair patches, fiberglass tape, ...
How to
Remove a Sliding Screen Door
Easy steps to correctly remove your screen door from its trackIf you are the owner of a home with sliding screen doors, there’s a good chance those doors will develop problems. Sometimes they don’t roll as smoothly a...
How to
Flush a Water Heater
Learn to thoroughly clean the sediment from your water heater Water heaters should be flushed every one to three years depending on the model and water source. This helps to control the buildup of mineral deposits. Your ...
How to Fix or Replace a Toilet Flapper
A simple how-to guide on resolving toilet tank issues If your toilet constantly runs or flushes poorly, you may have narrowed the problem down to the flapper. You’ve done good detective work, since a bad flapper is alm...
How to Mount a Pegboard
From furring strips to spacers, we’ve got you coveredNeed some extra storage space in your garage, office, or kitchen? Pegboards are a slick, elegant solution! Mounting a pegboard may seem like a daunting task, but it�...
3 Simple Ways to Flush a Toilet When the Water Is Turned Off
Manually flush your toilet in a water outage in a few easy stepsIf your toilet won’t flush because the water is turned off, there are a few different ways you can still empty the bowl of its contents. If your water was...
How to Remove a Rounded Nut or Bolt
Every way to loosen, grip, or break away a stubborn bolt or nut Over time, the flat edges on a nut or bolt may wear down and round off, making it difficult to remove, as flat-edge and socket wrenches aren’t able to get...
How to
Change a Tap Washer
The cause of a leaky faucet usually depends on the style of faucet it is, and fixing the leak likewise varies based on the faucet type. If you have a leaky compression-style (that is, two-handled) faucet, you may be able...
How to
Create a Paint Booth in Your Garage
A paint booth can help you create clean and smooth paint jobs for your projects without getting paint all over everything. To build a booth in your garage, try creating a frame out of PVC pipe, plastic sheeting, and duct...
How to Replace a Toilet Flapper
Fix a running toilet within minutes with our complete guide When water leaks from the toilet tank into the bowl, it’s usually a sign of an old or damaged flapper, which is the large rubber seal at the bottom of your ...
How to
Make a Homemade Fishing Rod
Store-bought fishing rods can be very expensive. For the casual fisher, it might be more cost-effective to make your own. You can make a homemade fishing rod from bamboo cane, some PVC pipes, or even a simple stick!
How to
Fix a Dent in the Wall
Drywall is pretty tough, but an accidental elbow or a doorknob slam can create dents in it that are hard to ignore. Fortunately, fixing a dent in your wall isn’t tough, and you can DIY it with only a few tools and an h...
The Easiest Way to Change a Bathroom Sink Faucet
A new faucet is a great way to update your bathroom without breaking the bank. Whether you want to change the look of your sink or replace an old leaky unit, removing and installing a bathroom faucet is a DIY project you...
How to Bend PVC Pipe (With and Without Special Tools)
Shape and mold PVC conduit with a heat gun, sand, or other methods PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a durable material used in everything from irrigation to construction. Even though it’s strong stuff, it’s also pretty...
