4) You will need to have on hand water leak tape, small gas torch, solder, flux, plumbing sandpaper, pipe cutter, gas tape (to seal gas line) and maybe some pipe glue. Ask the sales person at the hardware store for a more defined list.
The repair of a ballcock tube is the simplest repair of all toilet leaks. There is a small black tube that is in the tank of the toilet that connects to the flush valve fill tube. If the tube slips from the little clasp that holds it in place, it can begin spraying water line repair in the tank and out from under the tank cover. To fix this toilet leak, simple re-attach the black tube to the clip. It really is that simple.
Another obvious indicator is if the water you get is close to cold as ice, then your water heating device has already reached its maximum level of service. If it can talk, it might have been shouting at the top of its voice telling you it needs replacement.
The next step in this process is to determine what type of method is available for fixing the problem. You cannot just caulk a crack or fill it in with cement and hope for the best. Unfortunately, there is more work than this because you have to fix the problem from both the inside out and the outside in. This takes a professional in most cases to determine the best method for repair.
As with anything, when you are not sure how to fix a plumbing issue and when you don't have the proper equipment, you should contact a professional. They can usually find out what the problem is and resolve it for you in a short period of time. They will also be able to tell you if you have any other problems and water line repair they can suggest resolutions.
People who own rental properties are great ones to give you information. With all of the service people needed for maintenance on their units, they typically know who to call and what level of work they perform. Most property owners will be more than happy to give you the information you seek. In fact, they were probably in your shoes at one time.
In short, the emergency plumber you hire should be from a reputable company. If you think that you can rely on him then you should look for another one. An emergency plumber should be skilled and should be able to deliver quality services to everyone.