When I was growing up, my dad fixed everything in our house. I was always his helper, and I learned how to do the same things he knew how to do. At night and on weekends we would go out into the garage and "tinker". When I was ready for a car, (and after working two summers for it!) I purchased a model A Ford for $400.00 which arrived in zillions of little pieces. Dad and I put it together over the course of 2 years and 9 months, and I drove it to school my senior year in high school. I guess I'm lucky because I can now pretty much fix anything that breaks in our house, and if I can't fix it I know how to get information or people to help me. I am also able to use my experience and knowledge to help people every day in my remodeling and construction business. I send out a newsletter every so often updating my clients about the business and I include tips for taking care of their home repair needs. Lately, I have been thinking that I would like to reach a wider audience and share more of what I know. The result- The Home Repair Advisor. I hope that the information that you find here is helpful. I look forward to posting what I know, and what I learn as I continue in the business.
The Fine Print- The suggestions and ideas that I make here are for common problems and remodeling issues. When in doubt about a project, always call your contractor for advice or help. I’m always happy to give my clients free info over the phone if they want to help trouble shoot their problem. These answers may be a possible solution, but not the only solution. We assume no liability for damage caused by one following this advice. Please always wear safety glasses and proper clothing when doing it yourself!

What Could Go Wrong in a Bathroom? Plenty!

If you hear a dripping noise in the ceiling when someone is taking a shower, and your house is built prior to 1985,  your pan liner* may be failing.  Stop up the drain with duck tape. fill up the shower with water and see if it drips ( more or less.) If its dripping it’s probably the pan liner. (* pan liner: a membrane that channels water that may leak through the grout and tile mortar bed to the drainage system. The pan liner is installed and attached to the drain. A 1 inch plus mortar bed is installed.  Then the floor tile is installed and grouted. Since water is the universal solvent it eventually leaks trough some of the older pan liners or the pan liner wasn’t installed properly.)  Sometimes water leaks around the shower valves. Simple caulk can remedy this problem

If some of the tiles in your bathroom are coming loose,  remove all the loose tiles and figure out why they’re loose. Is water?(the universal solvent-sound familiar?)  getting behind the tile, make sure there is no water damage or active water leaks. Clean the tiles well and let dry. Repair any damage that exist as well as solving the reason for the failure, Install the tiles with thinset, let stand 24 hours and grout.

Your toilet is rocking back and forth.  To make it stable again- There are two bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. Sometimes they get loose and you can retighten them. (not to tight you may break the porcelain) THIS is RARE……

Often the toilet flange ( the drain part that’s fastened to the floor that the toilet fastens too.) Will break. It’s possible for a home owner to fix BUT unless you have some experience it’s probably better to call the plumber.

Your shower head does not spray as effectively as it used to...Remove the shower head by holding the outlet pipe with one wrench while loosing the head with another. Be very very careful (picture Elmer Fudd saying this to you) Most heads have a filter screen. Clean as needed. If it’s deposits (any color found in a college boys bathroom that should not belong) You might want to soak the head overnight in the appropriate cleaner. ( bleach for mold, mildew, and any lime remover for light green, white chalky, crusted deposits)  Reinstall the shower head with some Teflon tape or plumbers putty applied to the threads.

Your Toilet is running- quick catch it!  Sometimes you hear the toilet running constantly after a flush and you jiggle the handle to stop it. Or sometimes your hear it run for a few seconds and then stop. (Usually in the middle of the night when you’re trying to sleep)
Turn the water off at the shut off valve and replace the flapper with one that is not colored black. Buy a red or blue one at your home center and follow the directions it’s very easy!. Do this every two to three years or as needed.
Still not fixed? Replace the other stuff with a Fluid Master Kit. These work better than the old fashioned float types. Already have a fluid master? Replace the gasket at the top of the unit. Rotate the top a ¼ turn and remove you’ll see a black rubber gasket about the size of a quarter. Remove and replace. MAKE SURE YOU SHUT THE WATER OFF AT THE SHUT OFF VALVE FIRST.

 My faucet is dripping, running, leaking. etc.

Turn the water off at the shut off valve. Remove the handle, remove the cartridge or internal part, and replace everything that’s rubber. reinstall…do not over tighten!!!!!!!! Tighten just enough to prevent leaks. Rebuild kits are available at your home center. Take your old parts and the manufacturer name with you. Make sure to replace “O” rings as well.
Please note: “Builder Grade” Faucets and/or faucets with a brand name no one has ever heard of before or in this century should be replaced with new. Follow the manufacturers’ recommendations’ for install. FOR MEN ONLY! READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!  All faucets have how to install instructions