DIY Home Care—Not So Hard

Homeowners can save big bucks on maintenance and keep their houses shipshape by mastering 10 simple skills, Allen Norwood observes for McClatchy Newspapers:

1. Swap out your door locks: Remove a few bolts and screws and easily replace an existing lock for a new one.
2. Become familiar with your filters: Note the size of your air-conditioning and furnace filters, where they're located and how to change them.

3. Know how to cut the flow: Locate the main water cutoff (generally in a utility room or at your water tank); knowing how to close the gas valve is important, too.
4. Zero in on the studs: If you're hanging something heavy, you can use the "tap-tap-tap routine" or look for finishing nails in the baseboard—they're in studs.
5. Install a ceiling fan: It may take a few hours to complete this popular upgrade; don't forget to turn off the power at the breaker box.

Click the link below for the full list. (More repair stories.)