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A dripping tap, a slow kitchen sink or a toilet that keeps running are some of the most common household problems in any Nairobi home, including in Karura and the wider Westlands area. Many of these small jobs are safe to handle yourself with a few basic tools. This guide covers what you can fix at home, step-by-step fixes for the most common problems, and the signs that it is time to call a plumber. Before you start: safety basics Find your stop valve. Know where the main water shut-off is for your house or flat, and where the small isolation valves under sinks and behind toilets are. Turn the water off before taking anything apart. Keep electricity away from water. If water is near sockets, an instant shower or a water heater, switch off power at the board first. Check who is responsible. If you rent, read your agreement or ask the caretaker. Many landlords want to handle repairs to pipes, tanks and meters themselves. Protect your eyes and hands when using drain cleaners or working under sinks. Take photos before removing parts so you remember how they go back. A basic DIY plumbing kit You do not need much. Most hardware shops in Westlands and across Nairobi stock these: Adjustable spanner and a pair of pliers Flat and Phillips screwdrivers A plunger (a cup plunger for sinks, a flange plunger for toilets) PTFE thread seal tape Spare tap washers and O-rings in common sizes A bucket, old towels and a torch A drain snake or a straightened wire hanger for hair clogs How to fix a dripping tap Most drips on older compression taps come from a worn rubber washer. Turn off the isolation valve or main supply, then open the tap to drain the remaining water. Plug the sink so small parts cannot fall into the drain. Remove the handle cover and screw, then use a spanner to unscrew the headgear. Wrap the tap in a cloth to avoid scratching it. Take out the old washer and take it with you to the hardware shop so you buy the right size. Fit the new washer, reassemble, and turn the water back on slowly. Modern quarter-turn and mixer taps use ceramic cartridges instead. If one of these drips, note the brand and buy a matching cartridge, or call a plumber if you cannot find one. How to unblock a sink or shower drain Remove what you can see. Pull hair and debris from the plughole by hand or with a hook. Plunge. Fill the sink with a few centimetres of water, cover the overflow hole with a wet cloth, and plunge firmly ten to fifteen times. Clean the trap. Put a bucket under the U-shaped pipe below the sink, unscrew it by hand, clear it out, and refit it with the seals in place. Use a drain snake for clogs further down the pipe. Try hot water. For kitchen sinks with grease, pour hot (not boiling, if you have plastic pipes) water down after clearing. Be careful with strong chemical drain cleaners. They can damage old pipes and are dangerous if you then need to open the trap. Never mix different products. How to clear a blocked toilet Do not keep flushing, as this can overflow the bowl. Use a flange plunger, pressing down slowly first to push out air, then plunging firmly. If that fails, a toilet auger can reach blockages in the bend of the pan. To prevent blockages, only flush toilet paper. Wipes, sanitary pads and cotton buds should go in a bin. How to fix a running toilet A toilet that keeps refilling wastes a lot of water and can raise your bill. Check the float. Lift the cistern lid. If water is spilling into the overflow pipe, the float is set too high. Adjust it so the cistern fills to just below the overflow. Check the flapper or seal. If water trickles into the bowl, the rubber seal at the bottom of the cistern may be worn or dirty. Clean it or replace it. Check the chain or button. A chain that is too tight or a sticking button can keep the valve slightly open. How to seal a small leak at a threaded joint For a slow drip at a threaded joint, such as where a flexible hose meets a tap, turn off the water, undo the joint, wrap fresh PTFE tape cl