Most bathroom toilet repairs are easy and inexpensive

The "throne" in most of our homes is the toilet. We'd be in trouble without it. But sometimes they do have problems. Thankfully, most are simple to fix. We'll cover the basics for you.

Probably the most common problem is a clogged toilet. Use a toilet plunger to unclog it fast. A wet vacuum also can be used in some cases. Your next best friend would be the toilet auger, or plumber's snake. Always shut the supply line off if the water is rising and/or overflowing.

Vent stacks that supply air for proper drainage also can become clogged. You can clear them from the roof with a plumber's snake. Be careful!

Another common problem is a slow leak between the tank and the bowl. Most of the time this is caused by the flapper, a pliable cover that fits over the drain from the tank into the bowl. It is raised when you flush the toilet, and then seats again once the water has drained from the tank. Check the flapper edges for fraying or residue. If need be, the flapper easily can be replaced for just a few dollars.

There is a float switch in your toilet tank that automatically shuts off the water supply to the tank. If the water level is set too high or the inlet valve is sticking, then the water won't shut off and will flow over the top of the overflow tube and into the bowl. The valve can be cleaned or replaced, or just set to a lower shut-off level, to stop this from happening.

These are just some of the most common problems and their solutions. But as you can see, they are easily fixed, so you can take your rightful seat on the throne of your home!

Two cords are better than one

One long extension cord can do a good job, but two could do twice the work. There are lots of times when an extra-long cord is just a waste, and it's not good to keep it coiled up when working with it. So if you have an extra-long extension cord, you could cut it in half and make two shorter cords. It might be a lot more useful this way. And, if you need the extra length again, you can always plug them back together. After cutting the cord in half, you easily can install new plugs on both cut ends. Now you will have two cords! It's just that easy to do, and will cost you only a few dollars for the new plugs.

Use for garden-hose scraps

Plastic garbage bags are lightweight, hold a lot of stuff and are easy to transport. But when you try to line a trash can with one, it can be difficult to keep in place. Unless they fit just perfectly, they always want to slide down into the can, which usually creates a big mess. One solution to this problem is to use a couple of scraps of garden hose, cut to about 2-inch lengths and slit down the side. The plastic bag fits into the can and over the side. Then the garden hose pieces slip over the sides of the can to hold the plastic bag in place. It's so simple to do and easy to remove when the bag is full. Keep them handy, because they can be used for other projects, too.

Super hints

• Save your old toothbrush to use when cleaning grout. The stiff bristles work great, and it's about the perfect size. Use it with a little bleach or another cleaner, and you'll be amazed!

• I found a super organizer for hardware. It's my old, hanging travel jewelry keeper. It hangs on a hook in the garage and has about 26 clear, zippered compartments. Each holds a different piece of hardware, and it's much easier to access than the pullout drawer bins I used to go through every time I needed a screw or a nail!

• If you get stuck waxing the floor, you can quickly spread floor wax with a paint roller. Then use a buffer to finish the job. It's the fastest way to the finish line.

Q. Our sunroom has a plain concrete floor. We would like to add carpet but don't know if we need padding, too. What should we know?

A. Padding will be plusher and actually will help the carpet last longer. You should apply a sealer to the concrete if there are any moisture problems. You also will need tack strips around the edge of the room to hold the carpet in place, unless you want to use double-sided tape. You also might consider using an indoor-outdoor carpet if you will have rough usage, or just going with an easy-clean carpeting.

Q. We have wooden paneling in our kitchen, and I would like to paint over it. What's the best paint to use?

A. Primer is the key to a great paint job over paneling. Clean the paneling with mineral spirits paint thinner first, and then apply a really good primer, followed by your paint. To start, you can scuff-sand the surface to help get the best adhesion. It may take several coats of paint to get the best coverage.

Q. My wife wants me to put dryer sheets in some of the heat registers around the house to help make it smell better. I am worried about what that might do to the circulation of heat in the house. What is your opinion on this?

A. You are correct. It can partially block the airflow in these registers. They do make some air fresheners that fit over your main furnace filter, so the next time you go to buy filters, look for these at your home center or hardware store. They work pretty well and won't block the airflow.

Q. Our brick chimney has some white powder growing on it at the base inside the house. What is causing this, and how can we get rid of it?

A. Check for water leaks, and repair them if you find any. This probably is efflorescence, and can be cleaned with trisodium phosphate, available at your hardware store.

Reader tips

• I fixed our electric clothes iron. My wife had given up on it and wanted to replace it, but I asked if I could take a look at it. I filled it up with vinegar instead of water and turned it on to heat up and steam. The iron sputtered and steamed, and all of the blockages inside it were cleared. I refilled it with water just to test it out, and it works like new again. I suggested we do this once or twice a year to keep it running clean. It was easy to do.

• I have built a nice workbench in my garage. It's not much, but it has some great storage both under the top and above on the pegboard. It has been a great place to work on several repairs and projects for our home. I even added a couple more power outlets, too. I needed some more light, so I bought two clamp-on lamps to use. They give me plenty of light, are easy to move around and position in just the right place, and were really inexpensive.

• I thought I had plenty of time to get all the painting done, as I had promised my wife I would get it done before her birthday. But when the room was all painted, I still had some touch-ups and cleanup to do. I brought two large fans into the room and turned them both on. Within just a couple of hours, the room was dry. I have to admit, it does look great. Even if I hadn't been in a hurry, the fans were a great idea.

• My wife has a ton of plants that she moves into the house every winter. We never seem to have enough drip trays for them all. In an effort to save some money this year, I bought drainage trays from the grocery store. I found that lightweight, aluminum baking pans, pie pans and oven trays are much cheaper and work great. Also, the trays that some TV dinners come in will work too. I can't wait until spring to get this stuff back outside, though!

• My parents live in a retirement community that has a wonderful recreation area. I noticed there were some magazines and books around for people to read, but nothing that great. I took a bunch of my old craft and woodworking magazines there last week, and they love them! If you have extras, you should see if there's a place where you are able to donate them.

Shoptalk

• Evapo-Rust is a great rust remover that is environmentally safe. It's water-based and will remove rust from many surfaces in just minutes and without a lot of scrubbing. It's great for tools, auto parts, patio furniture, metal fences and lots of other things. The way it works is really amazing, and yet it's much safer to use than most other rust removers. It's available at many auto-parts stores and other select dealers. Visit evapo-rust.com to find out more about how it works.

• There are lots of gadgets that cinch up cords, wire, pipe and other shop materials, but we recently ran across one that is a must-have for the DIY'er. The GripTwist is sort of like an industrial-size twist-tie. It has a flexible steel core that is wrapped with a soft, high-density foam covering that won't scratch or mark up surfaces. It comes in a variety of lengths and colors, and can be used for a whole lot of things in the shop and home. It's very strong and can be used to hold up equipment, bikes, ladders and many other items, and even can be used outdoors. It's available at many stores and through griptwist.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or visit the Carrells' Web site at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2010, Cowles Syndicate Inc.