Is your toilet causing you any issues? There are several common toilet problems that homeowners regularly deal with; some can be remedied easily, others require professional assistance. Check out these common toilet problems and their solutions.
When you flush, the toilet stops flushing before the bowl is filled with water.
This is typically caused by an issue with the flapper valve in the tank. Take the top of the tank off and flush the toilet. Watch to see when the flapper valve slaps down and stops water from entering the bowl. Does it stop too soon? It’s time to get a new one. If you feel confident, you can buy and install one yourself; if not, give a plumber a call.
You hear constant dripping sounds after the bowl fills with water post-flushing.
Obviously, this is a disturbing sound. You know you don’t want any dripping; after all, dripping could cause a bigger issue than just wasting water and increasing your utility bills. The good news is that if the dripping is coming from the toilet itself (rather than from the pipes in the walls), it’s likely due to a problem with the mechanism in the tank of the toilet, such as the refill tube that sends water from the tank to the bowl. This type of concern probably is best solved by a plumbing expert.
You hear gurgling sounds in the toilet.
Gurgling typically indicates that there is air trapped in the water lines of your home. To allow the air to escape, turn on all the faucets in your house, and let them run until there is no indication of air in the lines. Then, turn them all off and flush the toilet as usual. If this was the problem, the gurgling should no longer be present. If it keeps coming back, call a professional.
Your toilet leaks around the base.
This is one of those issues that you have to deal with immediately, because whenever water goes where it shouldn’t, mold, mildew, bacteria and structural destruction can’t be far behind. Typically, the problem is a leaking wax ring seal (located between the base of the toilet and the sewer pipe.) The only way to fix this is to take out the toilet and install a new wax ring seal. If you’re familiar with how this process works, it can be done at home, although it can be tricky if you’re doing it for the first time. After installing the new wax ring seal, you should experience no leaks. If you do, you know that the problem was something else, so make a phone call to a plumber you can trust.
Your toilet is clogged.
We’ve saved the most common toilet problem for last – the clog. In general, you can try some do-it-yourself methods before giving Pronto Plumbing a call and setting up an appointment. The first thing to do is to use your plunger. Make sure you get a really good seal; the better the suction, the better your chance of dislodging whatever’s clogging the lines. Still dealing with the clog but not ready to schedule a plumber? You can get a plumber’s snake at any place that sells hardware, and try to find and destroy the clog. If the clog is persistent, pick up the phone.
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