Did you break something expensive? Thinking about replacing it? Repair it before spending your hard-earned money! Here’s what you stand to gain in doing so.
Over time, as our possessions are exposed to more and more wear and tear, they become more and more vulnerable to damage. As such, broken possessions are an inevitability.
The question lies in the way that we respond to broken possession. Do we replace it entirely or do we repair it?
While many opt for the former, there’s a great deal of benefit that comes with choosing the latter. Curious as to the benefits of repairing something as opposed to replacing it? Here are 10!
1. You’ll Save Money
The most obvious benefit of repairing things as opposed to replacing them is that you’ll save money. After all, a few nails and some elbow grease isn’t going to cost anywhere near as much as new materials and labor.
As long as you have the necessary tools and resources, repair costs will be negligible. You could save hundreds of dollars every year by not having to buy new products.
2. You’ll Become Handier
In this day and age, being handy isn’t seen as much of a priority. Most of us are content to pass the responsibility off to someone else and spend our time doing things we enjoy. However, the fact of the matter is that being handy is hugely beneficial.
For instance, what if one of your water pipes were to spring a leak? If you weren’t handy, you would have to wait for a plumber to come in and fix it. This could lead to severe water damage in your home.
But if you are handy, you’ll have the ability to patch the pipe temporarily. This could save you a great deal of grief.
The more and more repairs that you carry out, the handier you’ll become. The handier you become, the more adept you’ll be at solving problems in the future.
3. You’ll Be Able to Buy More Expensive Items
Often times, when we buy items, we do so under the assumption that they’ll soon become damaged. As such, we tend to spend relatively little money on them, ensuring that we get relatively low-quality items in return. After all, why spend a lot of money on something when we’ll just have to have it replaced fairly soon anyways?
This is the beauty of knowing how to repair things. When we know how to repair things ourselves, we feel more inclined to buy expensive items.
Why? Because we feel as though our repair abilities will be able to prolong the items enough to make them worth their monetary value.
4. You Could Preserve Family Heirlooms
Family heirlooms are items that can’t be replaced. They hold a sentimental value that isn’t defined by a price tag. As such, when they incur damage, repair becomes an absolute necessity.
Replacing a family heirloom is akin to throwing away cherished memories. It would be like wiping away the legacies of your ancestors. If you have any pride in your lineage, this is not even close to being an option.
5. You’ll Learn New Skills
Another reason to repair items as opposed to replacing them is that you’ll learn new skills. Depending on the items that you’re fixing, you could learn everything from manual skills to technical skills and otherwise.
For instance, let’s say you’re dealing with the problem of Mac sound not working. By fixing such a problem, you’ll become better-versed in using computers and their operating systems.
On the other hand, let’s say that the basketball hoop in your driveway is broken; the rim was torn off of the backboard. By reattaching said rim, you’ll become better-versed in the use of manual labor tools.
The more things you fix, the more skilled you’ll become. And the more skilled you’ll become, the less reliant you’ll be on others.
6. You’ll Become a Smarter Buyer
As was noted above, fixing things on a regular basis requires you to become more educated on the things that you’re fixing. As such, by becoming a fixer as opposed to a replacer, you’ll become much more educated on products that you have to buy in the future.
After all, products aren’t infinite. Regardless of how much you repair them, they’ll eventually bite the dust and require replacement. When those times come, you’ll want to make sure that you’re informed enough to make the right choices.
This way, the products you buy in the future will be of the highest quality and will reduce the need for repair overall.
7. You’ll Help the Planet
It’s a fairly simple equation: the more you throw away, the more harm you do to the environment. As such, by repairing your possessions instead of tossing them into a landfill, you’re helping the planet.
Obviously, you alone won’t make a huge environmental dent. However, your efforts could inspire those close to you to start fixing things up as well, spurring on a chain of events
8. You Could Develop a Fun, New Hobby
Repairing things isn’t just a functional ability. It’s a hobby, one that a good many people revolve their lives around. To these individuals, fixing old possessions is as much a fun challenge as it is a money-saving endeavor.
If you’re looking for a way to keep yourself occupied around the house, scoping out and fixing your old possessions might be just the ticket. You’ll have the satisfaction of making something old new again, and will have something to talk about with your family and friends.
Toolbox Necessities Helpful for Different Repairs
Measuring Tools
Almost all home-repair projects require accurate measurements. Not only do you need to know the exact number of feet and inches involved, but you also need to make sure everything is vertical, horizontal, and square. A tape measure is a very helpful one for this purpose. Flexible tape measures are available in lengths up to 50 feet. A band of 12 to 25 feet in length is generally considered sufficient. You should buy a band at least 5/8 inch wide to stay tight when you take it off. Most bands have automatic current returns, which are convenient but not required. You may also need a chalk line. Chalk lines are used to draw straight lines over long distances, such as when replacing torn wallpaper or cracked wooden tiles.
Plumbing Tools
Many of the tools needed for most plumbing jobs are the same tools used for other do-it-yourself projects, so you may already have them. Other specialty tools include pipe wrenches and various mounting aids. Wrenches come in many shapes and sizes and are used to grip, tighten, turn, and loosen pipes, pipe fittings, nuts, and bolts. Choosing the right twist depends on the fastener design and size. It also depends on how difficult the fastener is to reach. A wrench is a valuable tool for construction, auto repair, electrical repair, or woodworking. It can also level equipment, move lag screws, and adjust equipment and fixtures. Wrench types include open-ended, combination, adjustable, socket, and allen. When using the wrench, pull it toward you instead of pushing it out. This gives you more control and reduces the risk of injury if the twist slips. Other tools may include plumbing snakes, or drain trap drill bits, which come in various lengths. A closet auger is a version of a plumber’s snake designed specifically for unclogging toilets. Closet augers are shorter than regular snakes and are made of plastic or metal with an easy-to-use crank.
For minor repairs, pliers must be part of your toolbox necessities. Pliers are used to gripping small objects, reach difficult places, hold wires, bend loops, and attach wires. Think of pliers as an extension of your fingers. Do not use pliers as a wrench to tighten or loosen fasteners. Common pliers include slip joints, groove joints, needle noses, and locking joints. The handle is part of the pliers that the user grips. Often coated with a non-slippery material such as rubber or silicone, it provides the force necessary for the jaws to bite and manipulate objects. For extra comfort, consider choosing a pair with insulated grips.
Painting Tools
Different house repairs come with choosing the right tools and selecting the right paint, leading to a newer look. With the right equipment, even an inexperienced do-it-yourselfer can do professional work. With a few exceptions, brushes fall into two camps: Natural bristle brushes made from animal hair and synthetic bristle brushes usually made from nylon. Before, natural products were considered the best, but today synthetics are just as good. Also, natural bristle brushes cannot be used with water-based latex paints. This is because water softens the hair. So painting with diluted paint already makes brush selection 50% easier.
Repair It and Benefit
At times, it’s necessary to replace broken items. But when push comes to shove, the best option is to repair it. Not only will repairing your items save you money, but it will offer a variety of other benefits as well.
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