Basic Home Repairs

You don't need to be handy. You don't need to have grown up watching someone fix things. You need a few basic tools, the willingness to try, and the wisdom to know when something is above your pay grade.

This guide covers the most common home issues you'll run into, how to fix them yourself, and — just as importantly — when to stop and call someone who does this for a living.

The Starter Toolkit

You can handle the vast majority of basic repairs with these tools. Buy them once and they'll last years.

Can I Fix This Myself?

Before you start any repair, run through this decision tree.

The Fixes You Can Do Yourself

Unclog a Drain

This is the most common home repair. Before calling a plumber ($100-300 visit), try these in order:

Level 1 — The plunger:

1. Remove the drain stopper if there is one.
2. Cover the drain with the plunger and make sure there's a seal.
3. Plunge vigorously 15-20 times.
4. Check if water drains. Repeat if needed.

Level 2 — Baking soda and vinegar:

1. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain.
2. Follow with half a cup of white vinegar.
3. Cover the drain (a wet cloth works) and wait 30 minutes.
4. Flush with hot (not boiling) water for 2 minutes.

Level 3 — The drain snake: A drain snake (also called a drain auger) is a flexible metal cable you feed into the drain to break up clogs. You can get a basic one for $10-15. Insert it, twist, and pull out whatever is clogging the pipe. It's gross but effective.

Fix a Running Toilet

A running toilet wastes up to 200 gallons of water per day and can add $50+ to your monthly water bill. The fix usually costs $5 and takes 10 minutes.

What's happening: The flapper valve (the rubber piece at the bottom of the tank) isn't sealing properly. Water continuously leaks from the tank into the bowl.

How to fix it:

1. Take the lid off the toilet tank (the box on the back).
2. Look at the rubber flapper at the bottom. Is it warped, cracked, or not sitting flat?
3. If yes, flush the toilet and turn off the water supply (the valve behind the toilet, turn clockwise).
4. Unhook the old flapper and take it to the hardware store to match the size.
5. Hook the new flapper on and turn the water back on.
6. Flush to test. The running should stop.

Tighten Loose Screws and Handles

Cabinet door wobbly? Door handle loose? Towel bar pulling away from the wall? 90% of the time, a screwdriver solves this in 2 minutes.

1. Identify the screw type — flathead (one line) or Phillips (cross/star).
2. Tighten the screw clockwise. "Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey."
3. If the screw just spins and won't tighten (the hole is stripped), here's the fix: remove the screw, push a toothpick or wooden matchstick into the hole with a drop of wood glue, break off the excess so it's flush, let it dry for an hour, then re-drive the screw. The wood gives the screw something to grip.

Patch a Small Hole in the Wall

Nail holes, anchor holes, or small dings from furniture. This is especially important for renters — patching before you move out can save your security deposit.

What you need: Spackle (a small tub is $5), a putty knife or old credit card, fine-grit sandpaper, and matching paint if you have it.

Steps:

1. Clean out any loose debris from the hole.
2. Apply spackle with the putty knife, pressing it into the hole and smoothing it flat.
3. Let it dry completely (usually 1-2 hours, check the label).
4. Sand smooth with fine sandpaper. Wipe dust with a damp cloth.
5. Paint over it if you have matching paint. If not, the spackle dries white and is invisible in white walls.

Fix a Squeaky Door

That door that wakes up your roommate at 3 AM? Easy fix.

1. WD-40 or any household oil. Spray or drip a small amount onto each door hinge — the top, middle, and bottom.
2. Open and close the door several times to work the lubricant in.
3. Wipe off any excess with a paper towel.

If the squeak persists, the hinge pins might need to be removed and lubricated individually. Pull the pin out from the bottom using a nail and hammer (push up from below), coat it in petroleum jelly or white lithium grease, and slide it back in.

Reset a Tripped Circuit Breaker

When an outlet or area of your apartment suddenly has no power, the circuit breaker probably tripped.

1. Find your electrical panel. It's usually in a utility closet, hallway, basement, or garage. It's a metal box with a door.
2. Open it. You'll see rows of switches.
3. A tripped breaker will be in the middle position (not fully on or off) or may look slightly out of line with the others.
4. Flip it fully OFF first, then back to ON.
5. Check if power is restored.

Fix a Leaky Faucet

That drip-drip-drip wastes water, raises your bill, and will slowly drive you insane.

For a single-handle faucet (most common in modern apartments):

1. Turn off the water supply under the sink (two valves — turn both clockwise).
2. Turn on the faucet to release remaining pressure.
3. The drip is usually caused by a worn cartridge or O-ring. Look up your faucet brand and model, and order a replacement cartridge ($10-15).
4. Remove the handle (there's usually a small screw under a decorative cap), pull out the old cartridge, and push in the new one.
5. Reassemble, turn water back on, test.

Unclog a Shower Drain

Shower drains clog from hair and soap buildup. Here's the fix before calling anyone:

1. Remove the drain cover (it either pops off or has one screw).
2. Reach in with needle-nose pliers or a bent wire hanger and pull out the hair clog. It will be disgusting. That's normal.
3. Once you've removed the visible clog, flush with hot water.
4. If the drain is still slow, use the baking soda and vinegar method described above.
5. Replace the drain cover and install a drain screen to prevent future clogs.

Stop a Squeaky Floor

1. Sprinkle talcum powder or baking soda over the squeaky area.
2. Work it into the gaps between boards using your feet or a broom.
3. The powder lubricates the boards where they rub together.
4. Sweep up the excess.

This is a temporary fix that lasts a few months. For a permanent fix in a home you own, you'd screw through the subfloor into the joist — but that's a homeowner move, not a renter one.

When to Call a Professional

Some things are not worth the risk of doing yourself.

Always call a professional for:

• Gas anything. If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas company emergency line. Gas leaks can cause explosions.
• Main electrical panel work. Resetting a breaker is fine. Anything involving wiring, adding circuits, or the panel itself — call a licensed electrician.
• Water main or sewer line issues. If multiple drains are backed up simultaneously, the issue is deeper in the system.
• Structural problems. Cracks in walls that are growing, sagging floors or ceilings, doors that suddenly won't close — these suggest foundation or structural movement.
• Mold. Small surface mold in the bathroom you can clean with bleach. But large patches, mold in walls, or mold that keeps coming back despite cleaning — that requires professional remediation.
• Anything your lease says is the landlord's responsibility.

The Golden Rule for Renters

Before you fix anything in a rental, check your lease. Some landlords want to handle all repairs themselves (and pay for them). Others expect you to handle small stuff. When in doubt:

1. Document the problem. Take photos and/or video.
2. Send a message to your landlord describing the problem and asking how they'd like to handle it. Use text or email — this creates a paper trail.
3. Keep records of every communication and any money you spend on repairs.
4. Never make a major modification without written permission from your landlord.

Check Yourself