Sweating, constantly running, and overflowing toilets can be an annoyance for renters and homeowners alike. Toilet problems are a common household issue. At some point in your life, you’ll have to deal with a toilet that doesn’t flush properly or refuses to flush altogether. The good news, however, is that it doesn’t take rocket science to troubleshoot the source of your problems. Below is a look at the seven common toilet problems and how to fix them, allowing for normalcy to resume.
1. Toilet Clogs
A clogged or partially clogged toilet will usually block water from flushing down the waste as it normally would. If your household has small kids in it, there’s a possibility that the little ones may have tried to flush down all types of objects, including toys, in the toilet. It’s important to note that flushing sanitary pads, paper towels, and wipes can result in a clogged toilet. The rule of thumb is to avoid flushing anything that’s not tissue paper, feces, or that has been marked “flushable.” Such items should be disposed of with the normal trash.
Toilet clogs are, in most cases, not too far down the drain. You can typically use a plunger to unclog them, allowing normal water flow to resume. If the item that’s causing the blockage is lodged in the siphon, consider using a flange plunger to remove it.
2. Bowl Empties Slowly
The plumbers at Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing call it a weak flush. Often, this problem arises when there’re clogged holes beneath the rim of the bowl. If you have to fix this issue on your own, you’ll need to use a wire coat hanger or an oversized toothpick to poke into each hole gently. Exercise caution while doing so to avoid scratching the toilet bowl. If the problem persists, the next course of action is to call our experienced plumbers.
On arrival, our plumber will use a muriatic acid wash to try to unclog the blocked holes. A fizzing sound will be heard immediately after the wash is poured into the overflow tube of your toilet tank. The plumber may have to open the bathroom windows and even run the fan to help clear the fumes from the wash. For homes that have septic tanks, the plumber may have to disassemble the toilet in its entirety to enable them to complete this process outdoors.
3. Bowl Water Is Low
Whenever you flush the toilet, the water present in the tank will usually spill into the bowl, and a steady amount of water will be deposited with each successful flush. However, if the water level gets cut by half or begins to drop slowly, it means you have a problem on your hands. When this happens, it could mean that the toilet bowl has become cracked. A crack can appear on the interior colon, on the bowl piping, or even further down. If there’s a crack, you can confirm its presence by checking for trace pools of water in the room below the bathroom. They may also appear behind the toilet.
Low bowl water can also be caused by toilet paper clogs in the bowl’s colon. In such situations, the toilet paper will serve as a bridge between your toilet bowl and the drain. It will start to deposit water into the drain slowly through a process known as a capillary action. If you find yourself dealing with a difficult clog, the best thing to do is to call in a professional. Attempting to unclog it using a plunger may worsen the situation, leading to costly repairs.
4. Toilet Makes Strange Noises When Not in Use
It may sound spooky when the toilet starts to make strange noises when not in use. But that strange whistling, whooshing, and vibration likely stems from a very down-to-earth cause. For example, a malfunctioning flush valve or fill valve may be behind the strange whistling or vibrating sound you’re hearing. Fortunately for you, a fill valve replacement is among the most inexpensive toilet repairs that a homeowner in Canton can undertake.
The noise made by a constantly running toilet is probably the last thing you want to hear, as it typically foreshadows a higher water bill. To eliminate this noise, you can try resetting the float arm, checking the toilet handle, or replacing the fill valve. A whooshing sound generally occurs when the tank is filling up as a result of a calcium build-up caused by hard water. You may need to call in our expert plumbers to help resolve the hard water issue and clean out the calcium build-up.
5. Toilet Leaks
The toilet tank holds water, which gets released into the bowl with every successful flush. Sometimes, a leak can occur, causing extra water to find its way into the bowl. In the event of a leak, the additional water will usually just go down the drain. Given how hard it is to detect a leak, you may find yourself wasting gallons of water each month without even noticing it. The fastest way to confirm the presence of a leak is to put some food color into your water tank. If a leak is present, the color will appear in the water inside your toilet bowl.
Apart from water leaking into the toilet bowl, you may also find it overflowing through the overflow tube. If your tank is working correctly, the water level should always be half an inch away from this tube. A fill valve malfunction can cause the water to flow through the overflow tank. Several factors can cause a leak in your toilet. A failed gasket is one such factor. Replacing the failed gasket will stop the leak immediately. For homeowners in Canton who may not know what a gasket is, we recommend having our professional plumbers handle the repairs for you.
6. Toilet Stinks Even After Cleaning It
A toilet that stinks stubbornly even after a thorough scrubbing presents an embarrassing situation that no homeowner ever wants to face. The stink could be caused by bacteria or mold under the bowl rim. Bleach will be the right answer for such a situation. You can use it as a scrubbing agent, or you can pour it into the refill tube.
A cracked toilet bowl may be to blame if you’re experiencing sewer gas smells. Even the tiniest of cracks in the porcelain bowl can result in an unwanted leak. The leak may lower the water level, causing the sewer gases to escape. Depending on the severity of the scratch as well as its position, our plumbers may have to undertake a toilet repair or replacement.
7. Toilet Rocks
If the toilet moves every time you sit on it, it could be because its flange is higher than your bathroom floor. If left unchecked, rocking can lead to leaks caused by a strain in the wax seal. We recommend using plastic shims to steady the rocking toilet. Make sure to place them beneath the base and caulk them. While at it, make sure also to tighten the nuts at the base of the toilet.
Professional Plumbing Services in Canton
Clogged toilets, toilet leaks, and low bowl water are some of the common toilet problems experienced by homeowners in Canton. When faced with such problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing for a fast service. We have years of experience handling all kinds of toilet problems and will be more than happy to give your toilet a look over. In addition to plumbing services, we also provide other services such as electrical repair and upgrades, propane tank installation, and water softening services.
To learn more about plumbing services in Canton, contact Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing today!
