Not every repair requires a professional. Some of the most common home problems — the ones that get called in most frequently — are also the most straightforward to fix yourself. Here are five that most people outsource, and what they actually involve.
1. The dripping tap (20 minutes, ~€9 in parts)
A worn ceramic cartridge is the cause in most cases. Remove the handle, unscrew the cartridge retaining nut, pull out the old cartridge, insert the new one. The part is available at any hardware store for €8 to €12. A plumber charges $100 to $150 for the same job.
2. The running toilet (25 minutes, €10–15 in parts)
If the cistern is hissing or refilling constantly after a flush, the fill valve seal has worn. A replacement fill valve costs €10 to €15. Turn off the water supply, disconnect the hose, swap the valve, reconnect. The repair is documented step by step in She Fixed It.
3. The clogged drain (15 minutes, €3–5 in tools)
A plastic drain snake (barbed flexible stick) inserted into the drain and slowly pulled back removes the hair and debris blocking the pipe. No chemicals. No plumber. The snake costs €3 to €5 and lasts indefinitely.
4. The washing machine filter (15 minutes, no parts needed)
The pump filter on your washing machine needs cleaning every three months. Most people have never cleaned it. Access it through the small panel at the front base of the machine, unscrew, empty, replace. It costs nothing and prevents drainage problems and odour.
5. The boiler reset (5 minutes, no parts needed)
Most boiler lockouts are caused by low pressure or a temporary fault. Repressurise the system using the filling loop, press the reset button, the boiler restarts. The full procedure takes five minutes. An engineer's call-out for the same starts at €80.
What these five have in common
Parts cost: under €15. Time: under 30 minutes. Tools: ones you either already own or can buy for under €10. What they require is the right information, in the right order, written for someone who has not done it before.
All five — and three more — are documented in She Fixed It, with photos and step-by-step instructions for each.