Just because you're experiencing issues with your toilet, it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to call the plumber right away. There are several common toilet plumbing issues that homeowners face which can be solved by themselves. In today's post we take a look at some basic toilet situations people typically face, as well as some do-it-yourself solutions that can help to fix the issue.
No Water in Toilet Bowl
If there's no water in your toilet bowl, there's no need to panic. The first thing you should do is check if there's water in the tank of the toilet and ensure that the water valve is fully turned on. Ensure that there isn't a water supply problem in other areas of the home. And, if the flow of your water is moving too slowly, check the float arm, which is located in the toilet tank. Slow moving toilet water and a lack of water in the toilet bowl indicates that you have a malfunctioning float arm.
Faulty Toilet Plumbing
Plumbing related issues regarding the toilet such as a toilet leak can occur if a component or seal, gets damaged or is due for a replacement. If water leaks from the toilet's base, you'll need a new wax ring. If the toilet leaks at the section where the bowl connects to the tank, you'll have to replace the gasket. You'll also have to replace the flapper if it leaks water from the tank into the bowl.
Overflow or Clogs
Several things can cause a toilet to overflow or become clogged. But, in most cases they occur as a result of a blockage. To fix this, try using your plunger to clear the blockage. If this fails, consider using a plumbing snake or unravel a wire hanger to use as a makeshift plumbing snake. If a plunger or plumbing snake doesn't work, consider using a drain opener. Lastly, if none of these work, contact a professional plumber.
If your toilet is running and flushing constantly, this is usually indicative of a problem in the fill tank. Therefore open the toilet tank and determine if the flapper is sealing the flush valve. If it isn't, you need to replace the flapper because an efficient flapper which does not seal the flush valve will cause water from the tank to continuously flow into the toilet bowl.
