In this economy, most homeowners are trying to fix things around the house, themselves. In my house, it seems like we can go about six months before something breaks and needs to be fixed. A common problem for many homeowners is simple plumbing.

If you have a leaky faucet, it could be an easy fix. But keep in mind, if you have a bigger, more complicated job, you need to be open-minded enough to call in the pros. I know, it’s going to cost you about $125, but if you’ve got a complicated job, it will definitely save your sanity!

Ok, here’s some simple plumbing 101. If you have an old-style faucet or outdoor hose bib, it may be as simple as replacing a washer or two. But if it’s something fancy, you’ll spend some time on this job. This seemingly simple job can get very frustrating, so decide if you want to risk blowing most of a day trying to fix it yourself, or simply pay a plumber to do it for you.

If you want to do it yourself, first turn off both supply lines to the faucet. Turn the handle to the “on” position to make sure the water is fully off. If you can’t get it to stop running, you may need to call in backup.

Depending on the style of faucet, you may need to remove the handle, then the “cartridge” (which is the brass mechanism full of washers, O-rings, etc.) that looks kind of like a spark plug. Then, take the whole thing into a good, fully stocked local plumber’s supply and get new parts. Don’t be shy to ask for advice if you’re not sure about what you’ve done to this point.

Lastly, assemble all your new parts being careful not to strip or cross-thread anything, then turn the water back on and check for leaks. Test the operation of the faucet at all settings and turn it off. Then keep an eye on it over the next day to make sure you don’t have to adjust anything. If after a day or two, you are drip-free, you not only just fixed your leak, you saved yourself about $125!