10 Must-Have Skills Every Homeowner Should Know In 2025

1. How to stop a toilet from running forever.

You know when your toilet just won’t stop making that water noise? Yeah, that’s not normal, and it’s wasting so much water (money, too). Most of the time, it’s just a tiny part inside the tank, like the flapper or chain, that needs to be adjusted or swapped out. It sounds intimidating, but once you pop the lid and take a look, it’s not that deep. YouTube is your best friend here.

2. Patch a hole in drywall.

Accidents happen. Maybe you bumped a door handle or moved furniture wrong. Learning how to patch small holes with spackle or drywall compound means you won’t have to repaint or replace entire sections later.

3. Reset a tripped circuit breaker.

Power goes out in part of your house? Before you panic, check your breaker box. Flipped breakers are common and resetting them is usually as simple as flipping a switch back.

4. Unclog a drain (without freaking out).

Sink not draining? Shower turning into a mini swimming pool? Totally normal. Clogs happen. But before you call a plumber, try using a plunger or a drain snake—yes, they’re a little gross, but super effective. It’s honestly not that hard, and you’ll feel like a genius when the water starts flowing again.

5. Swap out HVAC filters.

Yeah, it sounds boring, but it seriously makes a difference. Changing your heating or air conditioning filters every few months helps keep your air clean and your system running smoothly. It takes about five minutes, and you'll probably breathe better and spend less on energy bills. Easy win.

6. Put up a ceiling fan (and actually use it).

Ceiling fans keep things cool, help your air conditioning chill out a bit, and can even make a room feel fancier. Installing one might seem intimidating, but with a decent tutorial and some time, it’s totally doable. You got this.

7. Use a stud finder.

Before you start hanging up that giant mirror or floating shelf, do yourself a favor and find a stud. Drywall alone won’t hold heavy stuff, and a cheap stud finder will save you a ton of frustration (and maybe a hole in your wall). Just scan, mark, and drill. Boom—done.

8. Fix leaky faucets.

That slow drip sound? It’s not just annoying—it's wasting water and money. Most of the time, it just means a washer or cartridge needs to be replaced. It's one of those fixes that seems scary, but really isn't. Look up your faucet model, grab a wrench, and take it slow. You’ll feel like a pro when it stops dripping.

9. Seal cold drafts.

If you’re sitting by the window in the winter and feel like you're in a wind tunnel, it’s probably time to seal up some drafts. A little weather stripping or caulk goes a long way in keeping your place warm and your energy bill low. It’s a super cheap fix, and you’ll actually feel the difference.

10. How to shut off your water.

This last one is big. If a pipe bursts or your toilet is overflowing like a scene from a bad comedy, knowing where your main water shut-off valve is can literally save your house. Take five minutes, find it, and learn how to turn it off. Future you will thank you.

Learning how to handle little stuff like this makes adulting way less scary. You don’t need to be a DIY pro—just knowing the basics can save you a ton of hassle. And let’s be honest, it also feels kind of amazing to fix stuff yourself.