Fix it at home: pick what is broken and follow the steps
Pick what has broken from nine groups, answer one to three more questions and get repair steps: tightening, gluing, replacing a part or an idea for a 3D printed spare one. You can also search by a single word such as "tyre" or "tap".
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- 9 groups of itemsfurniture, appliances, toys, tap, clothes, bike
- 41 fixes3 to 6 steps each
- 17 with 3D printingwhat to print and in which material
- Electricity and water bara warning on the step itself
What a home repair guide is
Fix it at home is a guide to repairing broken items: you pick what has broken from nine groups, answer one to three more questions and get the steps of the closest of its 41 fixes.
It covers nine groups: furniture, appliances, toys, taps, clothing and zips, remote controls, bicycles, electronics and cables, and other. Where a part cannot be found, some fixes suggest printing one on a 3D printer.
Fixing things at home: what you get
Narrows it down with a few questions
You start with "What's the broken item?" and narrow down: a metal or plastic hinge, a tyre losing air slowly or cut. You reach the fix after 2, 3 or at most 4 questions, counting the first.
Gives repair steps
Each of the 41 fixes has 3 to 6 steps: tightening, gluing, replacing the tap washer, a zip slider or a bike inner tube.
Suggests a 3D printed spare part
In 17 fixes there is a "You can print this yourself!" box with an idea and a material. A button leads to the 3D print or buy calculator.
Warns about electricity and water on the step itself
Steps where the fix says to cut the power or the water get a warning bar: 9 steps in 8 fixes.
When to fix it yourself and when to print
The guide is for small faults at home: can you fix it yourself, what to buy, what to print.
A dripping tap or a leaking joint
You turn the water off and replace the tap washer (6 steps) or the joint's washer (5).
A broken handle, hinge or lid
Buy a part by size (the guide gives the standard spacing between a handle's holes as 96, 128 or 160 mm) or print a new one.
A bicycle: tyre, chain, brakes, mudguard
Eight fixes: from patching an inner tube to a printed mudguard stay.
A toy, a remote or a knob
Glue an arm, change batteries, clean contacts or print a cover or a knob.
How the guide reaches the fix
The questions separate the cases where the repair is different.
Narrowing questions
The first question has nine groups, and up to 4 questions in all separate similar cases: a metal or plastic hinge, a slow leak or a cut tyre, low voltage or 220V.
A fix with steps
41 fixes with 3 to 6 steps each, 163 in all: gluing, tightening, cleaning or replacing a part.
Print or buy
In 17 fixes there is an idea for a printed part with a material, most often PETG. For a handle the guide says PETG stands up to pressure and heat better than PLA. The other 24 have no print box, though one, for a cracked button, mentions a 3D printed button.
| Applies to | Formula | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | a bar on the steps where the fix asks you to cut the power (5 steps) | a bar: unplug it before you start work |
| Water | a bar on the steps where the fix asks you to turn off the water (4 steps) | a bar: turn off the water before you start work |
| Search | every word is in a title, tip, step or answer | at most 8 fixes, more words in the title higher up |
Steps with warnings for electricity and water
The questions decide the fix
A slowly leaking tyre is patched, a cut one is replaced. A metal hinge is tightened, a plastic one is replaced or printed.
It says when not to touch it yourself
A 220V mains lead: a specialist or a repair shop. A metal gear: a parts shop, a technician or a new appliance.
The print tip names a material
PETG is mentioned in 13 of the 17 tips, and for a tap handle the guide says "cold water only".
This is general guidance, not an exact diagnosis: 41 fixes for nine groups, in text only. It does not cover an air conditioner or a phone. It does not store data.
Every word must be in the fix or its answers, in the same form; “tire”, “puncture” and “faucet” also mean “tyre”, “burst” and “tap”. “Tyre” gives eight bicycle fixes, the two tyre ones first. A printed part is an idea, not a ready model: search Thingiverse or Printables, or make it in TinkerCAD.
If in doubt about safety (gas, electricity, pressurised water), the screen advises asking a professional. The printed tap handle is for cold water only.
Questions about home repairs
How to fix things around the house?
Pick what is broken from nine groups, answer one to three more questions and follow the 3 to 6 steps. There are 41 fixes, from tightening a hinge to replacing a bike inner tube.
How to fix a dripping tap?
Turn the water off, unscrew the handle, take out the spindle and replace the washer with an exact copy from a plumbing shop. The fix has 6 steps and takes 20 to 30 minutes.
How to fix a broken zipper?
Check whether the slider is only slack: squeezing it gently with pliers sometimes fixes it. If it is broken, buy a new slider by zip size (#3, #5 or #8) and thread it on.
How to replace a bike inner tube?
Buy an inner tube of the same diameter and valve type (Presta or Schrader). Check the outer tyre, fit the new tube slightly inflated, then pump to the recommended pressure and check the wheel runs true.
Can you 3D print replacement parts?
Yes, for some: in 17 of the 41 fixes the guide suggests a printed part (a handle, hinge, lid, gear, knob) and a material. A metal gear and a 220V lead are not printed.
When should I call a professional?
The screen says to consult a professional if in doubt about safety (gas, electricity, pressurised water). For a 220V mains lead the guide says a specialist or repair shop only; a broken electrical socket needs soldering by a technician.
Is the Fix it at Home guide free?
Yes, with no account and no daily limit. It does not store data.
The Fix it at Home guide is free. Pro opens the rest
Pro costs 15 EUR a month and opens 45 Pro tools.
In the Idea & selection group:
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Find out how to fix your item
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