Blog

There’s a leak below the kitchen sink. You access the situation and it looks like something you can fix, however you don’t have the tools to handle it and have to call a plumber. I believe everyone has been in a similar situation at some point, you notice something wrong at home, try to fix it and discover you lack the right tools for the task. Of course there are plumbing tasks that require specialist experience but there are others that just require you having the right tools, materials and time. If you’re a handy person who loves to fix things, you’ll need some tools to help get you on your way. Here are 10 essential tools to add to your equipment box at home.

1. Plungers

Clogged toilet? No problem. A plunger may just be all you need to make your toilet great again. A plunger helps to clear clogged toilets by using hydraulic pressure. There are different types such as the flange and sink/tub plungers. Flange plungers are better suited for clogged toilets while sink/tub are for sinks and tubs. It is important not to confuse the two.

2. Drain Augers

Drain augers are used to unclog drains. Drain augers are slim and lenghty. They are used by inserting into drains twisting until the blockage is removed. 

3. Plumber’s tape

Also known as PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE) tape, the plumber’s tape is thin, white and usually wrapped around pipe threads before fitting the parts together. It is a must-have for any plumber, hobbyist or professional.

4. Adjustable Wrench

This is another indispensable tool for every plumber. As the name plies, the adjustable wrench can be adjusted to fit different sizes of bolts, nuts or whatever they are used to loosen. 

5. Pipe Wrench

Similar to the adjustable wrench but without the room for adjustments. It comes in different sizes and is used for tightening or loosening pipes.

6. Pliers

Pliers should be present in every home as their use case goes beyond just plumbing. They are used to hold things in place or unloosen as the case may be. There are different types of pliers with some more suited to plumbing roles having slimmer handles for use in small spaces. 

7. Hacksaw

Hacksaws are smaller saws used for cutting. For the plumber, they are used for cutting pipes to shapes. 

8. Copper tubing

When you want to cut copper tubes/pipes, it is better to use copper tubing. A hacksaw may serve the same purpose but the copper tubing is faster and more convenient.

9. Plastic Pipe Cutter

You can make cutting PVC pipes easier by using plastic pipe cutters. It operates like a plier but with sharp metal cutting edges.

10. PVC Cement

PVC cement are special glues used in joining PVC pipes. 

Should you lack these tools or encounter a plumbing issue beyond your skill set, it is advisable to involve a professional plumber. You can source your plumbers on Clickafix to handle all your plumbing challenges at the best prices. 

Lagos, Nigeria – 22 June 2022. Clickafix launches officially in Lagos at Marriot Hotel Ikeja, Lagos

After many weeks of iterating, strategizing, and redesigning, Clickafix is live in Lagos.

Clickafix is a marketplace platform for skilled artisans and service seekers, where services such as plumbing, electrical repairs, hair and beauty, carpentry, haircuts, air conditioning and refrigerator repairs, generator repairs, and appliance repairs are offered.

Unveiling Clickafix at a news conference and launch of the app in Lagos, the founder and Director of Clickafix, Mr. Arun Goswami, said the app was created to address two problems; lack of access to skilled artisans and a lack of access to customers on the part of the artisans.

Goswami said, “There are lots of skilled artisans who have been frustrated out of business because they lack sufficient contacts to keep them in business, and many customers have been enduring a lot of hitches with home accessories because they lack access to skilled artisans to fix the faulty accessories and equipment in their homes.”

He added, “Clickafix is a trusted platform and artisans on the platform render excellent service, thereby making life easy for Nigerians. The app provides choices and comfort to service seekers, who now have access to hundreds of service providers on their palms and can choose services that suit their needs and budget.”

Explaining the App’s offer of trust and choices, the Co-Founder and Director of the company, Mr. Pawan Bhandari, said the artisans had been trained and certified by the company’s knowledge partners.

He added that a thorough background check has been carried out on every service provider on the Clickafix platform. This, he said, would ensure the competence and integrity of the service providers on the Clickafix platform.

Bhandari said, “Clickafix is in partnership with top training institutes in Lagos as knowledge partners. These knowledge partners have world-class training facilities and are churning out excellent artisans who are enrolled on Clickafix.”

Click here to download the clickafix app for customers  – – https://onelink.to/a3fww6

Repairs around the home are constant. Every now and then issues crop up that require your attention. Even when you’re great at fixing stuff, creating the time for such activity may mean postponing fixing the leak in the kitchen for over a week. Or you may want to do some minor structural adjustments around the house. This is one reason why we choose to outsource some of these activities to handymen or other professionals.

A handyman is someone that does repairs and other minor improvements usually around the home. They are mostly unlicensed and may not have formal training. Due to how unregulated it is, securing the right handyman for the task often comes with some extra effort and a stroke of luck. Imagine the horror of hiring a handyman to fix an electrical issue and having an electrical shock from the same appliance later that night.

This is why it’s important to do some due diligence before selecting the right handyman for your work. Here are five handy tips to consider when choosing a handyman for your home;

1. Referrals

Referrals are the go-to option for hiring handymen. You call a friend to ask who helped fix stuff around the house, he sends you the phone number with glowing recommendations of the handyman, and you call the person and schedule a tip. Referrals also save you some stress as you can get useful information on how this person delivers his job. Before scheduling a meeting, ensure to get as much information you can about the quality of service to expect.

2. Physical interview

Schedule a meeting to discuss specifications, experience, and if the person is a great fit for the task. As much as possible, avoid agreeing to a job over the phone. Where you will be unavailable, you can have someone at home to do the interview and subsequent hiring for the task.

3. Experience

Experience is always important. Of course, more experience may mean more premium pricing but find ways to gauge the handyman’s experience with similar tasks in the past. One way to do this is by asking for photos.

4. Ask to see photos

For jobs such as minor woodwork, or plumbing, you can request to see photos of previous jobs by the handyman.

5. Consider going through an established marketplace

With an agency, you are sure of hiring pre-vetted handymen. There is also that added ‘insurance’ from knowing that when you have complaints, you have the agency you can easily contact. Agencies save you a lot of stress and may even come cheaper.

In all, take proper care when hiring handymen as it’s easy to fall into the hands of quacks.

Hiring a great handyman shouldn’t be too difficult. That’s why a service like Clickafix exists to make the process easier.

Click here to download the clickafix app for customers  – – https://onelink.to/a3fww6

You have a room where you keep changing the bulb every few weeks. You’ve used different bulbs but the problem still remains, perhaps there’s more to the problem than just changing bulbs. Your case may also be that of a light switch that ‘shocks’ once in a while. Electrical issues are very common in every household. The good news is there are some of them with solutions that don’t require advanced electrical knowledge (just like changing a light bulb).

Here are 5 common electrical issues often encountered at home:

1. Dead light bulbs
2. Surges
3. Open or naked wires
4. High electricity bills
5. Electrical shocks

Let’s examine these problems and their solutions

• Dead light bulbs

You walk into your room, switch on the lights and the lights remain off. You try a few more times with no result. Bulb burnouts are very common with an easy fix. They may be caused by faulty bulbs, lamp holders, surges and other reasons.

Solution:

The first, easy fix is to change the bulb. But if the burnout repeats itself after a short time then you may need to change the lamp holder to see if this helps. You may opt to hire a professional electrician to handle this change if it’s beyond your skill set or you’re short on time to do a proper job. Hiring an electrician will also save you if the problem is beyond just changing the bulbs or the lampholder.

• Surges

Surges are high, split-second voltage fluctuations. They damage plugged-in electrical appliances and could even cause electrical fires. Where surges are consistent, there is a need to investigate their root cause in home.

Solution:

Getting a surge protector is one way to handle surges. As the name implies, a surge protector protects electrical appliances from surges. According to howstuffworks, surge protectors work by redirecting extra electricity, wherever there is a surge or spike, into the grounding wire.  Where an unusual, split-second voltage fluctuation occurs, the surge protector redirects the extra electricity into the ground wire in the surge protector.

• Open or naked wires

Electricity wires are usually coated with materials such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). One major reason for this is to prevent current leakage. Now, there are times where you notice the wire coating on the extension socket has peeled off exposing the wires. Issues like this should be quickly resolved to avoid electrical accidents.

Solution:

Switch off the power and properly tape the exposed wire with an insulating tape. This measure may only be temporary as the wire may open again after some time. Where this happens, it is recommended that the wire be changed.

• High electricity bills

There are many reasons why you may be receiving high electricity bills. Old appliances often have poorer power ratings compared to recent contemporaries. Moreso, old appliances may consume more electricity due to reasons such as aging/malfunctioning parts. Another possible reason for high electricity bills may be poor energy consumption habits. Also, damaged wiring or circuits may also be a cause.

Solution:

Consider getting energy saving bulbs and switching to energy efficient appliances on your next purchase. Also, imbibe good energy consuming habits by switching appliances such as TVs and air-conditioners when not in use. You may also need to call your electricity supplier to perform a check on the provided electricity meter.On your own, you may also get an electrician to troubleshoot the electrical connection at home if there are any underlying issues.

• Electrical shocks

Electrical shocks are always jolting experiences. Sometimes, it ends with a nervous laugh but it is never to be joked with as where they are not promptly tackled, are indicators of major electrical accidents waiting to happen. 

Solution:

Where the electrical shock is as a result of open wires, taping with an insulating tape may help. However, if the source of the shock can not be traced then you have to contact a professional to assess the situation.