What Tools Make Home Maintenance Less Stressful

Home repair doesn’t have to be a daunting task if you have the right tools at your disposal. The dividing line between a five-minute repair and a frustrating hour usually has to do with whether or not you possess the correct tool for the task.

Every toolkit is assembled over time, but each new addition will make the next household chore a far less daunting task. What follows is a list of tools that render home repair less stressful.

Keep a nice cordless drill

A cordless drill is quite possibly the most helpful tool you’ll ever own. It hangs shelves, assembles furniture, and is ten times faster than turning screws by hand with a screwdriver.

Buy a 12-volt to 20-volt model that features adjustable speeds, allowing you to control the power for various materials and tasks.

Invest in a multi-bit screwdriver set

Screws come in an endless assortment of shapes and sizes, and digging in a drawer trying to find the right screwdriver is a waste of time. A multi-bit screwdriver with interchangeable heads provides both flathead and Phillips heads in various sizes, all in one convenient handle.

This space-saving tool has you prepared for whatever screw heads you encounter.

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Get adjustable wrenches in various sizes

Fixing plumbing and building furniture always seem to need nuts and bolts of odd sizes. Adjustable wrenches eliminate the need for dozens of fixed-size wrenches since the jaw opens and closes to fit different bolt heads.

Two sizes give you the ability to clamp a bolt with one wrench while turning the nut with the other.

Use a stud finder for safe wall hanging

There is nothing more frustrating than drilling into drywall only to see your shelf fall since you missed the stud. New stud finders employ sensors to scan through walls and find the wood beams where you can safely hang heavy items.

Even basic magnetic models are sufficient for most household projects and are less expensive than repairing a dropped picture frame.

Have simple pliers available in different styles

Pliers also grip, bend, twist, and cut in ways that your hands simply can’t. Needle-nose pliers are ideal for accessing tight spaces, while slip-joint pliers offer adjustable jaws to accommodate various widths, enabling them to perform a range of tasks.

Locking pliers clamp onto something and stay there, allowing your hands to be free to work on other parts of a project.

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Install intelligent water leak sensors

Water damage from undetected leaks can cost thousands to repair, but small sensors placed near appliances and in bathrooms can detect problems early. The sensors notify your phone the moment they detect water, and you can shut off the water and call for help before small drips become major disasters.

The peace of mind is worth the minimal investment on its own.

Maintain a fully stocked tape measure

You’ll find yourself reaching for a tape measure more frequently than you might expect, whether you’re measuring doorways to see if furniture will fit through them or measuring windows for curtain fitting. Most household measuring chores are done with a 25-foot tape that has a good locking mechanism.

The end hook catches edges and corners, which makes two-person measuring tasks single-person affairs.

Include a level to avoid tilted installations

Eyeballing whether something is straight never works out, and crooked picture frames and shelves look amateurish. A basic bubble level costs just a few dollars and eliminates the guesswork of hanging anything on walls.

Even small projects benefit from this inexpensive tool that ensures everything is properly aligned.

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Store tools in a portable toolbox

The best tools in the world are useless if you can’t find them when you need them. A well-organized toolbox with multiple compartments allows you to carry your tools conveniently to where you’re working.

Some people prefer tool bags with pockets, while others prefer the old-style boxes—either is an improvement over digging through cluttered drawers.

Install a smart thermostat for HVAC monitoring

Smart thermostats also monitor the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Unusual patterns of energy consumption signal that your HVAC system needs attention before it fails altogether.

Diagnosing these issues sooner rather than later prevents emergency calls and keeps your house comfortable year-round.

Keep work gloves and safety glasses nearby

Minor home repairs also contribute to emergency room visits if you are not properly caring for yourself. Safety glasses prevent particles from entering your eyes, and work gloves prevent blisters and cuts.

Keep these items with your tools so that you’ll use them instead of skipping safety because you don’t want to search around for protective equipment.

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Utility knives are used for everyday cutting

Scissors will not cut through cardboard boxes, packing material, or thick plastics as easily as a sharp utility knife will. Retractable models keep the blade out of the way when not in use, and replacement blades cost pennies.

This inexpensive tool performs dozens of cutting chores around the house without dulling your kitchen knives.

Install intelligent smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Basic smoke detectors do the trick, but smart ones alert your phone even when you’re away from home. They’ll even tell you which detector is beeping and why, putting an end to midnight beeping alarm mysteries.

Some even call emergency services automatically if they detect grave danger.

Have a plain hammer around for basic jobs

Hammers are low-tech compared to power tools, but you’ll find yourself using one again and again for jobs like hanging pictures, tapping furniture joints together, or doing light demolition. A simple claw hammer with a comfortable grip does most home jobs, and the claw end pulls nails out when you need to take them out or move them.

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Building confidence through preparation

Home maintenance is less intimidating when you know you are prepared to handle day-to-day problems without needing to bring in experts for every small item. Starting with basic hand tools and adding power tools and intelligent home gadgets gradually provides you with both an expanding toolbox and an expanding sense of confidence.

It does not involve being a master of all things, but being sufficiently equipped that minor repairs do not turn into sources of anxiety or expensive service calls.