The Most Annoying Home Problems, Ranked

This is a collaborative post

If your family home is causing you issues, you’re not alone. It turns out that the average person spends between 1 and 2 percent of their property’s value on maintenance every year. So, if your home is worth £300,000, that’s a whopping £3,000 to £6,000 just on servicing and repairs. 

In this post, we take a look at the most annoying home problems, ranked. Check them out below. 

Rank #1: Clogged Drains

Clogged drains are perhaps the most annoying of all home issues. Not only do they prevent you from going to the bathroom, but they also cook up a dreadful smell. What’s more, the solution is usually so simple – you just don’t have the tools. 

Next time you have a clogged drain, watch what the plumber does to resolve the problem. Usually, they’ll use an extendable rod and push it through your drains until the blockage dislodges. You can actually buy these yourself so that you don’t have to call out the plumber the next time somebody blocks the drain. 

Rank #2: Damp 

Damp is one of those insidious problems that never really seems to go away. After a heavy rainstorm or long winter, it shows up in all sorts of places, including the basement, attic and porch. 

Some companies offer guaranteed damp proofing. These services help to protect against multiple forms of damp (such as rising damp, penetration damp and so on) by resolving the issue at the source. For instance, you might have a leaking attic or the membrane around your basement might not be working properly. 

Rank #3: Stripped Screws

Stripped screws can show up anywhere in your home and make it almost impossible to attach things to the wall. 

You can sort this problem out by placing a rubber band between the screwdriver and the screw head. This will help to correct the stripping problem, so long as you don’t intend to bear a lot of weight. 

Rank #4: Dripping Faucet

Is there anything more annoying than a faucet that continually drips all night, keeping you awake? Probably not. 

Faucet dripping is usually the result of a worn washer – a rubbery O-ring that sits between the part of the faucet that turns, and the part that’s stationary. 

You can usually sort this problem out yourself. Go onto the manufacturer’s website and look for your make and model. Then check the specifications of the washer. Most brands will either provide parts aftermarket or direct you to a third-party website where you can buy them. 

Rank #5: Rotted Window Frames

Wooden window frames are a liability. If you leave them for a couple of years, they’ll begin to show signs of wear. And if you continue to neglect them, they will eventually rot, crumbling in your hands. 

Fortunately, this is a relatively easy fix, even if your window frames are quite badly damaged. To repair them, remove all of the rotted wood and fill in the space it leaves with epoxy. Then simply apply a layer of outdoor wood protection to the entire surface.