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Every home has its quirks: a toilet that runs a few seconds too long, a light that flickers when you flip the switch, a thin line of caulk pulling away from the tub. None of them feel urgent, so they slide to the bottom of the weekend to-do list.

That’s exactly what makes them expensive. Many costly home repairs don’t start with a burst pipe or a storm. They start as small problems that cost a few dollars to fix, then quietly cause damage behind walls, under floors and inside electrical boxes until the bill runs into the thousands.

Here are three minor home issues you shouldn’t ignore, what they’re really telling you, and how to fix them before they become major repairs.

1. A toilet that randomly runs or trickles between flushes

That faint hiss or random phantom flush usually means water is leaking from the tank into the bowl.…