The easiest way to unclog your toilet is with a plunger, but if you don’t have one on hand, fill the toilet with dish soap or laundry detergent, add a pot of boiling water and then wait a few minutes before flushing. The hot water should break through the clog as the soap washes everything through the siphon and out of the drain.

If your water meter is leaking, call a plumber immediately. You should also contact your water utility provider as well because if the leak is between the meter leading to the water utility, it is their financial responsibility to fix the leak. Leaks between the meter and your home are yours.

Unclog drains with an over-the-counter drain-cleaning formula, or with a mixture of baking soda, vinegar and boiling water. A clog can also be broken up with a drain snake or extracted with a vacuum.

A backup of rusty water into your kitchen sink is caused by three potential problems — sediment deposits in the water tank, rusted piping or bacteria in the water from iron oxide.

Turn off the disposal, insert an appropriately sized hex or Allen wrench into the hole of the disposal motor. Rotate the wrench back and forth to dislodge the obstruction and fix your jammed garbage disposal.