Clogged Drain

If a sink drain is just slow to drain, first try flushing it with hot water for a few minutes.  If this doesn’t work, try a publicly available drain cleaner.  Make sure to flush the chemicals out with hot water after unclogging the drain.  For a fully clogged drain a plunger can sometimes work.  Make sure to plug any overflow pipes before plunging.  Also, try inserting a screwdriver to reach the clog.  If all else fails, call a plumber for assistance.

Noisy Pipes

Check to see if the pipes are anchored properly.  Brackets around the pipes into the joints can help.  Sometimes air gets into pipes and causes loud clanging.  Drain the water in the pipes to alleviate this situation.  If the noise persists, check the radiator valve.  If you still can’t find the source, call a professional plumber.

Dripping Faucet

Before you attempt to take apart a faucet, shut the water off and cover the sink with a towel to avoid losing small parts.  Faucets typically leak due to old gaskets, rings or corroded valve seats.  Take the faucet apart by removing the handle and unscrewing the packing nut beneath the handle to expose the stem.  Examine the stem.  Clean it if it is dirty and replace the washer if it is flat or has a groove.  If the threads on the stem are badly worn, take it to a retailer and find at matching stem for replacement.

Toilet Backed Up

First, try a plunger and flush the toilet simultaneously.  If this doesn’t work you can try a plumber’s snake that should be available from your hardware store.  The snake is a flexible metal rope that slides down the drainpipe until it hits the clog area and loosens the clog.  If your water level is low, try pouring water from a bucket three feet above the toilet and flush to see if it helps.    

Running Toilet

Usually a running toilet is due to the chain on the flapper getting caught up or knotted and blocking the flapper from creating a seal.  Sometimes the chain will break and require a replacement.  Another cause could be the shut-off float in the tank lifting too high and preventing the valve from shutting off completely.