Most homeowners do their own plumbing repairs from time to time, such as unclogging a toilet or fixing a leaky sink. Calling a plumber is not always necessary for minor home projects. Sometimes it’s just faster or more convenient to do it yourself. We’ll walk you through a few DIY plumbing repairs that are easy to do and hard to mess up.

Unclogging a Shower Drain

Before you call a plumber, you can buy an inexpensive snake from any home improvement store. Simply put the snake down the drain and pull it back out, along with the sludge that’s affecting your drain. If you’re still having backup issues, you can make a drain cleaner with boiling water, vinegar and baking soda.

Call a plumber if: Your drain is still backed up. You may need a more than just a drain snake or store-bought drain cleaner to fix your clog. Don’t hesitate to call a pro if the problem persists.

Simple Toilet Fixes

The inner workings of toilets are not hard to figure out. A continually running toilet is a waste of water and a toilet that won’t flush is an inconvenience at best. You may need to replace your toilet’s handle or chain if it does not flush correctly. The video below explains how to replace the handle and restore your toilet to working order.

Another item that call for simple DIY plumbing repairs is the flapper. Your flapper is typically the culprit when your toilet won’t stop running. Not only is replacing this part easy, it’s also an inexpensive buy. Learn this simple repair with the help of the video below.

Call a plumber if: You don’t know what you’re doing. Toilets are mostly simple contraptions, but if you’re not 100% sure that you’re replacing the correct part, you may cause more damage.

These DIY plumbing repairs will save you time and money as long as you do them correctly.