Hey {{first_name | Handy Women}} here’s some handy information we wanted to share with you! 👇
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You can flush your toilet even if the water supply line is turned off.
As long as you have access to a bucket of water, even if it is from a swimming pool, rain barrel, or ditch you can flush your toilet in an emergency.
You can pour debris free water directly into the tank to the height of your refill tube and flush as normal.
If you are having issues with your tank there is another option →
Fill a bucket with about 1.5 to 2 gallons of water and pour it quickly and steadily directly into the toilet bowl. The force/buildup of the water creates pressure that will trigger the toilet’s siphon and flush the contents down the drain without using the toilet’s tank or water supply.
You do not need perfectly clean or drinkable water for this, but avoid water with dirt, leaves, rocks, or other debris that could clog your plumbing.
Important: If your sewer or septic system is backed up, do not continue flushing. Adding more water could cause sewage to overflow into your home.
A toilet can leak silently.
Water can slowly seep from the tank into the bowl even when the toilet looks and sounds normal.
The good news is that you can check for this with something you probably already have in your kitchen: food coloring #ad
Put a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. Do not flush. Wait about 10 minutes. If color appears in the bowl, water is leaking from the tank into the bowl.
Flush immediately after the test so the coloring does not stain the tank or bowl.
Proactive Homeowners™ Electrical 101!
Has launched!
Check out the free mini course. ❤️
Proactive Homeowners™ Electrical 101 is normally $299, Handy Women get special access to the course for $137.20.
Why such an odd number? It carries 1937–2020 forward as a small tribute to Roma J. Richard Jr. our loving father and grandfather and the knowledge, confidence, and curiosity he passed down to us and allowed us to pass on to you.
Since you subscribe to the newsletter we have discounted the price even more until October 15th!
Newsletter subscribers get another perk: the option to add OUTLET IDs™ for just $37.20. There will also be a BONUS lesson inside the course on installing OUTLET IDs™.
NOTE: IF YOU FOLLOW THE PURCHASE LINK FROM THE WEBSITE YOU WILL NEED TO ENTER CODE LASTCHANCE OR COME BACK HERE TO GET THE NEWSLETTER DISCOUNT FOR THE FIRST 250 PEOPLE.
That means if you choose to add OUTLET IDs™ to your discounted course enrollment, your total for BOTH is still less than other Handy Women pay for the course alone.
Inside Electrical 101, you’ll learn the practical basics every homeowner should know plus what you should know B4U DIY any part of your electrical system:
You will get to know the invisible guest in your home
How it gets into your home and how to control it when it misbehaves
Everything you need to know about Volts, Amps, Watts and resistance
What to label and how to monitor your system for warning signs
The tools that every homeowners should have and how to use them
what it looks like when an electrician changes outlets, switches, and fixtures
Ultimately it’s all about the path, closing the loop and controlling resistance
So if you want to take what you’ve learned one step further, purchase OUTLET IDs™ to help label, organize, and keep track of your electrical system!
Maintenance is really just learning what “normal” looks like.
The more familiar you become with the everyday systems in your home, the easier it is to notice when something changes.
A toilet tank is not a mysterious box. It is a handful of simple parts doing the same jobs over and over again.
You do not have to become a plumber to understand what you are looking at. That small bit of understanding makes it much easier to decide what you can fix and when you need help.
That is the kind of confidence we want to build here.
Jenn & Hailey
Know These 3 Parts Inside a Traditional Toilet Tank
· Flapper: the rubber seal that opens when you flush and closes to hold water in the tank. Flappers can become waterlogged and not float properly. They are easily replaceable. Flapper #ad
· Chain: connects the handle mechanism to the flapper. If it is tangled, too tight, or too loose, the flapper may not seal correctly. Chains are easy to adjust. Chain #ad
· Fill valve: refills the tank after a flush and shuts the water off at the correct level. Fill valves are adjustable. If your toilet does not flush properly this may be the culprit. Fill Valve #ad
Knowing the names does not make you a plumber. It simply makes troubleshooting a lot less intimidating.
Do the 10-Minute Toilet Dye Test
HOME MAINTENANCE
1. Remove the porcelain tank lid. Set it somewhere safe, being careful not to chip or crack it.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring. Put the color into the tank, not the bowl. food coloring #ad
3. Wait 10 minutes without flushing. If color appears in the bowl, the tank is leaking into the bowl.
4. Flush when you are done. This helps prevent staining.
If you find a leak, a worn flapper is one common cause. If the source is not obvious or you are not comfortable continuing, call a plumber.
TIME: 10 minutes | SKILL: Beginner | COST: About $0
Plungers
Choosing the correct plunger will ensure the job gets done. There are plenty of plungers on the market today. There are two classic designs you may be familiar with. One is for sinks. A sink plunger is flat on the bottom. The other is for your toilet. It extends down to fit snug into the bottom of your toilet. Some plunger designs incorporate both and the extension can be pushed up into the base.
SEE THIS WEEK’S HANDY FIND → Sink Plunger #ad Toilet Plunger #ad
HANDY WOMEN ARE HEADED TO DIY CON
🎟️ Handy Women are taking over DIY CON and we want you there with us!
Dallas, TX - November 6 to 8, 2026
Handy Women is heading to DIY CON this November, and we want to see you there with us.
It’s three full days of hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, tools, products, creators, and opportunities to actually learn DIY skills in person.
If you have ever watched a tutorial and thought, I wish someone could just stand here and show me how to do this, this is exactly why we are excited about DIY CON.
Use the link below to purchase your ticket! Purchasing through our Handy Women affiliate link helps support Handy Women at no additional cost to you.
Learn more about Handy Women’s workshop at DIY CON (If you purchase your ticket through the link below it will NOT support Handy Women)
Learn more about DIY CON (If you purchase your ticket through the link below it will NOT support Handy Women)
Going to DIY CON? Join the Handy Women @ DIY CON Facebook group for room sharing, meet up info, finding a friend to explore the conference with and more!
This week’s question:
What electrical project have you been meaning to do?
Hit reply and tell us!
Handy does not always look like building a cabinet or using a power saw.
Sometimes it looks like putting three drops of food coloring in a toilet tank because you know what you are checking for.
Small knowledge counts. Keep going.
Go build something. 🔨
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