Your toilet is operated by a fairly simple system of levers, floats, and seals. Many basic repairs are ones that you can do on your own without the expense of hiring a plumber. All you really need is some basic tools and the ability to figure out what isn't working. Once you have identified the problem, you can buy new parts - they usually aren't very expensive - and install them yourself. Your spouse will think that you are a genius and your checkbook will love you.

Tools: A nearby waste basket or water bucket

Tips: An alternative to using a plunger to clear a clogged toilet when the water level in the bowl is low is to use hydrostatic pressure. To accomplish this, fill a bucket or plastic wastebasket with water (I usually use warm water) and pour it into the clogged toilet from waist level or above. This is usually enough force to clear the clog. Sometimes it's necessary to repeat the process. There's no clean-up required, other than splash-back, and the tools are usually handy.

In most cases you can open a clogged toilet using a force ball-type plunger.
 

Step 1: (A, Fig. 9). A regular suction cup plunger will seldom do the job (B). A force ball-type plunger exerts a great deal more pressure for cleaning toilets than the regular type.

Be sure to have sufficient water in the toilet bowl when using the plunger.

Be careful when unplugging a toilet with sewer snakes. They may nick and ding the bowl of your toilet. Toilet snakes are made with rubber padding for this type of job.

Step 1. Try a plumbers helper (plunger) if drain cleaner has not removed the clog. A plumbers helper is positioned over the hole at the bottom of the bowl and pushed up and down several times to burp the clog through. If you have not positioned the rubber on the helper correctly, some water may splash on the surrounding area.

The proper way to use a plunger is:

Did you know that as much as 80,000 gallons of water can be wasted each year by an undetected toilet tank leak? It makes economic and environmental sense to occasionally check the toilets around your home. Even for older ballcock/flush ball toilet tank valves, a full line of replacement parts is still widely available. Or, you can install modern plastic devices instead of repairing the original parts.