DIY plumbing fixes, with a picture for every step
Leaks, clogs, running toilets and hot water trouble. Most plumbing problems start small, and most of the fixes here take an hour or less with a wrench, a bucket and a towel.
Where to start: If water is coming out where it shouldn't, start by learning where your main water shutoff valve is. For everyday annoyances, a toilet that keeps running is usually a $5 flapper, a dripping faucet is usually a worn cartridge, and a slow sink drain is usually hair and soap near the stopper. Water heater acting up? Check why there's no hot water before you call anyone.
What are you dealing with?
Find your main water shutoff
Fix a running toilet
Stop a dripping faucet
Unclog a sink without chemicals
No hot water? Check these first
Unclog a toilet (without the overflow)
Find and fix a leak under the sink
Water heater leaking? What to do first
Hot water runs out too fast? Here's why
Common questions
What plumbing repairs can I safely do myself?
Anything on the fixture side of a shutoff valve: toilet parts, faucet cartridges, drain clogs, supply lines and P-traps. Leave gas water heaters, main line breaks and anything inside the walls to a licensed plumber.
What should I do first when a pipe is leaking?
Turn off the water. Use the small valve under the fixture if there is one, or the main shutoff for the house. Then catch the water, dry things out, and figure out the fix.
Looking for something else? Browse all guides or see emergency steps.