Whether it’s in the kitchen or the bathroom, a clogged drain is incredibly annoying. It’s really not something you can ignore—at least for long—because you probably don’t want to inadvertently flood your floor, or lose the use of your sink, tub, or toilet. So what’s a homeowner or renter to do?
It truly is the stuff of nightmares: faced with an away-toilet situation in someone else’s home, you do your business, flush ... and nothing happens. Or worse, you flush and the toilet water (as well as its contents) slowly starts rising like super-gross flood waters. That alone is anxiety-inducing, but then you do a quick scan of the bathroom and realise that there is not a plunger in sight. Don’t panic or jump out a window. Try these tactics instead.
Video: I don’t know why they don’t teach things such as basic toilet plunging in school — years ago, it would have saved me from horror film-like screams, a teary phone call with my dad, and an afternoon of disinfection.
Your shower pipes are not like your computer — they're not supposed to be out of date and barely working within a few years. Completely replacing the plumbing system isn't something any homeowner wants to do and if you treat yours right, you shouldn't have to.
Everyone loves a natural home-cleaning solution, not least because you've likely got the ingredients in your pantry already. Bicarbonate of soda and vinegar are two of the most common components and if you've ever seen a science fair volcano, you have a sense of why.
Toilet plungers are essential household tools you hope you'll never need to use. But in the case that you do, it might as well be a good one. Here's what you should look for if you're in the market for one.
Not looking forward to your shower giving an operatic performance every time you bathe? It's a pretty common problem -- showers that make an annoying high-pitched squeal when you run the water -- but you can probably fix it yourself.
It can take a while for water running from the tap to get hot. Yeah, you can wait around with your finger under the water, but it would be a lot easier if you could see when it's finally hot. This clever DIY temperature indicator lets you do just that.
If your water goes cold, it's likely your water heater flame has gone out. You don't need any tools or a handyman to re-ignite the pilot light. Just follow these steps.
If you're faced with repiping your home because of a water leak, you'll be presented with two piping options: copper or PEX. Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons for each type.
