Handyman Guides & DIY Tips
Practical, step-by-step guides written by a Phoenix handyman with 15+ years of East Valley experience. Not generic advice — real techniques from real jobs. Fix it yourself, or book The Toolbox Pro to handle it for you.
Plumbing
How to Fix a Running Toilet
Apr 27, 2026A running toilet wastes 200+ gallons of water per day — that's $50-$70/month on your Phoenix water bill. The good news: 90% of running toilets are fixed…
How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
Apr 27, 2026A faucet that drips once per second wastes 3,000 gallons per year. Most leaky faucets are fixed with a $8-$25 part and 30 minutes. The fix depends…
Garbage Disposal Humming but Not Spinning
Apr 27, 2026A garbage disposal that hums when you turn it on but doesn't spin has a jammed flywheel. The running but the grinding plate is locked. In fact, this is…
When to Replace vs. Repair a Kitchen Faucet
May 24, 2026After 15+ years and over a thousand faucet service calls across the East Valley, here's the honest answer: about 60% of the time, a $12-$25 cartridge…
TV & Mounting
TV Mounting Height Guide
Apr 27, 2026Getting your TV at the wrong height is one of those things that seems minor until you're living with it. Of course, you end up craning your neck,…
How to Mount a TV Above a Fireplace
Apr 27, 2026As a result, above-fireplace TV mounting is one of the most requested — and trickiest — installations we do. Done right, it looks stunning and is…
How to Hang a Heavy Mirror Safely
Apr 27, 2026A 50-pound mirror that falls off the wall breaks the mirror, damages the floor, and can injure someone. The difference between a mirror that stays up for…
How to Find a Stud in Arizona Stucco Walls
May 24, 2026Your $30 stud finder is lying to you. Electronic stud finders — even the expensive ones — give false positives on Arizona stucco walls because the wire…
Electrical
How to Install a Ceiling Fan
Apr 27, 2026Installing a ceiling fan where a light fixture already exists is a manageable DIY job if you're comfortable with basic wiring. Here's how to do it safely.…
How to Fix a Wobbling Ceiling Fan
Apr 27, 2026A wobbling ceiling fan is annoying and, if severe, can stress the mounting hardware over time. The almost always one of three things: a loose blade, a…
When to Upgrade to GFCI Outlets
May 24, 2026If your Arizona home was built before 2002, there's a good chance you're missing GFCI outlets in locations that current code requires them. GFCI (Ground…
General
How to Patch a Drywall Hole
Apr 27, 2026Drywall gets dinged. Kids throw toys, furniture gets moved, doorknobs punch holes into walls—it happens. The good news? Most drywall holes are…
Door Won't Close? How to Fix It
Apr 27, 2026A door that won't latch, sticks at the top, or drags on the floor has three possible root causes. Each one has a different fix. Diagnosing the wrong cause…
Drywall Texture Matching in Phoenix Homes
May 24, 2026The patch is invisible if the texture matches. The patch screams "repair" if it doesn't. Phoenix homes use four main drywall textures, and each one…
Kitchen & Cabinet
Outdoor
Patio Screen Door Repair — Arizona Dust & UV Fix
May 24, 2026Arizona is the worst climate in the country for patio screen doors. 299 sunny days of UV, monsoon-driven dust storms, and daily temperature swings from…
How to Seal an Exterior Door Gap in Arizona Heat
May 24, 2026An exterior door gap in Arizona isn't just a comfort problem — it's a money problem. A 1/4" gap under your front door lets in enough hot air to add…
