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How to Fix a Leaky Faucet      

 Steps

  1. Turn off the water. Before you start, turn the water off to your faucet. Look underneath your sink for the pipes that run up to your faucet. Along those pipes somewhere will be handles (Fig. 1) that you can turn to shut off the water to your sink.
  2. Turn the handles clockwise to turn off the water. Remember the saying "Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey". Turning the handle right tightens the handle, and thus turns your water off.
    Fig. 1
  3. Plug up the sink drain once the water has been turned off. Use either the sink's in-built mechanism for plugging the drain, or plug it yourself with a rag. Nothing will ruin your day faster then having a screw or a washer going down the drain.
  4. Take the faucet handles off. Take out the screw (Fig. 2) that is holding them on. Use the screwdriver for this. Some faucet handles might hide their screws behind plastic or metal caps. You might have to pry the cap off with a flathead screwdriver to get at the screws holding the handles on, or unscrew a cap. Once you've removed the screws, pry the handles off with a flathead screwdriver. Some handles might come off easily without the need for prying.
    Fig. 2
  5. Once you have the faucet handle off (Fig. 3), remove the old washer that was behind the handle. If there is no washer behind the handle, that is okay, you are going to add one.
  6. Take the washer you've purchased. Simply place the washer where the old washer was. (Fig. 4) Basically the hole in the washer should be just slightly bigger than the post that the handle turns.
    Fig. 3
    Fig. 4
  7. Put the faucet handle back on the post and put the screw back in. Tighten the handle until it is "hand tight". That means tighten the screw until it feels tight without you having to use extra strength to tighten it.
  8. Turn your water back on by turning the handles under the sink counter-clockwise (remember, "Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey").
  9. Check it. If everything went well you shouldn't have a leaky faucet any longer. If your faucet continues to leak, try tightening the screws on the faucet handles just a bit more. If the faucet still leaks, then it really is time to call a plumber.

How to Unclog a Toilet

Do not ask your dog to do it.

There's never a good time for a clogged toilet, but clogs seem to happen at the most inopportune moments. Fortunately, you can clear most clogs yourself without having to pay a plumber. Follow these steps, and you should have the problem cleared up before the inlaws come over for dinner.

Steps

  1. Flush only once. If it's not flushing the first time, don't flush again. This will cause more water to be pumped into the toilet bowl. If you let the water in the bowl sit for a while, it will usually drain at least a little bit, although it may be very slow.
  2. Put on a pair of rubber gloves. Toilets are inherently unsanitary places to work, but a good pair of rubber cleaning gloves will protect you from the germs within.
  3. Protect the floor. What's worse than a clogged toilet? An overflowing toilet. Prevent or stop overflow quickly to avoid a disgusting mess and damage to your house. Place newspapers on the floor. Minor splashes and spills are bound to occur when you're unclogging the toilet. Several layers of newspaper around the toilet will help protect your floor.
  4. Try pouring a bucket of cold water into the toilet. Pour quickly, but not so fast that it roils up over the top. Don't fill it over the bottom of the rim in case you have to plunge again. If it's draining but slowly, let it sit and try a second bucket of water.
  5. Make sure the water supply to the toilet is off. It should be located right behind the toilet, it looks like a regular faucet knob. Do not shut off the supply for the house, since this will prevent others from using water. If the water is off to at least the toilet, this will prevent the bathroom from flooding.
  6. Find a plunger. (Note: If a known obstruction, such as a child's toy, is in the drain, skip to step 8.) It is important to use a large heavy-duty rubber plunger, either the ball-shaped type or one with a fold-out rubber flange on the bottom which forms a seal. Do not use the small cheap suction-cup type of plunger - these will often not work with toilets. Remember, the larger the plunger the more force you can apply down into the clogged drain. Of course the plunger should have a shape which ensures that the water you force out of it when you push down does not shoot back up into the toilet bowl instead of pushing into the drain. If you can try to get an integrated pump plunger as this will use a jet of water rather air to dislodge the blockage and is therefore likely to be less messy. As the jet is more "focused" it is also more powerful. One or two pumps with this type of plunger is usually sufficient for your average blockage.
  7. Insert plunger into the bowl and press down firmly but slowly the first time making sure you're covering the hole completely. The plunger should be submerged in water to be effective. It is important to be pushing and pulling with water not air. Add water to the bowl if necessary. Sharply pull up on the plunger to create suction in the drain, them push in to create pressure. It is the suction then pressure rocking back and forth in that way the clog is being constantly disturbed in both directions that will gradually cause it to be loosened. Beware! Pull first to back up the obstruction then push. Just pushing the plunger in only often results in just "packing" the clog in.
  8. Unravel and stretch out the coat hanger, and insert it into the drain.
    Use a wire coat hanger. If plunging fails to unclog the drain, a wire coat hanger may clear the obstruction.

    • Unravel the coat hanger. Twist the top ends of the coat hanger apart until they are no longer connected.
    • Stick one end of the wire into the drain. Once the wire is in the drain, twist it, push it, and maneuver it in a circular motion to clear the drain. This will generally work if there is an obstruction in the first few inches of the drain.
  9. Using a plumbing snake to unclog the drain.
    Use a plumbing snake. A snake (also sometimes called a "flexible cleaning tool" or "auger") is a flexible coil of wire that can "snake" through the curves of a drain and get deeper than a wire can. Insert one end of the snake into the drain and push down, feeding the snake further into the drain until you feel an obstruction. Twist and push the snake through the obstruction until the water begins to drain.
  10. Flush the toilet. When the water seems to drain OK, flush the toilet to make sure it's working properly and to flush any remaining debris into the sewers.
  11. Snake in reverse. It may become necessary to remove the toilet and run the snake through in the opposite direction. This is especially true with hard obstructions that may have been flushed by a curious child. If you suspect that there is a hard obstruction, DO NOT USE A CHEMICAL SOLUTION as is outlined in following steps. If a hard obstruction is known, and you are not confortable removing and replacing the toilet, contact a plumber.
  12. Use a chemical drain cleaner. If nothing else works, you can try a drain-cleaning chemical. They're available at most grocery, hardware, and "big box" stores. These chemicals are harsh on the environment, so try to avoid using them if possible. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and to use only chemicals that are specifically listed for toilets.
  13. Call a plumber. If nothing works, you may have a problem deeper in the plumbing lines, and you'll probably need to call a plumber. You'll usually be able to clear the clog yourself, but even if you can't you at least fought the good fight.