Although some toilet issues require professional plumbers, many can be quickly resolved at home by following these simple steps.
Whenever your toilet produces hissing noises, it is time to inspect its fill valve. This could indicate either its float height is wrong or a leak somewhere along its lineage.
To address hissing noises in your toilet or fix a weak flushing toilet, this resource from Diamondback Plumbing might offer some useful DIY solutions.
1. Clogs
Clogged toilets are one of the most prevalent plumbing problems homeowners encounter, from drain pipe backups to those located further in the sewer line clogging up entirely. When this occurs, professional assistance must be sought to address it and may involve calling in a plumber for repair work.
Step one to avoiding clogs is being careful what goes down the drain. For optimal performance, only flush waste and toilet paper down your toilet; other materials like cotton swabs, sanitary wipes, and paper towels should be placed in the trash rather than flushed down your pipes.
Regularly plunging your toilet can also help avoid clogs. Be sure to use a plunger explicitly designed for toilets, such as one equipped with a flange on the bottom that creates an effective seal over the drain.
Also, run hot water over it beforehand to heat up its rubber seal and help form an effective seal over drains. If clogging persists further, an auger or plumbing snake might be necessary for removal.
2. Leaks
Seeing water pooling around your toilet could be an indication of leakage. A leaky toilet can lead to costly water damage in the form of rotting floorboards and ceilings; furthermore, its inefficient use contributes to higher utility bills each month.
One simple test can quickly pinpoint the source of a toilet leak. Switch off your water supply, examine the tank and bowl, and look for leaks. If the water level remains constant after examination, this could indicate an improper flapper seal or incorrect float height; replacing either part should solve your problems.
Leaky wax rings are another common issue in toilets, leaving your commode vulnerable to leaks and structural damage. To stop a leaking wax ring from occurring in your tank, try installing insulation or an anti-sweat valve to stop it from cooling down too quickly.
3. Running water
An annoying running toilet is more than an inconvenience: it wastes water and money. Your water bill could skyrocket if left on for too long, while it could even cause irreparable damage to its tank and bowl if left without being attended to immediately.
An issue with your flapper, fill valve, or float is typically responsible for an overflowing toilet. A chain that’s too short can prevent the flapper from closing properly, allowing water to seep into your tank from the outside world.
An old flapper that is warped or covered in grime may not close at all properly, while an improperly adjusted float could keep running after flushing has taken place.
Start by turning off your water supply to your toilet, then remove its lid to inspect its internal workings and observe how the water level should sit below the overflow tube by approximately an inch. If needed, adjust with a screw located above the fill valve before replacing the cap and turning back on the water supply to test.
4. Loose handle
If the toilet handle feels loose or droops during flushing, this could be a serious cause of concern. Water leakage from its base could become unsightly and unhygienic – although these problems can usually be easily remedied with simple tools.
Start by closing the toilet seat and shutting off your water supply valve at the home’s water meter (usually in the basement or crawl space). Next, remove the tank cover to access the handle mounting nut; use a wrench to tighten this loose mount until tight, taking care not to over-tighten as this could crack your porcelain tank.
Once the nut is tightened, test the handle by pushing it down and seeing if it remains in the flush position – this indicates the success of the repair work. If it doesn’t, consider adjusting the toilet chain connecting the lift arm and flapper (instructions are available online); shortening its length may help solve your issue.
5. Low water level in Toilet Tanks
Noticing your toilet’s tank stop short of filling is never pleasant, as this indicates your water use exceeds expectations and may increase water bills. However, early detection can allow simple adjustments to solve this issue quickly.
Damage to the fill tube is often to blame for low water levels in toilet tanks. This small plastic hose connects directly from the inside of the tank to its overflow tube, so any unclipping or breakage will result in it shutting off before refilling occurs after each flush.
You can easily inspect this by removing the lid of your water tank and visually inspecting its fill tube – if damaged areas appear, you can either clip back on yourself or call a plumber immediately to replace them.
Another potential problem could be an improperly adjusted float arm or height, which you can also adjust by taking steps such as opening up your tank lid to inspect. You should look for it right at the overflow tube level; if not, bend its arm up or down accordingly to raise or lower water levels accordingly.
