No guy wants to be the one who can’t fix things around the house – it’s just not manly. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here are five things every man should know how to fix, so you can avoid that awkward moment when your girl asks you to take a look at her dripping faucet. Trust us. She’ll be impressed.
1. How to change a tire
Changing a tire may seem intimidating, but it can be done quickly and easily with the right tools and information.
- The first step is to save and prepare the area. If possible, pull off the road into a level surface.
- Apply your parking brake to ensure the car does not move, turn off the engine and take out any materials in the trunk or backseat.
- Locate your jack, spare tire, lug wrench, and gloves for protection against potential injuries.
- Then use your lug wrench to loosen each of the five lugnuts on your wheel until they are entirely unscrewed from the bolt.
- Once this is done, you can raise your car by placing your jack in a secure spot near one of the wheels and turning the crank handle clockwise until it lifts off the ground slightly.
- Remove each lugnut and slide out the damaged tire before inserting your spare and securing it with the lug nuts before finally lowering your car back onto all four tires.
This process may sound daunting, but following these instructions should make changing a tire an effortless experience.
2. How to jumpstart a car
Jumpstarting a car can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, by following the correct procedure, almost anyone can safely and quickly get their vehicle rolling again.
- Assemble your tools: two jumper cables and an operational car with a working battery. Then, park the two cars, so their batteries are as close together as possible, allowing the jumper cables to reach each battery without stretching tautly.
- Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal on the dead battery and the other end of the same cable to the positive (+) terminal on the live battery.
- Connect one end of the remaining cable to the negative (-) terminal on the live battery, and then connect its other end to an unpainted metal surface on your dead vehicle’s engine block or chassis.
- After that, start the working car and let it run for about five minutes before starting your dead car.
When you’re finished jumpstarting your vehicle – and it is running smoothly – disconnect all four ends of both jumper cables in reverse order of how they were connected. If done correctly and with caution, jumpstarting a car can be done quickly and effectively whenever you need assistance!
It is pretty cool when you do it right on the first try, and it might impress your girl for it. But your truck would look much cooler when it has a car magnet. A car magnet for Ford Trucks would make a good memento for unlocking a new skill.
3. How to fix a clogged toilet
Trying to fix a clogged toilet is never a pleasant experience, but thankfully, it’s something that homeowners can tackle on their own with some elbow grease and the right tools.
- The first step in clearing the clog is to put on some old clothes and rubber gloves. Then it’s time to remove the water from the bowl using a mop, bucket, or cup.
- Next, try using a plunger to dislodge whatever might be stuck in the drainpipe. If that doesn’t work, have an auger or closet auger handy. This is a long cylinder-shaped tool explicitly designed for breaking through tough clogs.
- Feed the drill into the toilet and begin cranking the handle.
- If you still can’t get through, you may need to call in a plumber to finish the job – ideally, this won’t be necessary!
With these steps as your guide, you’ll soon have your clogged toilet unclogged and working again in no time – something we’re sure you’ll be very relieved about! `
4. How to unclog a sink
No matter how careful you are with the dishes, sooner or later, your sink is bound to get clogged. Fortunately, the solution for dealing with a blocked drain is simpler than you might think. The most effective option is a combination of hot water and baking soda.
Begin by pouring two cups of hot water down the drain, followed by one cup of baking soda – the reaction between them should break up any buildup and unclog the drain. If this doesn’t work, a plunger can create suction over a clogged area – make sure to cover up any open overflows before starting. Some simple mechanical clearing with a hook or snake-like tool may do the trick if these methods fail.
For tough clogs that resist all other solutions, it’s best to call in the experts! No matter what causes your clog or how bad it is, there’s usually an easy way to get your sink running freely again – and now you know precisely what it takes!
5. How to reset a circuit breaker
A circuit breaker is an invaluable tool that can help protect your home and its electrical system from dangerous overloads. In the event of a power surge, it will cut off the flow of electricity to reduce safety risks. That’s why you have to familiarize yourself with how to reset a circuit breaker is essential for any homeowner.
- The first step is to identify which breaker has tripped: it should be the one that’s in an “On” or “Off” position, usually located on the wall beside the main electrical panel.
- Next, switch it to Off before flipping it back to On. Wait for about 30 seconds until the breaker is reset, and then check whether the electricity has returned to your outlets.
- Once you regain power, test any appliances or lights affected by the outage.
If these steps fail and your electricity still hasn’t come back on, contact an electrician as soon as possible; they may be able to diagnose and address any underlying issues that caused the circuit breaker trip. Resetting a circuit breaker should help keep your home safe and will give you peace of mind knowing you’ve done all you can do.
Be the man your home can rely on
Learn these five things, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming the go-to handyman of your home. You’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you can tackle any minor home repair or appliance issue that comes your way and have a bit of fun doing it too!