We don't need no stinking...
By ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (63235)
United States
January 31, 2011 7:44pm CST
plumber!
Bet you thought I was going to say "man"! 
Saturday I discovered that the chain that pulled up the flapper in the back bathroom was... well, I guess missing is the right word, but only half of it!
The half that attaches to the flapper. So, the flapper couldn't be pull up. After a little pawing around in the water on the flapper, I discovered that the rubber loop it hooked to was broken.
Well, BOO!
Sunday was so pretty, and I was feeling so poorly, I just stayed home, went out and sat for several hours in the nice warm sunshine and read. After all, we have 2 bathrooms, right?
So, today I got on line and discovered what I needed and after the roomie got off work, we ran over to Lowe's and got the replacement.
We ate our dinner before I recruited her to help me with the replacement. Actually, I only needed her to turn off the water and turn it back on again, because, you see, I have no grip and I've dealt with those water things before, and never have been able to budge them!
So, after emptying the tank, I reached in and took the old one off and put the new one on, and after some adjustment on the chain (the thing that took the actual longest time) the roomie turned the water on and **BAM!!** we had fixed it!
No plumbers, heck, not even a pair of needle nosed pliers!
It was a LOT easier than I expected - I'm one happy camper!
For under $12 I fixed the toilet!
I couldn't have done it alone, but mostly because I would've had trouble with that water valve, but the roomie would've had trouble doing what I did because she would've had trouble seeing.
So, have you found that you could fix something, that turned out to be much easier than you expected?
Saturday I discovered that the chain that pulled up the flapper in the back bathroom was... well, I guess missing is the right word, but only half of it!
The half that attaches to the flapper. So, the flapper couldn't be pull up. After a little pawing around in the water on the flapper, I discovered that the rubber loop it hooked to was broken.
Well, BOO!
Sunday was so pretty, and I was feeling so poorly, I just stayed home, went out and sat for several hours in the nice warm sunshine and read. After all, we have 2 bathrooms, right?
So, today I got on line and discovered what I needed and after the roomie got off work, we ran over to Lowe's and got the replacement.
We ate our dinner before I recruited her to help me with the replacement. Actually, I only needed her to turn off the water and turn it back on again, because, you see, I have no grip and I've dealt with those water things before, and never have been able to budge them!
So, after emptying the tank, I reached in and took the old one off and put the new one on, and after some adjustment on the chain (the thing that took the actual longest time) the roomie turned the water on and **BAM!!** we had fixed it!
No plumbers, heck, not even a pair of needle nosed pliers!
It was a LOT easier than I expected - I'm one happy camper!
For under $12 I fixed the toilet!
I couldn't have done it alone, but mostly because I would've had trouble with that water valve, but the roomie would've had trouble doing what I did because she would've had trouble seeing.
So, have you found that you could fix something, that turned out to be much easier than you expected?7 people like this
15 responses
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
1 Feb 11
Simply because you have never done something doesn't mean you can't do it. I do my best to fix most everything myself. If it starts to get tough, the local library has books to tell you how. Many home centers can help as well. I have dabbled into most everything, auto repair, plumbing,heating and cooling, electrical,carpentry. It takes more work to do it yourself ,however experience is a great teacher. After you fix it, you never forget how.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
1 Feb 11
We do what we can to fix things ourself. It may take hubby and I together to do it. I am going to hang a ceiling fan with the help of my son, sometime soon. I have done it before. I grew up in a house where we did not have money for repairs, so we did a lot of it ourselves. I am giving you a big thumbs up for avoiding a plumber.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 Feb 11
I haven't been able to do any of my own repairs for some time now...or only very minor things. I have a few things that need attention like a big plumbing job a painting job and several things need attention on the roof. The jobs are beyond me in skill, ability and finances so the house is falling down around me....not really but it does worry me that I cannot afford to have these repairs done.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Feb 11
Way to go! I have to say I haven't fixed anything like that..lol..I suppose my most recent victory was putting together my daughters two story tube filled hamster cage. I was mad at my b/f and told him I didn't need him to help...that I could just do it myself...LOL. It was no easy task...that thing was a super duper elevator included hamster playland mansion! I was very proud when finished it.
1 person likes this
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
1 Feb 11
I am a terrible person at fixing things!
I stay away from fixing things as far as possible! I will get help in fixing stuff before I am thinking about touching something that needs fixing! I rent so when I have fix-it problems I go to the landlord!
Example; I got my washer and dryer yesterday and I have no idea how to set them up! So tomorrow I am calling the landlord for help! I never had a washer or dryer so I have wouldn't any clue what to do if I even tried!
I stay away from fixing things as far as possible! I will get help in fixing stuff before I am thinking about touching something that needs fixing! I rent so when I have fix-it problems I go to the landlord!
Example; I got my washer and dryer yesterday and I have no idea how to set them up! So tomorrow I am calling the landlord for help! I never had a washer or dryer so I have wouldn't any clue what to do if I even tried!
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
10 Feb 11
Hiya Elic Bxn.
A few times, well most times really I have found a temporary fix for something that is breaking and will have to be repaired in the end by a Professional.
One is the Tap in the Kitchen the lever came off in my hand (grin) and I thought now what do I do. Well I noticed that it still had underneath the part of the tap which moves the lever around intact so I put the lever back on but I have to move it around now pushing it from one side to the other only that because if you push the lever up it comes off again.
So that´s how I am working with it. Of course it will not last for ever and these lot in my House don´t really mind my quick repair Job as it saves them buying a new complete Tap plus the price of the Plumber coming to fix it in.
That is just one of them. I am full of little tricks like that. I know a lot of other People are too. But even when I think I can´t do something I can.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
2 Apr 11
Hiya Elic,
The tap we have now is going to have to last a while longer I am very much afraid. The other Day we had another go at trying to fix it and it would not take. Case of a new tap altogether. Anyway we might well be moving again soon so it can wait for me at least. I don´t feel like giving the owner a new Tap as a present.
For a Flat that is not very old it has taken it´s toll in repair costs already while we have been here I can tell you that.
You would not expect those kind of things to go wrong just yet at any rate.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
1 Feb 11
I used to fix every thing from the toilets to the fridge but now we have 2 young men here that I hand it over too.
lololol
well only one realy knows every thing the younger one ya have to put your finger on every thing to do so might as well doit yourself.
Like we have a small chest freezer I have cleaned it myself for year so this time I told the younger one he was to clean it as I didnt lose all the food in there or all that ice! and to leaning in to clean is very hard on my now with no boobs it hit on the scares ouch!
adny way got it all melted told him well hnded him the pan and cloth to soak it all up he did that ran in here to get me to see if it was all right well I found he got the water out but hadnt washed it down with the cleaner so he did that then ran in here to get me to see if he did it right.
hmmmmmmmmmmm found he had just cleaned the inside not around the rubber part or the edges or the outside. TOld him to do that he got that done ran in here to see if ok Yup was so we let it air dry then I had him plug it back in.
BUt see I could have done it myself in less time .lololololl
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
18 Feb 11
Well my husband is a plumber and even he says most people can fix the simple problems themselves. I guess that is why repairmen charge so much. Most of the problems in a home can be fixed if you just do a little research and take a little tme.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
1 Feb 11
I do a lot of things like that around my house and have all my life. I have to replace my toilet's flapper soon because right now I'm shutting off the water except when I use it because it leaks into the bowl. I just need to get around to it.
I fix things all the time since I don't want to pay a professional. Or I get creative. I have a humidifier that they no longer make belts for so I use rubber bands as belts for it and it runs great.
We can be independent if we are creative and determined.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
1 Feb 11
gOOD FOR U, AREN'T U SMART & handy. I am not handy at all. I would have just called the plummer & not even attempted to fix it. I would probably just have done more damage, lol.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
1 Feb 11
U are just smart when it comes to fixing things. GOOD FOR U!!
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
3 Feb 11
It’s such a good feeling to be able to fix something yourself and savings quite a few dollars in the process! I remember how great I felt years ago, before I was married, moved into my own place and managed to drill holes in the walls for hanging my pictures! Not only I did it all by myself but I managed to do it without damaging anything such as electrical wire etc. It felt as good as the time my girlfriend and I managed to change the flat tyre on my car; it took two of us to shift the tyres but we did it!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
3 Feb 11
sounds like the Easter Sunday when the blind roomie and I had to change a tire ourselves on the side of the highway! Most people moved over, but one JERK in a big black pick up truck didn't... hummmm... wonder if it had been one of her jerk brothers...
1 person likes this
@Nadinest1 (2016)
• Canada
24 Feb 11
Yea! See we don't need to pay some guy to fix our stuff.
I am very lucky that my husband is very good with many things....from electrical, wood, mechanics....pretty much anything.....it saves us a lot of money.
1 person likes this
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
1 Feb 11
Congratulations! After you have fixed something yourself you feel pretty good about yourself. I used to be abe to fix a lot of things myself. Being a single, poor woman I pretty much had to. If it was something I couldn't do myself, I would usually find a friend that could do it. My ex would fix things for me, but I would get so tired of waiting on him I would do it myself if I could. Now I am disabled and am lucky if I can walk to the bathroom, let alone fix anything. I have friends do most stuff for me. I call a pro if I really have to, but I can't afford to pay much, so that is a last resort. I can't remember the last thing I fixed myself. I even have a book for quick fixes but I haven't used it in a long time.
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
1 Feb 11
I knew going into the repair I wasn't going to be able to handle the water shutoff, so I had the roomie do that.
Heck, today I needed to put the outside faucet to drip, and needed to take the hose off and had to get a pair of pliers to get the hose started unscrewing.
I tell people I lost my grip years ago, but fact is, I never had any grip!
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
1 Feb 11
when younger, i fixed that very same thing you are talking about. plus i learned to put washers on leaky sinks. my daughter usually learns to do all repair work in her house. 
a woman can always do her own thing if it doesnt require excessive strength
