Handy Man

In the market for a new faucet? Sure you can buy a boring cheapie for $50 that will cost you more in the long run for repairs or replacement. Spend a bit more and get one of these spectacular gems packed with hardworking features that will last your lifetime. All photos are courtesy of the manufacturer, unless otherwise noted. By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman MagazineOverview A faucet is the hardest working part of your house. Think about how many times a day you use it and how tough life is when it's not working. But aside from supplying water, a faucet can deliver the “wow” to your kitchen or bathroom. “Your faucet is like a piece of functional artwork,” says kitchen designer Mary Jane Pappas. “Its design and the way it feels in your hand have a major impact on the mood of your entire room.” Sure, you can buy a basic faucet for $50. But you're likely to get something nondescript that will cost you more in the long run for repairs or replacement. ...

  revent pipes from freezing in the first place—a little ice can tear open a water supply line. That's bad enough, but the real disaster often occurs as the ice thaws and water flows freely into your home. In just a few minutes, that flow can do thousands of dollars in damage. WhyPipes Burst When water freezes, it expands in volume by about 9 percent. And it expands with tremendous force: The pressure inside pipes may go from 40 pounds per square inch to 40,000 psi! No pipe can hold that much pressure, so it breaks open. The break may occur where the ice forms, but more often, it occurs where water pressure finds a weak spot in the pipe. That may be inches or even feet from the frozen area. Temporary steps The first sign of ice forming in pipes is reduced flow at faucets. So if the flow slows to trickle during a cold snap, or if you suspect your pipes are vulnerable, take action. Here are a few things you can do: Turn up the heat. Set up fans to blow heat into c...

Quick and easy fix for a leaky kitchen sink basket strainer. Replace the basket strainer yourself in just an hour and save the cost of a visit from the plumber. TIME   One day COMPLEXITY   Simple COST   $20 – $100 Replace a leaky kitchen sink straine Test for the leak Fill up the sink with water and touch a facial tissue between the bottom of the kitchen sink drain and the sink. If the tissue picks up any water, you’ve got a leaky basket strainer. If you discover a puddle of water in the cabinet under your sink, it may be caused by a leaky basket strainer. Old plumbing fittings can be tricky to loosen, but we’ll show you how to tear them apart and put them back together without any strain. You can pick up all the necessary supplies at a hardware store or home center. To be sure the leak is coming from the basket strainer instead of a pipe joint, test the basket for leaks as shown in Photo 1. Once you confirm that the basket strainer is le...