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Over 2,000 programs and adding every day.

You don’t have to go to a tech school, hire a costly maintenance specialist, or replace devices when they stop working.

Have you ever wondered why repairers charge so much? The answer is relatively simple: They perform a necessary service with knowledge many people lack.

After all, we need our computers for entertainment and to complete tasks. We need our furnaces to warm us up in the winter. And we need our electronic car key fob to work to get in and lock our automobiles.

Those are just some standard examples of devices that often need tech fixes to run smoothly. But instead of paying someone else to fix them or investing in costly replacements, you can get the job done by yourself. Here’s proof:

Fix a “Dead” Car Key Fob

Car key fobs are absolute musts for modern cars. You need it to get in, and you need it to lock the car when you get out.

Unfortunately, electronic car key fobs can be pretty fickle. They can seem to work when they feel like it. And when yours dies, you need to replace it immediately so you can use your car.

Call up your car’s service department, and they could give you a $500 quote for a new fob, which includes the programming of the device. That’s a lot of cash for an easy fix, as you’re about to see.

To get your car key fob working like new, grab a cotton ball and wet it with isopropyl alcohol. Gently pry the key fob open and look for the little gold squares and circles. These contacts tend to get dirty, which can keep the fob from functioning.

Rub the slightly soaked cotton ball on the contacts to get them clean. Put the fob back together and hit the buttons. It should be working, saving you hundreds of bucks in the process.

Fix a Fickle Furnace

Is your furnace not turning on? Is it failing to reach the temperature you set on the thermostat? If so, the thermostat may be the problem, so before you call a tech to repair it, do the following:

1. Even if the display is visible, replace the batteries and see if that fixes it.
2. If the new batteries don’t fix the issue, replace the thermostat for about $15. Then install it yourself using instructions from a YouTube vid.

Fix a Near-Crashing, Choppy-Internet Computer

You don’t need the latest and greatest computer to enjoy decent performance and reliable Internet. You just need to fix your setup to ensure that your computer’s memory isn’t crowded and your Internet connection is optimized.

If you have many huge files stored on your computer’s hard drive, move them over to a flash drive. You can pick one up for under $10 and start using it within seconds to transfer those speed-hampering files.

With your computer’s load lightened, you can optimize your Internet connection by buying a Cat-6 ethernet cable. It will also run you around $10, and it offers a direct connection between your router and computer. With such a setup, you won’t have to worry as much about dropped connections when streaming movies or doing video calls.