Learning practical DIY skills for the household is becoming increasingly valuable. Not just to save money on repairs, maintenance, cleaning, or plumbing, acquiring such skillsets can equip you with the dexterity of getting your hands dirty, and maybe even carving a new career path.
SkillsFuture, introduced in 2015, gives citizens $500 in SkillsFuture credits when they turn 25, and another top-up of $4,000 SkillsFuture (Mid-Career) credits. Using them, you can offset fees for a wide range of courses (number over 7,000) that deepen existing skills and reskill in new fields.
You can also pick up home DIY skills that you can fully pay with your SkillsFuture Credits, to enhance your self-sufficiency and even help carve an entirely new career “for free”.
Read Also: Complete Guide To SkillsFuture Credits – And How Singaporeans Can Use Them
#1 Basic Air-Con Maintenance
Course Provider: Aestheticar Pte Ltd
Location: Jurong East Central, Tampines Central and Toa Payoh Central
Date: Multiple sessions available from a range of 1 to 29 June
In hot and humid Singapore, many of us use the air-conditioner every day. Work-from-home has only increased the usage of this critical home appliance. Learning basic air-con maintenance can be very handy as the air-con may breakdown more often with higher usage. Over time, we may even rack up substantial savings if we are able to rectify small issues on our own rather than arranging for air-con servicing by professionals each time.
Attending this 1-day aircon maintenance course will equip learners with basic skills to do maintenance and cleaning of air conditioners by themselves through hands-on experiential learning.
After the course, learners should be able to:
- Understand the different types of air-conditioning and ventilation systems, how they work, and the purpose of their components
- Carry out the necessary preparation steps before performing preventive maintenance on air-conditioning systems
- Check the condition and installation of air-conditioning systems to ensure they are working properly
- Perform preventive maintenance and servicing according to the organisation’s procedures, technical manuals, and safety guidelines
- Keep records of maintenance tasks and report any problems found during the process
Singaporeans aged 40 years and above will have to pay $113.10, while Singaporeans aged 21-39 years old or permanent residents (PR) will have to pay $171.10. However, if you are below the age of 21, the fee would be set at $316.10.
Read Also: Price Guide To Air Conditioners In Singapore And The Maintenance Costs
#2 Electrical Appliance Repair
Course Provider: Repair Kopitiam
Location: Tampines Street 73, Henderson Road and Macpherson Road
Date: 14 June (Macpherson Road), 12 July (Henderson Road), 2 August (Macpherson Road); 10am-5pm for each session
Having a better understanding of how your household appliances work can help you identify and reduce electrical risks. Similarly, you can potentially save some money by making simple repairs over throwing out appliances or calling in professionals.
This 7-hour electrical appliance repair course aims to equip learners with practical technical skills to solve issues related to electronics consumption and breakdown occurrences.
After the course, learners will be able to:
- Repair electrical appliances safely
- Diagnose electrical faults
- Use Tools and equipment such as a multimeter, test pen, etc
- Repair motor appliances like fans, blenders, etc.
- Repair heat appliances such as irons, toasters, ovens, etc.
The course fees is $207.10. However, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged 50 and above will only need to pay $55.10 after the National Silver Academy Subsidy.
#3 Plumbing, Drywalls and Adhesives (Handyman)
Course Provider: Repair Kopitiam
Location: Tampines Street 73, Henderson Road and Macpherson Road
Date: 14 June (Henderson Road), 5 July (Tampines Street 73), 19 July (Macpherson Road), 23 August (Henderson Road); 10am-5pm for each session
Most of us have dealt with or continue to deal with leaking pipes in our bathrooms, as well as the occasional choked toilet and clogged drains. Knowing how to solve these issues can reduce both stress and costs.
This 7-hour plumbing, drywall, and adhesives course is designed to teach learners how to handle common plumbing tasks, such as changing and maintaining faucets, clearing clogged drains, installing faucet attachments, working with plastic pipes, and fixing toilet flush systems. Additionally, you will learn how to install fixtures on drywall and understand how to use adhesives properly.
After the course, learners will be able to:
- Fix basic plumbing
- Repair and install faucets
- Install and fix fixtures onto drywalls
- Carry out proper use of adhesives
The course fee is $190. However, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged 50 and above will only need to pay $38 after the National Silver Academy Subsidy.
#4 Washroom Maintenance
Course Provider: Clean Solutions Pte Ltd
Location: 10 Arumugam Road, LTC Building A
Date: N.A.
Maintaining our washrooms will lead to fewer problems, and hopefully reduce instances of having to make use of our plumbing skills (if we also want to go for the Plumbing, Drywalls and Adhesives course listed above).
Over two days, this 19-hour washroom maintenance course aims to equip candidates with the necessary basic skills to maintain a washroom effectively.
After the course, learners will be able to:
- Prepare work area before commencing tasks
- Remove dust, dirt, spills, and debris from toilets, including fixtures, walls, partitions, and floors
- Wipe down toilet walls, partitions, and areas frequently touched by users
- Restock items like toilet paper, soap, and other supplies in the sanitary area
- Restore washroom to optimal condition
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents have to pay $386.95. However, if they are sponsored by an employer or are self-sponsored, they only need to pay $138.45, after their skillsFuture funding.
#5 Basic Car Maintenance
Course Provider: Aestheticar Pte Ltd
Location: Ubi
Date: 12-29 June
Many car owners lament over having to fork out sums of money to workshops after their regular car servicing. Having the right skills and knowledge can help car owners to take better care of their cars with preventive maintenance, serviceability checks and first-level corrective maintenance on cars. This can hopefully reduce major issues and equip you with the skills to do routine oil changes and other basic maintenance processes to reduce the number of trips you have to make to the mechanic.
This one-day basic car maintenance course will include hands-on experience on an actual car, and is designed to give learners the essential skills and knowledge to perform preventive maintenance, check if a car is in good working condition, and fix simple issues. The course will cover the functions, operations, and common maintenance tasks for the internal and external systems of Class 3 vehicles, along with common problems and their causes.
After the course, learners will be able to:
- Explain the functions and operations of internal systems and external equipment found in Class 3 vehicles
- Understand and interpret fault codes and various warning lights
- Perform checks and inspections to confirm that different parts of the Class 3 vehicle and its external equipment are working properly
- Carry out preventive maintenance and tests to ensure the vehicle is ready for use
- Use the right methods to identify the causes of any faults
- Fix issues by following the correct procedures and using the appropriate tools and equipment
- Check the performance of the car parts or equipment after completing maintenance to ensure they are working properly
Singaporeans aged 40 years and above have to pay $101.40 and Singaporeans aged 21-39 years old or permanent residents (PR) will have to pay $153.40. However, if you are below the age of 21, the fee would be set at $283.40
#6 Bicycle Mechanics Course
Course Provider: Singapore Cycling Federation
Location: SCF 5 Stadium Drive (OCBC Arena)
Date: N.A.; 9am-6pm for each session
Cycling has exploded as both a leisure and sporting activity post-pandemic. If you’re an avid cyclist, you will be aware that bicycles – like cars – also need to be maintained to ensure they are in good working condition and even slow down wear and tear.
This 2-days basic bike mechanics course aims to educate learners on basic knowledge of cycling and the mechanics of a bicycle while understanding the need and importance of a well-maintained bicycle. Suitable for all age groups, emphasis of the course will be on both theory and hands-on experiences. On a side note, learners are required to attend at least 75% of workshop hours and pass the assessment test to receive a Certificate of Completion.
After the course, learners will be able to:
- Know what components make up a complete bicycle
- Understand mechanics of the different bicycle parts
- Perform hands on maintenance on the bike eg. (removing, cleaning of fork and headset, replacing brake cables and adjusting brake pads)
- Know the optimal riding posture and how it can eliminate injuries, enhance riding comfort and improve performance
Course fees is fixed a flat rate of $500 for all ages.
Read Also: Price Guide For Choosing And Buying Your First Bicycle In Singapore
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