AI as a Home Project Assistant

Get more done around your place—with a little AI help

Today sharing some ideas on how to utilize AI on something that is going to apply to most of us in some way – using it to tackle and plan home repairs and projects.

We all have a list of things to do around our place that we need to get around to, right? Before you run out to Home Depot, take a few minutes and ask your AI assistant to see how it can help you plan and tackle it. It can’t (and shouldn’t) replace calling a professional when needed of course, but it is useful for:

• Getting unstuck when you don't even know what questions to ask

• Understanding why something works the way it does

• Planning projects so you don't end up making three trips to your hardware store

• Building confidence to tackle things you’re a little intimidated by

Again, not the most complicated thing you can use AI for, but it is practical. Whether it’s a simple fix or a future upgrade, AI can help make home projects feel more manageable. Let’s dig in.

AI vs the alternatives

First let’s take a quick look at our options out there. I used Gemini’s Deep Research for fun to see what was out there, and it built out this table to understand how AI compares to all the other options out there.

Overboard? Absolutely. But also, why not?

This all generally tracks to me. AI is a fast, affordable, and surprisingly capable assistant for most everyday home tasks. It might not replace YouTube but it is totally personalized which is awesome. Just remember, for high-stakes or safety-related issues, a qualified professional is still the way to go.

Getting started: Talking to AI about your projects

The key to getting good help from AI is being specific about what you're dealing with. For instance, instead of "my sink is broken," try describing exactly what's happening. Ask it what info it needs to help.

📝 Here are some starter prompt examples that work well:

For repairs: "My kitchen faucet drips constantly even when it's turned off completely. It's a single-handle faucet that's probably about 10 years old. What are the most likely causes and what should I check first?"

For projects: "I want to hang some heavy picture frames on drywall. The frames weigh about 15 pounds each. What hardware do I need and how do I make sure they won't fall?"

For design decisions: "I have a small living room with north-facing windows, beige walls, and a dark brown couch. I want to add some color but don't want it to feel overwhelming. What are some safe color combinations I could try?"

Your AI will usually ask follow-up questions to get more details, which is exactly what you want. Keep going back and forth with it until you get what you need.

📷 Don’t forget to use pictures! AI tools (like GPT) can analyze images you upload. A quick snap can often provide context you didn’t even think to mention.

🤖 Check out GPTs. Don’t forget to check in on what others have built as there are custom-designed GPTs to help with home projects available. One I found helpful: ChatGPT - DIY Assistant - PROject

User shared GPTs are a great resource that let you utilize other users prompts instead of always creating your own. They typically work great.

AI Home Assistant in Action

Here are a couple of personal examples where AI helped me out. Simple and they could have been done without AI - but you know what, AI helped!

Fixing and replacing my garbage disposal

First off someone in my house (ahem!) threw a bunch of orange peels in the sink and the disposal got stalled. No matter how much I cleared out the gunk, it just made a humming sound and wouldn’t turn on.

So, I asked AI what to do and it gave me some great advice. I didn’t realize there was a hex key at the bottom of the disposal that I could use to rotate the blades manually. Worked like a charm!

But this got me thinking… I’ve had this thing for a few years now, and after asking GPT about it, turns out I had a pretty cheap model. Let’s go ahead and upgrade to something more powerful.

So I went to Lowe’s, went to the garbage disposal section, and asked which available models were compatible with my home setup already. I wanted to make sure it utilized my current mount if possible and that electricity output wouldn’t be an issue. AI gave me a couple available options as I was standing in the aisle.

I went ahead and bought it, headed home, installed it easily without having to change the mount, and flicked it on. Worked great!

Griddle adventures: It’s smashburger time

Here’s something a little different that I tackled last week. I would love one of those huge standalone outside griddles but don’t the space, so I asked GPT for some ideas. Should I look at small inside/outside model? Something for my indoor kitchen range? Something else?

GPT Recommended a grill griddle accessory for my gas grill, which seems like a good option. Low hassle, easy to store, easy to convert – minimal space using existing tools. Apparently works pretty well. Let’s do it.

Now which one? GPT helped me answer that immediately after I provided it with my grill model number:

I went with the trust approach here - a bit risky granted - but I was feeling lazy. Without any measuring, I clicked on the top recommendation Amazon link and a day later I had my new griddle insert delivered.

Fits and works great – I’m in business.

AI as Your Home Project Assistant

So next time you're staring at your home to-do or trying to figure out why your door won't close properly, try asking your AI assistant about it. You might be surprised by how helpful it can be and how much more confident you feel about taking care of your space.

Just remember, don't be afraid to call in the pros when you're in over your head. Your AI buddy will be there for all the questions in between.