Dad Shares Five Easy Fixes For A Wiggly Faucet, Slow Smelly Sink, Stuck Hose, Drywall Hole And Sticking Door That New Homeowners Can Skip The Plumber For

Every new homeowner has the same moment. Something breaks, you stand there staring at it, and your first thought is the cost of calling a professional. A dad on TikTok who goes by Dad Advice From Bo, at @dadadvicefrombo, says you can handle five of the most common household headaches yourself, and he wants you to save his list for the day you need it.

Dad home repair video cover beside a stock photo of a bathroom faucet with a single drip.

He says to save it for when you are a homeowner and run into these problems, and he points out that he has videos on every one of them. Here are his five easy fixes, with a few extra pointers to help you along.

@dadadvicefrombo

Fix One: The Wiggly Faucet

If your faucet is loose and wobbly, Bo says it is probably just a little nut underneath that needs tightening. That is a quick job with the right wrench, and it can save you from calling anyone.

But there is a catch. If you are having leaks here and there or loose handles, Bo recommends simply replacing the whole faucet. His reasoning is that other parts will keep breaking down, so you are better off starting fresh than chasing one repair after another.

Fix Two: The Stuck Hose

Can’t get a garden hose unscrewed? Bo says the cause is probably calcium buildup. The tools he recommends are channel locks or vice grips, which give you the grip you need to break it loose. Put a little steady pressure on it rather than yanking, so you do not damage the fittings.

Fix Three: The Slow, Smelly Sink

If your sink drains slowly and has a bad smell, Bo says it is probably the P trap that needs to be cleaned out. The P trap is the curved section of pipe under the sink. All you have to do is unscrew it.

He has two important pieces of advice. First, make sure there is a bowl underneath before you unscrew anything. Second, when you dump the contents, dump them in a different sink so they do not just drain out on the ground. He admits he has done that before. When you are finished, screw everything back together and, in his words, problem solved.

Fix Four: The Hole in the Drywall

Bo calls drywall sheetrock, and the two names mean the same thing. If you have a hole that is too big to simply cover over, he says you need to put a plug in it. The method is to put a piece of board through the hole, screw it down, then put your patch over it and mud it. Mud is the joint compound used to blend a patch into the wall.

If your sheetrock is textured rather than smooth, Bo says you can buy a spray that goes over the top of the patch. One warning from experience: spray it on and leave it alone. Do not try to smooth it out, as he admits he once did. It will look weird at first, he says, but it does dry correctly.

Fix Five: The Door That Rubs

If a door rubs as you open or close it, Bo says the easiest solution is a piece of sandpaper to sand it down a little. A trickier option is to pull the screws out, hold the door a little up or down as needed, and screw it back in.

A Few Extra Tips Before You Start

Bo’s list is a great starting point, and a few general habits will help it go smoothly.

Gather your tools before you begin. A wrench for the faucet nut, channel locks, a bowl, a screwdriver and sandpaper cover most of what is on this list.
Before working on any plumbing, such as the faucet or the P trap, shut off the water supply to that fixture if you can, and keep a towel handy.
When sanding a door, take off a little at a time and test the fit often. You can always remove more, but you cannot put wood back.
Wear eye protection and a dust mask when sanding or working with drywall, since the dust gets everywhere.
Take a photo of anything before you take it apart, so you remember how it goes back together.
Be willing to laugh at your own mistakes. Bo does, and that attitude is what makes a first time fixer keep going.

Know When to Call a Pro

These five jobs are small ones, and most homeowners can learn them. Still, some problems deserve a professional. If a leak keeps coming back, if water damage is spreading, or if you are ever unsure whether a job is safe, calling a plumber or contractor is the smart move. The goal of a list like this is not to replace every professional. It is to save you from paying for simple fixes that you can handle yourself.

That is the real appeal of Bo’s post. It is practical, plainspoken and honest about mistakes, down to the dumped drain water and the over smoothed spray texture. If you are new to homeownership, save the list, keep a few basic tools in a drawer, and the next time a faucet wobbles or a door sticks, you may find that you already know what to do.

Willow and Hearth