Simple Plumbing Tricks You Can (Really!) Do Yourself

Whether it's a problem with your sink, toilet or pipes, a typical plumbing service call can set you back about $150.

But there's hope: Some of these issues are actually easy and inexpensive to fix on your own. And if we can do it, so can you.

Leaky toilets are a common issue and can raise your water bill. But how do you know you if even have a leak?

Here's a simple test: Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 15 minutes. If you see any color appear in the water below, chances are you have a leak. The culprit may be a worn-out flapper in the tank. Luckily, they're easily replaceable for less than $3.

The water level is another thing than can cause some problems. If you're toilet's running, the level is too high. Weak flush? It's probably too low.

But that's an easy fix too. If you open the lid of your tank, in most models, you'll see a fill valve on the left side. Turn the screw on top of the fill valve to adjust how high or low you need your water to be.

Finally, don't be so quick to throw out that leaky showerhead. It could just mean you need a little plumber's tape. Remove the showerhead, and clean off any old tape from the ring. Then simply wrap new tape in its place in a clockwise direction so it doesn't come off when you screw it back on.

And there you have it! Now that you know these simple tricks, try them out -- and save the plumber for the bigger stuff.

Related: 10 cheap home fixes