7 Bathroom Appliance Repairs You Can Do On Your Own (We Promise!)

In some scenarios—such as when a pipe decides to burst—it’s best to leave all your bathroom drama to a plumbing professional. But if you’re looking to solve a smaller problem or upgrade less-than-ideal hardware, you rarely need to look farther than your own two hands and a wrench. Not sure where to begin? Scroll down for a quick refresh on bathroom appliance repairs, plus a few ideas for upgrading your most sacred space as a whole. Because once you identify your water shutoff valve, the ceiling’s the limit.

Upgrade your toilet

‏Whether you order one of Tushy’s sleek color combos or hunt down your own at the hardware store, bidet attachments are made to be install-friendly. Even if you’re not looking to convert your usual butt-cleaning process, there are so many great ways to make your loo more lovable. Consider swapping out the seat for increased comfort, warmth, or overall aesthetic. You can even add a motion-activated night light for accessibility—or party ambience, if that’s your thing.

‏Improve your water flow

‏Tired of mediocre water flow in your sink? Your faucet aerator may be to blame. Unscrew your aerator by hand or with the aid of a knife or flathead screwdriver, and simmer it in white vinegar for two to three hours to remove buildup. If your shower pressure is also struggling, remove the shower head and simmer it in a vinegar-filled bucket. Rinse and dry it thoroughly before reinstalling, then run the shower on hot for a few minutes. Should you happen to live in an area with lower-than-average water pressure, it’s also possible to drill out your shower’s flow restrictor to increase pressure access. (Keep in mind, however, that you may increase your water bill in the process.)

‏Shake up your shower head

You might find this hard to believe, but experts recommend changing your shower head every six to eight months. The above cleaning method should serve to reduce sediment buildup and increase your shower head’s longevity, but if you can’t remember the last time you got a new one, it’s probably time to replace it. Fortunately, it’s easy to swap out your existing head for a luxurious rainfall option, a pressure-maximizing style, or a more accessible handheld model. Identify your shower head type and the tools required using this Home Depot guide, and you’ll have it replaced before you can work up enough sweat to need a shower. Bonus: Upgrading to a newer, more efficient style will likely lessen your water usage and save you money.

‏Don’t forget the diverter 

On the list of leaks that drive homeowners up the bathroom wall, losing shower water out of the bathtub faucet (another cause of reduced water pressure and sky-high water bills) ranks high at the top. The culprit is generally a worn-out tub diverter, the little knob one turns or pushes to reroute the water from bath to shower mode. The instructions will differ depending on your shower valve style, so make sure to match your method to your materials. If you have an in-spout diverter, you can opt to replace the entire spout using a hex key, a wrench, and faucet inspiration from a celeb’s bathtime Instagram post.

Go for a full-on vanity moment

‏If you find yourself comfortable enough to replace a tub spout, you can definitely level up to replacing a whole sink. Options such as the SnappyTrap reduce the hassle of traditional PVC installation, so you can focus on more important things, like choosing the best-looking vanity. As always, make sure you shut off your water before you start the replacement process, or you’ll end up calling a plumber for different reasons.

Check the toilet chain

‏If your toilet handle isn’t properly flushing when you push it down, check inside the tank to see whether the chain has broken. New chains only cost around $3, and you can even use a bobby pin as a temporary fix. If the chain is unbroken but keeps slipping off, it may simply be too long; remove a couple of links to eliminate the slack. A running toilet can often be solved by replacing the flapper attached to the chain—if jiggling the handle post-flush stops the running, your flapper is at fault. Replacing a defective flapper requires no tools and even less money, and it will restore your sanity.

‏Relieve the drain

‏Though it may be more common knowledge than the bathroom appliance repairs above, we’d be remiss not to mention how to tackle the most common bathroom nightmare: a hair-clogged drain. Do yourself (or your partner) a favor by investing in a plumbing snake or auger, and make sure you’ve tried fishing for offending objects and using a drain cleaner before giving up on a clog. Also, if you drop an item down the drain, make sure to retrieve it as soon as possible so it doesn’t accumulate debris that leads to blockage.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest