There are various types of plumbing problems some of which can be fixed quite easily by following a few simple steps.

A choke in the kitchen sink or wash basin is usually caused by hardened grease or solid matter in the waste trap. To clear the choke, start by twisting the lower section of the trap to detach it. Remove the waste in the trap with a small stick. Wash the trap with water to clear any remaining waste and put it back in place.

A tap usually starts to leak when the washer has worn out. To replace the washer, cut off the water supply by turning off the ball valve near the tap or the stop cock next to the water meter. Next take off the cover of the tap and remove the retaining screw with a screwdriver.

Lift out the upper part of the tap and then loosen the spindle by using a spanner. Undo the nut or screw at the bottom of the spindle to remove the worn out washer. Put on a new washer and reassemble all the parts.

Before you start to fix a leaking pipe, turn off the water at the main valve. For a small leak in the pipe, wrap a piece of heavy rubber pad around the leaking part and apply a stainless steel hose clamp. Tighten the clamp with a screwdriver or socket wrench. If you do not have a hose clamp, you can use a C-clamp to secure the rubber over the pipe.

For other pipe repairs, you need to drain the water from the pipes by opening the faucets after turning of the water mains. If the leak cannot be repaired with a rubber patch, remove the section of the pipe that is leaking and replace it with a new section.