3 Common Toilet & Plumbing Issues
Whether you are a new homeowner, someone who has owned their home for years, or even just getting into your first apartment away from mom and dad, home repairs and work are a vital part of living your best life. And when it comes to household repairs, is there’s one type of repair that can make anybody a little squeamish, it has to be plumbing work, and more specifically, the toilet and toilet repairs. And when you have to fix running toilet issues, its important to understand that these fixtures are commonly prone to acting up, at least here and there. The good news is many common toilet repairs are do-it-yourself-friendly, requiring few (if any) basic hand tools. So, if your toilet is giving you trouble, you’ve come to the right place. Check out the likely issues here and learn how to quickly correct them without calling a plumber. To better help you understand the best methods of alleviating common toilet issues, and plumbing issues, here are a few of the most commonly known fixes for common toilet and plumbing concerns.
· Overflowing Toilet Bowl
When it comes to you plumbing issues and the toiler, the most common fix running toilet issues has got to be alleviating an overflowing toilet bowl, and plunging out the clogged issues. A clogged toiler will cause terrible plumbing issues, and cause the bowl to overflow onto the bathroom floor, but the fix itself, which is probably the most common fix running toilet concerns. Clearing the clog is super simple, and you probably have a toilet plunger already on hand. Simply insert the plunger into the bowl while it’s still full of water, pressing the mouth of the plunger firmly against the opening at the bottom of the bowl to form a seal.Then use a rhythmic push-and-pull pumping motion to create pressure in the drain and free the clog. Don’t be overly enthusiastic; forceful plunging is likely to splash dirty water all over the bathroom. After eight to 10 pumps, lift the plunger away from the bottom of the bowl. If you’ve freed the clog, the water will drain—it usually takes just one or two attempts to free a clog.
· Handle Issues Prevent Proper Flushing
One of the most common concerns of any toilet has got to be problems with the toilet handle, preventing toilets from flushing properly. If you depress the handle but feel no resistance and the toilet fails to flush, either a connection or the chain inside the tank has most likely come loose. Not all tank interiors look exactly alike, but all feature a lift arm (a thin metal or plastic rod) and a rubber stopper at the bottom (called a “flapper”), which connects via a chain to the lift arm. If the chain comes unhooked from the lift arm, the flapper won’t lift to allow water to drain from the tank, preventing the flush. The same problem can occur if the nut that secures the handle to the lift arm (just inside the tank) has worked loose. A simple four-step toilet repair will get your bathroom back in working order.Turn off the shut-off valve that supplies water to the tank located on the small hose behind the commode.Remove the tank cover. Locate the chain connected to the flapper and pull it upward. This will lift the flapper and allow the water in the tank to drain out.If the chain has come loose from the lift arm, reconnect it (you should see a notch or a hook). If the chain has broken, buy a new one from the hardware store and get it replaced. If a loose or broken chain isn’t the problem, the nut that secures the handle (just inside the tank) may have loosened and worked its way down the lift bar. Retighten the nut to the back of the handle, using your fingers, until it’s snug, and then turn on the water supply to refill the tank.
· Water Running in the Toilet
When you must fix running toilet issues, this is also one of the most common plumbing and toilet concerns. If you continue to hear water running in the commode when the tank has refilled after a flush, give the handle a little jiggle. If the running water stops, the problem is a faulty flapper. When new, the flapper is flexible and seals tightly in the drain at the bottom of the tank, settling easily back into place after every flush. Over time, however, the rubber can harden and the flapper won’t fit as snugly into the drain. Replacing the flapper should be able to completely alleviate any such issues.
For more information on any other plumbing concerns, or for any plumbing & HVAC work for your home, be sure to contact Elite Plumbing & HVAC today.