Tools

The Essential Home Repair Toolkit

You don’t need a garage full of equipment to handle most common repairs. This is the core kit that covers the vast majority of jobs on this site, plus a couple of checklists to keep your home running smoothly between repairs.

Basic Toolkit

A claw hammer, a set of Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, an adjustable wrench, needle-nose and standard pliers, a tape measure, a utility knife, and a stud finder. Add a cordless drill with a basic bit set once you’re ready to invest a bit more, since it makes most furniture and fixture jobs dramatically faster.

Plumbing Kit

A flat-faced plunger, a plumber’s wrench, plumber’s tape, a small drain snake, and a bucket. These cover the running toilets, slow drains, and small leaks that make up most plumbing headaches.

Electrical Kit

A non-contact voltage tester, a set of insulated screwdrivers, wire strippers, and a headlamp for panel and outlet work. A voltage tester alone will save you from more mistakes than any other single tool on this list, always confirm power is off before touching a wire.

Texas Seasonal Maintenance Checklist

A handful of habits, done a few times a year, prevent most of the expensive repairs on this site. Check or replace your AC filter monthly during the summer cooling season, since Texas air conditioners run harder and longer than in most other states. Clean gutters and downspouts each spring and fall so heavy rain drains away from your foundation instead of pooling next to it. Flush your water heater once a year to clear out sediment, which extends its life and keeps it running efficiently. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly and replace batteries at least once a year. Check exterior caulk and weatherstripping each fall before the first cold snap, since gaps let in both drafts and moisture. Walk the perimeter of your home twice a year looking for cracks, especially after a hot, dry summer, since Texas clay soil expands and contracts more than most and is a major driver of foundation issues.

Before You Call a Contractor

Take a few minutes to gather this before anyone comes out, it speeds up the visit and helps you get a more accurate quote. Know roughly how old the system or fixture is, if you can find that out. Take photos or a short video of the problem, especially if it’s intermittent. Write down when it started and whether anything changed right before it did, like a storm or a new appliance. Get at least three quotes for anything over a few hundred dollars. Confirm the contractor is licensed and insured for the specific work, and ask what the warranty covers before you sign anything. Still not sure whether it is worth fixing versus replacing? Try our free Repair or Replace Decision Tool for an instant answer.