4 easy ways to tackle everyday household "emergencies"

You're probably familiar with the feeling of pure panic that sets in when you flush the toilet and it starts to overflow...but there are some minor household "emergencies" that are easy to fix in no time at all. Of course there are plenty of times when the scope of the problem simply calls for the pros, but if you're up for a simple fix-it-yourself, contractor Darren Voros showed us some simple steps to saving the day. Here are his fixes for 4 common household conundrums, the supplies you'll need to conquer them, and his tips for knowing when to hand over the reigns and call in the professionals.

Emergency: Overflowing toilet

Here's what you'll need:

• Toilet plunger
• Toilet auger, potentially

Here's how to do it:

1. Turn off the water supply at the back of your toilet. Do you know where yours is? Next time you brush your teeth, take a look so you know where to find it. That way, you won't be scrambling when emergency strikes!

2. Start with your basic toilet plunger to unclog.

3. If the plunger isn't doing the trick, use a toilet auger. It has a flexible cable that you feed into the toilet drain using a hand crank. It spins and grabs whatever is clogging the drain and can quickly and effectively unclog the drain. They are super affordable, so it's a good idea to have one on hand.

When NOT to do it yourself:

If the toilet auger doesn't clear the clog, you know it's time to call in a plumber!

Emergency: Flooded basement

Here's what you'll need:

• Water-safe heavy-duty, or squeegee and mop
• Dehumidifier (It's not just for emergency use — this is great in general to reduce moisture in the basement and garage.)

Here's how to do it:

1. Use thevacuum or squeegee and mop to get up as much water as possible.

2. Do not raise the temperature in your basement to try and dry out the water, warm temperature breeds mould growth! This is where a dehumidifier comes into play. Instead, turn on a dehumidifier to gather excess moisture and be prepared to empty it often.

When NOT to do it yourself:

If there is too much water, shut off the main supply and and call in a pro. Darren suggests you do so if there's even more than an inch or two of water. If the water has touched any drywall, it will need to be removed. Additionally, if you see any raw sewage in your basement, you need to hand over the reigns and bring in some extra help.

Emergency: Torn drywall

Here's what you'll need:

• Utility knife
• Drill
• Drywall screws (about 10)
• Furring strip 
• Drywall patch kit (including drywall tape, trowel and pre-mixed mud)

Here's how to do it:

1. Cut out a larger area of the drywall.   

2. Cut a furring strip (strapping) that is 4" longer than the hole being repaired and add a drywall screw to the centre of the furring strip.

3. Hold onto the centre screw on furring strip and place it through the hole and onto the other side of the wall. Drive a screw through the top of the drywall and furring strip just above the hole and another just below the hole. This will keep the furring strip in place and then this wooden backing will provide support to the new piece of drywall you're adding. 

5. Take out centre screw from furring strip.

6. Place drywall piece in centre of area to be patched.

7. Drill screws through the drywall piece near the top and near the bottom.

8. Tape and mud the drywall patch.

9. Sand and paint.

Emergency: Broken compact fluorescent light bulb

Here's what you'll need:

• An electrical tester
• Needle nose pliers
• Brush and dustpan
• Wet paper towel

Here's how to do it:

1. Cut power to the outlet.

2. Let the room air out for 5-10 minutes and turn off any central air or heat. This is to prevent the transfer of the mercury vapour — a CFL has about 4-5 milligrams of mercury. Some manufacturers are reducing that even further.  

3. Clean up all the debris. Don't use a vacuum — a dustpan and brush followed by a wet paper towel is best.

4. Use an electrical tester to make sure there isn't any power to it. If it's safe, grasp where you can and turn counter clockwise. Needle nose pliers are useful if you need help removing the bulb.

When NOT to do it yourself:  Darren says that a good rule of thumb is that if there's an entire industry built around a household "emergency", it's usually better to call in a professional. Think fire, pest control, asbestos, etc.