Everyday home issues have a way of piling up: the dripping faucet you “tune out,” the cabinet door that never quite closes, or that draft sneaking under your front door. With prices going up on everything from winter clothes to travel gear, paying for a pro to handle every small repair just isn’t realistic for most households.
The good news: a lot of these fixes are as straightforward as clicking “add to cart” during a Cyber Week sale—if you know the steps. This guide walks you through five ridiculously common problems with clear, practical instructions so you can repair now instead of “someday.”
---
1. Silencing a Dripping Faucet
That drip is literally money going down the drain. Most drippy faucets can be fixed in under an hour with a few basic tools.
What you’ll need
- Adjustable wrench or set of wrenches
- Flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers
- Replacement cartridge or O-rings/washer (model-specific)
- Plumber’s tape (Teflon tape)
- Small towel or rag
Step-by-step
**Shut off the water**
Look under the sink for the hot and cold shutoff valves. Turn both clockwise until they stop. Open the faucet to release any remaining water and pressure.
**Plug the drain**
Use the sink stopper or a rag so you don’t lose tiny screws or parts down the drain.
**Remove the handle**
- Look for a small cap or plug on the handle (often decorative). Pry it off with a flat screwdriver. - Unscrew the handle screw underneath and pull the handle off.
**Take out the cartridge or stem**
Under the handle you’ll see a retaining nut or clip. - Use a wrench to loosen the nut or remove the clip. - Gently pull out the cartridge or stem. Note its orientation (take a quick phone picture).
**Inspect and replace worn parts**
- Look for cracked or flattened rubber O-rings/washers. - If it’s a cartridge faucet, replacing the entire cartridge is usually easiest. - Take the old part to a hardware store OR look up your faucet model online and order the exact match.
**Reassemble with new parts**
- Wrap threads with plumber’s tape if applicable. - Insert the new cartridge or stem in the same orientation. - Tighten the retaining nut (snug, not over-tight). - Reinstall the handle and decorative cap.
**Turn water back on and test**
Slowly turn the shutoff valves counterclockwise. Open the faucet and let it run for a few seconds. Check for leaks and listen—no drip should mean job done.
---
2. Stopping a Running Toilet
A continuously running toilet wastes gallons of water a day. Most of the time the fix is in the tank, not in the pipes—and you can do it without any plumbing experience.
What you’ll need
- New flapper or fill valve (depending on what’s broken)
- Adjustable wrench or pliers
- Towel or sponge
Step-by-step
**Take off the tank lid and look inside**
Flush once and watch the internal parts work. Pay attention to: - The **flapper** (rubber piece at the bottom) - The **float** (ball or vertical float on the fill valve) - Water level (should be about 1 inch below the top of the overflow tube)
**Test the flapper**
- Push down gently on the flapper after the toilet refills. - If the running stops, the flapper is likely worn and not sealing properly.
**Replace the flapper if needed**
- Turn off the water at the shutoff valve behind the toilet. - Flush to empty most of the water from the tank. - Detach the old flapper from the overflow tube and unhook the chain. - Install the new flapper (match the type: universal, 2-inch, or 3-inch). - Attach the chain so there’s a little slack—too tight and the flapper won’t seal.
**Adjust the water level**
- If water is flowing into the overflow tube, the float is set too high. - For a float arm: bend it gently downward so the valve shuts off sooner. - For a vertical float: use the adjustment screw or clip to lower it.
**If it still runs, consider replacing the fill valve**
Modern fill valve kits include clear instructions and often a QR code for video help. - Turn off water, flush to empty tank, sponge out remaining water. - Disconnect the supply line under the tank. - Unscrew the old fill valve nut from underneath, remove valve, and install the new one following the kit’s diagram.
**Turn water on and test**
Let the tank fill, then listen. No hissing, no trickling, and the toilet should stop on its own. Adjust the float again if the water level isn’t right.
---
3. Fixing a Drafty Exterior Door
With winter gear and heated travel blankets trending, people are thinking about warmth—and your front door might be quietly leaking heat (and cash). You don’t need a new door; you probably need better sealing.
What you’ll need
- Adhesive foam weatherstripping or rubber door seal kit
- Door sweep (for the bottom gap)
- Measuring tape
- Scissors or utility knife
- Screwdriver and drill (for some sweeps)
Step-by-step
**Identify where the draft comes from**
On a cold or windy day, run your hand around the door edges and bottom. You can also use: - A lit incense stick or match (careful with flames) and watch the smoke - A thin strip of tissue—if it flutters, you have a leak
**Measure the gaps**
- Measure the top and sides of the door frame for weatherstripping. - Measure the width of the door for a sweep for the bottom.
**Install weatherstripping on the frame**
- Clean the frame with a damp cloth and let dry. - Starting at the top hinge side, peel back a small section of the adhesive backing. - Press the strip so it lightly compresses when the door closes—too tight and the door will be hard to shut. - Continue around the frame, cutting at the corners.
**Add or replace the door sweep**
- If there’s an old sweep, remove it by unscrewing it. - For screw-on sweeps, close the door and hold the sweep so the rubber just brushes the threshold. Mark the screw holes. - Pre-drill small pilot holes if needed and screw the sweep into place. - For adhesive-style sweeps, stick them along the bottom edge on the indoor side.
**Check the latch and hinges**
- If the latch doesn’t fully engage, tighten the hinge screws. - Slightly tightening top hinges can pull a sagging door back up and improve the seal.
**Test and tweak**
Close the door and repeat your draft test. Adjust the sweep height or add a second layer of thin weatherstripping if needed.
---
4. Quieting a Squeaky Door Hinge
Squeaky hinges are like bad dad jokes—once you hear them, you can’t un-hear them. Fortunately, the fix is one of the quickest wins in home maintenance.
What you’ll need
- Lubricant: silicone spray, white lithium grease, or petroleum jelly
- Rag or paper towels
- Small flat screwdriver or nail (optional)
Step-by-step
**Decide how deep you want to go**
For minor squeaks, you can often fix it without removing the hinge pin. For persistent noise, removing the pin and lubricating it works best.
**Quick method: Lubricate in place**
- Open and close the door halfway so you can see the hinge knuckles. - Spray a tiny amount of silicone lubricant directly onto the hinge pivot points. - Open and close the door 10–15 times to work the lubricant in. - Wipe away excess to prevent drips.
**Deeper method: Remove and grease the pin**
- With the door closed, place a rag on the floor under the hinge. - Use a small flat screwdriver or nail and a hammer to tap the hinge pin up from the bottom (some hinges push out easily by hand). - Pull the pin out and wipe it clean.
**Apply lubricant to the pin**
- Coat the pin lightly with grease or petroleum jelly. - Avoid overdoing it; a thin layer is enough.
**Reinstall the pin**
- Align the hinge knuckles and slide the pin back in from the top. - Tap gently with a hammer if needed until it’s fully seated.
**Test the door**
Open and close it several times. If there’s still a slight squeak, repeat on other hinges. Often all of them need a bit of attention.
---
5. Repairing a Loose Cabinet Door
When your cabinet door hangs crooked or refuses to stay shut, it makes the whole kitchen feel worn out—no matter how many stylish storage products you just ordered. This is almost always a hinge issue you can fix with a screwdriver.
What you’ll need
- Phillips screwdriver
- Optional: toothpicks and wood glue (for stripped screw holes)
- Small level (or your phone’s level app)
Step-by-step
**Tighten the basics first**
- Open the cabinet door fully. - Tighten all visible screws on the hinges: both on the door and where they attach to the cabinet box. - Often, this alone straightens a sagging door.
**Check for stripped screw holes**
If a screw keeps spinning without tightening, the wood hole is stripped. - Remove that screw. - Dip a few wooden toothpicks in wood glue, insert them into the hole, and snap off flush. - Let the glue dry for at least 30 minutes, then reinsert the screw—it should bite firmly into the “new” wood.
**Use the hinge adjustment screws** (for European-style hinges)
Most modern kitchen cabinets use concealed (European) hinges with two small adjustment screws: - One moves the door left/right. - The other moves it in/out or up/down slightly. Turn these in small increments and check alignment frequently.
**Align with neighboring doors**
- Close the door and compare the gap with the door next to it. - Use a level or level app to ensure the top edges line up horizontally. - Adjust hinge screws until the gaps are consistent and the door isn’t rubbing.
**Fix a door that won’t stay closed**
- Check the latch or magnet (if present). Tighten or replace if weak. - If there’s no latch, slightly adjust the hinge screws so the door sits closer to the cabinet frame when closed. - Inexpensive magnetic catches can be added inside the cabinet with just two screws.
**Open and close a dozen times**
Test in a real-world way—like you actually use the kitchen. If anything loosens again, tighten once more. After that, it usually stays put.
---
Conclusion
Tackling these five repairs now is like grabbing the best deals during a Cyber Week sale: a small investment of time pays off over and over. You’ll cut water waste, keep your home warmer, eliminate daily annoyances, and avoid service call fees for problems you can handle yourself.
If you found this helpful, share it with a friend who’s living with a drip, draft, or squeak—and check back on Repair Now (rprnow.com) for more step-by-step fixes you can actually do today.
Key Takeaway
The most important thing to remember from this article is that this information can change how you think about Household Repairs.
