Do-It-Yourself

In this section we will endeavor to find easy fixes for common problems. We will also include some safety tips, such as, what to do if you suspect a natural gas leak. Please remember that safety always comes first.

Gas Leaks ~Clogged Toilet ~Power Failure ~Re-lighting Pilot Lights ~Jammed Garbage Disposal

If you smell the garlic-like odor of natural gas or suspect a gas leak, take the following steps immediately:

1. Get everybody outside and open the doors to ventilate the house.

2. Do not light any matches or lighters, or flip any electrical switches -- it could ignite an explosion.

3. Turn off your gas supply valve, located next to the gas meter on the inlet pipe (as shown). Use an adjustable wrench to rotate the valve one-quarter turn so that the stem is perpendicular to the inlet pipe.

4. Call the gas company or the fire department -- USE A NEIGHBOR'S PHONE.

Clogged Toilet -

Water rising to the top edge of the toilet bowl is a sign that there is a clog. Most toilet bowls are designed to hold the entire contents of the tank, if water is rising, DO NOT try to flush the toilet again, this will cause overflowing. You must wait until the water level drops to normal. If it doesn't drop to normal, then you need to find out what is blocking the bowl.

When a toile bowl that is overflowing, quickly turn the water off under the tank. If you don't have a shutoff under the tank, remove the tank lid and lift up on the float ball or cup. Then have someone else turn the water off at the main shutoff. (This assumes the problem is a clog in the toilet. If the problem is a backing up sewer then turning the water off isn't going to help. With the exception of a floor drain and not all houses have one, a toilet on the lowest level of a house is often the lowest opening to the sewer, and the first place water backs up when there is a problem with tree roots in the street.)

Once the water is off, ask if anyone knows what might be clogging the toilet bowl. Are any tooth brushes, combs or toys missing? Is the roller for the toilet paper gone? How about the top to the can of hair spray, etc.,? If you discover that something has been accidently flushed down the toilet, have the person with the smallest hand put their hand inside a plastic trash bag and try to retrieve the item with their finger tips. This doesn't always work, but worth a try. Make sure their hands don't get stuck.

The next thing to try is the plunger. There are plungers especially made for toilets; one has a cone on the bottom another has a bellows which allows for more air to be exerted on the clog. Position the plunger over the large hole in the bowl and push down. To avoid a mess, start slowly and gently. Increasep intensity by gradually pressing more forcefully and pulling back faster. Repeat this as many times as necessary to dislodge the clog. This should work, but if it doesn't, your next step is to try a toilet auger.

A toilet auger is a plumbing snake inside a protective tube that has a bent end. You pull the snake back into the tube as far as it will go then insert the end of the pipe in the large hole in the bowl. Then turn the handle while pushing firmly on the snake. DO NOT USE A REGULAR SNAKE IN A TOILET BOWL, it will scratch and damage the your bowl.

If these methods still don't unclog your toilet, you have two choices....one is to call the plumber, the other is to remove the toilet and try to clear the clog from the bottom of the bowl. This can be done with the toilet auger...or if this doesn't force the object out...take the toilet outside and run the garden hose thru the bowl. The pressure of the water may force a stuck object out. (Remember, when putting the toilet back, Always replace the wax seal.)

Power Failures -

The most common cause of household power failure is an overload or short circuit that has blow a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker. Unless all the lights in your neighborhood have gone out, this is probably the case.

Your first step is to turn off or unplug the appliance, light or switch you think may have cause the outage.

If when you reset the breaker and it snaps back off immediately, you should suspect a short. If your problem is an overload, a breaker will hum for a moment before tripping. Resetting a breaker is easy, just flip it to the Off position, then back to On.

When working at a service panel, never stand on a wet floor and always hold one hand behind your back. This assures that any errant current won't pass through your heart.

Re-lighting Pilot Lights -

Pilot lights on gas water heaters, furnaces, and room heaters work the same way. The pilot flame should always be lit, it is there to ignite the main burner on demand. To relight the pilot:

1. Turn the control valve OFF, then to the PILOT position.

2. Push down the red button (or in newer models, the valve handle itself) to release gas to the pilot light.

3. Light with a match. Don't let up on the valve for 60 seconds until the thermocouple warms up.

4. Release the button and set the control to ON.

The relighting sequence described here may be slightly different for your heater -- be sure to follow the specific instructions for your appliance. They are usually posted on the appliance.

Jammed Garbage Disposal -

If your disposal hums, but doesn't grind when you switch it on, something is probably stuck inside. Shut it off, then push the reset button or the reversing switch on the bottom of the of the garbage disposal. Newer model disposals have a hexagonal fitting for an Allen wrench on the bottom of the unit. Insert the wrench and turn it back and forth to free the mechanism. Always remove the Allen wrench before you turn on the disposal. If you don't, the rotation of the motor can throw the wrench and cause damage or injury.

With older models, a more medeival course of action may be necessary. Insert a broom handle and lever it against the side of the drain opening to move the disposals blades back and forth until the clog is freed.

NEVER put your hand in a garbage disposal to clear a jam. Turn off the power to the disposal and use tongs or pliers to reach in.