Beginner DIY home repairs, explained simply
Dity is for people who have never picked up a screwdriver for anything bigger than flat-pack furniture. Each guide says what you need, what to do, and when to stop and call a professional.
Start with the small jobs
Most household faults that cost a call-out fee are quick to fix once somebody shows you where to start. A dripping tap is usually a worn washer or cartridge. A cold radiator at the top is usually trapped air. A slow sink is usually a plug of hair and grease in the trap. None of these need special skills, just a few basic tools and ten minutes of patience.
The guides here are written for homes in the UK, so they assume British plumbing (a stopcock, isolation valves, a combi or system boiler), British electrics (a consumer unit with RCDs and 230V sockets) and British building rules. Where the rules differ between England, Wales and Scotland, we say so.
What is on this site
- How to fix a dripping tap – washers, ceramic discs and cartridges.
- How to bleed a radiator – and how to check your boiler pressure afterwards.
- How to unblock a sink – plunger, trap and what not to pour down it.
- How to fill holes in walls – from picture-hook holes to a fist-sized dent in plasterboard.
- How to hang shelves safely – including how to avoid drilling into cables and pipes.
- How to reset a tripped RCD – and what it means if it keeps tripping.
- What electrical DIY is legal in the UK – Part P explained.
- A basic DIY toolkit – what to buy first and what can wait.
Know your limits
Good DIY is partly knowing when not to. Gas appliances, boilers and gas pipework must only be worked on by a registered Gas Safe engineer. Larger electrical work has to meet the Building Regulations. Anything that smells of gas, sparks, or involves a ceiling coming down is a job for a professional, or for the emergency services. We flag these points in every guide so you are never left guessing.
Before any repair, think about three things: can you switch off the supply (water, electricity), do you know where the shut-off is, and do you have somebody who can help if it goes wrong? If the answer to any is no, pause and sort that first.
Three habits that save money
- Find your stopcock today. It is usually under the kitchen sink or near the front door. Turn it off and on once so you know it works before there is a flood.
- Know your consumer unit. Look at the fuse box, find the main switch and the RCD test button, and label the circuits.
- Take a photo before you take anything apart. It makes reassembly far easier.
Where the advice comes from
Legal points, such as the electrical rules, are taken from gov.uk pages we checked. Costs vary a lot by region and change often, so we avoid quoting prices as fact. If you are unsure about a job, get in touch or ask a qualified tradesperson for a quote; many will give one for free.
Nothing here replaces professional advice for your particular home. Older properties in particular may have lead pipes, old wiring, asbestos-containing materials or other surprises, and these change what is safe to do.
Working safely at home
Wear safety glasses when drilling or chiselling, and a dust mask when sanding. Keep children and pets out of the room while you work, and put tools away afterwards. Use a stable stepladder rather than a chair, keep three points of contact, and never work on a ladder near overhead power lines. If you take a tool apart and cannot put it back together, stop and ask. Always dispose of old chemicals, paint and electrical waste properly; your council's recycling centre will tell you what it accepts. Finally, write down what you did and the date. A short note on the replacement part or paint colour saves time on the next job.
Related pages
If you are tackling water first, try fixing a dripping tap and bleeding a radiator. For walls, see filling holes. For anything electrical, read the rules and RCD reset guide first.
Frequently asked questions
Is DIY cheaper than calling a tradesperson?
For small, low-risk jobs such as bleeding a radiator or replacing a tap washer, usually yes. For gas, major electrical or structural work the savings are not worth the risk, and some work is legally restricted.
What should I do first before any repair?
Turn off the relevant supply (water at an isolation valve or stopcock, power at the consumer unit), check it is really off, and gather your tools before you start.
Can I do my own gas work?
No. Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You can check an engineer on the Gas Safe Register website before they start.