Small plumbing emergencies can crop up any time, but there are a few things you can do to help in both the short and long term. For example, if you have a small plumbing leak you can jam a sharpened pencil point into the leak according to a Chicago Tribune article. Another suggestion the author makes is repairing a split or open joint in your plumbing (temporarily) by wrapping the area with a thick piece of rubber. The article suggests using, for example, a piece of garden hose that you split down the side and secure to the damaged plumbing with clamps. These Chicago plumbers are pretty creative!

Also, if your water-flow seems a bit sluggish, the article recommends clearing clogged aerator screens or flow-control fittings. Sediment can clog the screens on the hose and fitting couplings. You can simply unscrew and scrub out the screens with a toothbrush and rinse under the tap.