One of the most common reasons why homeowners in Melbourne call a plumber is for toilet issues. We’ve all got one or two of these porcelain beauties in our homes and depend on them for “taking care of business” routinely, but what happens when your toilet isn’t doing what it’s supposed to? What are some of the most common toilet problems, and how can you resolve them?
Toilet Clogs
Naturally, one of the most common toilet problems is a nasty clog that just won’t flush down your number one or number two. Roughly speaking, there are two types of clogs or blockages: minor and major clogs.
A minor clog you can usually get rid of yourself. Get your hands on a good, preferably flanged plunger and plunge away. Make sure the suction is good at the bottom of the bowl and your plunging action is swift and strong. Surface-level clogs should clear up pretty quickly. That could include a little doo-doo or some toilet paper, the latter of which is quite a common reason for clogs.
To avoid problems in the future, try to be mindful of what you’re tossing into the bowl. Your natural obligations and a little toilet paper should be fine, but avoid using disposable wipes or other objects that can lead to blockages.
For major clogs, all the plunging in the world might not help and that’s when a professional plumber is usually needed. Clogs beyond the first part of the bowl and plumbing are usually quite deep and a plumber will use a jet blaster machine to grind up and unclog the sewer pipe without causing damage.
Constantly Running Water
Another common toilet problem is when the toilet keeps making a sound like it’s filling up the bowl but never stops. There are many possible reasons for this, but many of them can be resolved pretty easily.
Firstly, make sure that the flush button or handle is back in position and see if it clears up. It usually takes a few seconds until you hear it stop cycling through water.
If that doesn’t quite do the trick, open up the basin tank and check for the flapper inside. It’ll have a chain attached. If the flapper is broken, you’ll need a new one. If it isn’t broken, it should be readjusted so it sits snugly. You may need to slacken or tighten the chain to get the right fit.
If your toilet keeps making noise, call a plumber at the earliest opportunity. Wasting water can leave you with a nasty water bill.
Loose/Broken Toilet Flush Handle/Button
Your toilet handle or flush button might be flimsy or even broken, perhaps causing the problem listed above. Inside of the tank, tighten any nuts holding the handle in place. Also adjust the flapper chain so it’s got around 1cm of slack or so.
In many cases, you might simply need to replace the handle/button.
Wobbly or Loose Toilet
If your toilet isn’t sitting firmly on the bathroom floor, the problem is most likely a poor installation of the fixture. Make sure that any bolts holding it to the floor are tightened. Replace any wax seals or shims to ensure that it’s sitting snugly and any leaks are contained. Report any leaks to a plumber as soon as possible.
Low Pressure When Flushing
Poor flushing action might simply be due to your home’s location, but more often than not this is not the case. Instead, what often happens is that the bottom of the toilet’s tank fills up with mineral deposits like calcium, which gradually weakens flushing pressure. You can try to physically remove any deposits by scraping away inside the pipe, but it’s often much more safe to call a plumber instead.
FastnLocal Plumbing
Keep your toilet in top condition with FastnLocal Plumbing.
Recent Comments