Bathrooms fail in predictable ways. Water is always involved, which means most repairs have a moisture component even when water isn't the obvious culprit.
01Running toilet
A toilet that runs continuously is either a flapper that isn't seating properly or a fill valve that won't shut off. Lift the tank lid and watch what happens after a flush. If water is trickling into the bowl, the flapper is worn — a $5–$10 replacement. If the float never reaches the shutoff point and water is running over the overflow tube, adjust the float or replace the fill valve. Both repairs take under 30 minutes and cost under $20 in parts.
02Slow drain
Hair and soap scum at the stopper are the cause of 90% of slow bathroom drains. Remove the stopper — most lift straight out or unscrew — and clean the debris from the stopper and the drain opening. A drain auger or a Zip-It tool gets anything further down the pipe. Chemical drain cleaners work short-term and degrade the pipe long-term; avoid them.
03Caulk failure at tub and shower
The caulk line where the tub or shower base meets the wall fails because the tub flexes when loaded. Score and remove all old caulk with a utility knife and caulk remover tool. Clean and dry the joint thoroughly — any moisture under new caulk means it will fail again within months. Apply 100% silicone caulk in a continuous bead and smooth with a wet finger. Don't use the shower for 24 hours.
04Toilet rocking
A toilet that rocks on the floor has a failed wax ring or loose floor bolts. Tighten the bolts at the base first — they may just be loose. If the toilet still rocks, the wax ring needs replacing. Shut off the supply, flush to empty the tank, disconnect the supply line, remove the bolts, and lift the toilet off. Scrape the old wax, set a new ring on the flange, and reseat the toilet. $10 in parts, two hours of work.
Marcus Webb is a general contractor and home maintenance writer based in Columbus, Ohio. He writes about the repairs and installs that come up every year in every house — the practical, repeating work that keeps a home livable.