Your summer visitors might be leaving, but the holidays are just around the corner. The last
thing a host ever wants is a malfunction in the water closet! With lots of people and no place to
go, you’ll want to make sure your toilet maintenance problems get taken care of fast.
Some of these common issues can be managed on your own. For more complicated problems,
though, you can always count on Fite Plumbing. Our team of experienced plumbers know how
to take care of all your toilet maintenance needs.
Maintenance for Toilet Clogs
Fixing a toilet clog can be quite the challenge—especially if the toilet is about to overflow! You should be able to shut the water off to the toilet if you think the water in the bowl is getting too high. Just reach behind the tank and find the shut-off valve, or take the lid off the tank and tackle the problem from the inside.
To stop the water from rushing into the bowl, you’ll need to close the flapper inside the tank.
(Don’t worry—the water in the take is as clean as the water from your tap.) Once you stop the
water, you can start dealing with the clog itself.
The single best thing you can do on your own for a clogged toilet is to use a plunger. For minor
clogs, this is the best tool for the job. Create a seal with the plunger and then pump it up and
down to get the clog to release. When you think it might be fixed, pull up on the plunger to break the air seal. Hopefully the water rushes down the pipes to clear out your toilet bowl. Of course, you might not be able to manage every clog on your own. For fixtures that frequently clog, it can help to have a professional plumber come out to address the situation.
Service for Toilet Leaks
Hearing that sound of water filling into your toilet should only happen after you flush—not all
the time. If you have a toilet that’s constantly running water into the toilet bowl, there’s a good
chance you’re dealing with a leak.
To take care of this problem, your first step is to conduct a water test. This will help you know for sure where your toilet is leaking. When the tank is full, use the water shut-off valve behind your toilet. Then make a mark inside your tank to measure the current water level. Wait about 30 minutes to 1 hour, and then check your water level and note how much it has changed. Depending on where the water stops dropping can help you determine where your leak is
occurring.
For example, if your water stops dropping around the lip of the flapper, you are probably
dealing with a worn-out flapper. But if the water continues to drain all the way to the bottom of
the tank, your flush valve might be at fault. In that case, you’ll need to see if the gasket around your flush valve needs repairs. When you need help, you can always call on your local plumbing company!
Other Toilet Repairs
One of the other problems that can happen with a toilet is damage to the wax ring around the
bottom of the toilet and the sewer pipe. This important piece can last for 30 years or more, but
if you have an older home, you might be at risk for it going bad.
Toilet wax rings can crumble and dry out when they get too old. This can cause them to fail. If
you’re noticing a water leak around the base of your toilet, you might be facing a broken wax
seal. Some toilets also start to feel loose or wobbly when these seals start to fall apart. When
this happens, you’ll need to replace it.
Although this can be an annoying problem, these fixes are relatively inexpensive. Some
homeowners can manage this type of toilet repair on their own. Others, however, benefit from
having a professional plumber help out. Relying on an expert can help you keep your bathroom
clean through the repair. Plus, they can make sure you won’t need any other toilet
maintenance in the near future.
Fix Toilet Problems with Fite Plumbing
When you have a confusing toilet maintenance problem on your hands, remember you don’t
have to go at it alone! The team at Fite Plumbing is here to help with all your toilet plumbing problems. Our emergency services are here for you whenever you need them. Day or night, our crew is here to make your plumbing right!
If you have other questions about the plumbing features in your home, check out our article on
Plumbing Emergencies or visit our Services page for other details on our common projects. We’re always interested in educating our clients, so please don’t hesitate to send us a comment, either. For a fast response, you can also call Fite Plumbing at (317) 271-5400 to get your toilet problems fixed in good time.
