Ever been annoyed at that crack on the wall? Or that leaking faucet in the middle of the night? Who hasn’t, right? Fortunately for us, the magic of home repair is always here to save the day. Problems such as cracking walls and leaky pipes are nothing to the mighty caulking gun. Just a simple press of the lever, apply the sealant, and viola, your problem is finished. Simple as adding frosting to a birthday cake. But of course, like any home repair tool, they don’t last forever.
Caulking guns require regular care and maintenance to last long. Sure, you can find heavy-duty ones in stores, but even those have limits. To ensure that you have the proper tool to aid in your home repairs, it’s always pivotal to keep them in check. There are several ways in which you could care for your caulking gun to extend its longevity, and that’s what we’re about to find out.
Cleaning it Properly: obviously the key to extending the life of any tool is to properly clean it. The tip here is to make sure the nozzle remains free from any buildup because you want to prevent your caulk gun from jamming once it’s time to use it. Since sealants and caulks have different chemicals, there are several ways to clean them. For water-based sealants, you should be using warm, soapy water and using a rag to wipe the tool. For silicone-based sealants, use a dry rug to remove most of the mess, use a knife with a slender blade to remove any excess caulk in the nozzle, rod, and cartridge holder, and finally, use another wipe from the rag to remove any remaining sealant.
Lubricate it Regularly: Since the rod and cartridge holder is under a lot of pressure once the caulking gun is used, regular lubrication is essential to prevent it from breaking. Lubrication allows the moving parts of the gun to have less friction; the more friction means the tool could break and could become hazardous for the user. It will also lessen the strain for you when you squeeze the nozzle when you use it, and if you ever used a caulking gun, you know that pulling the trigger is difficult, especially if you’re a lanky kid. It also ensures that you have better control in dispensing the sealant.
Tighten Screws and Inspect for Leakage. If your caulking gun has loose components, it could lead to shaking that will significantly affect the distribution of your sealant towards the area you want to seal; this could just lead to a big mess instead of repairing the problem. Because of this, it’s important to inspect your tool and see if there are any loose screws that need tightening. You should also see if the gun’s seals are still in their prime. Worn-out seals can effectively lessen your caulking gun’s effectiveness; that’s why it’s essential to replace them when already needed.
