- No plunger, no problem
Use a hollow rubber ball or tennis ball instead. Secure the ball in a vice and cut it in half with a hacksaw or a utility knife. To clear a blocked waste pipe, fit the concave side over the waste outlet and press down with your palms or the base of your thumbs to create pressure.
- Clamp down on loose plungers
A plunger with a loose handle makes every job more difficult and can even be dangerous if the handle slips out or breaks off. If your plunger handle is easily separated from the suction cup, tighten it by placing a hose clamp around the base of the cup so that it is firmly clamped to the handle.
- Saucer as sink shield
Before taking apart a tap in a sink without a plug, take a small plate or saucer and simply place it upside down over the drain to prevent any small pieces from getting lost.
- Loosen a stuck tap
If you’ve tried everything, but a tap handle won’t budge, try pouring fizzy drink such as cola or lemonade over the tap. Give the carbonation 5-10 minutes to loosen any rust or corrosion around the tap — followed by a few gentle strikes with a rubber mallet, and it’ll loosen with ease.
- Stop a sink or tub
If your drain plug has disappeared, but you need to stop the water in the sink or bathtub, here’s a stopgap solution. Place a plastic lid over the drain. The vacuum created keeps the water from slip-sliding away.
- Easy turn-off
It is frustrating when you want to turn the water off at the mains, only to find that the stop tap is jammed tight. It can usually be loosened by the judicious application of WD-40 and/or heat — but, to avoid it happening again, try to remember to operate it every month or so and always close it a quarter turn from fully open when you leave it. This way it will work freely when you need it.
- Hose off pipe leaks
When you need a quick patch for a leaking water pipe, cut off a section of old garden hose or rubber tubing that’s longer than the affected area of pipe. Slice it lengthways, and then fit the hose over the leak. Wrap it well with waterproof tape and secure it with three hose clamps: one on each end and one in the middle.
- Blow-dry a frozen pipe
If a water pipe freezes during winter, close the main valve on the water meter and open the nearest tap. Then, starting at the tap, use a hair dryer on a medium setting to thaw out the pipe. Be sure to keep the drier moving all the time so that the pipe doesn’t get too hot in one spot; a sudden shift in temperature can cause pipes to crack. After it thaws, cover the pipe in thick foam insulating material to keep it from freezing in the future.