Toilet Repair: Clogged & Leaky Toilets
A clogged or leaky toilet can be a home owner’s biggest headache. When the toilet is not repaired quickly it puts us into crisis mode. A leaky toilet tank or a clogged toilet are not only a big inconvenience but can also be costing you money literally down the drain. There are usually some relatively inexpensive and quick solutions the home owner can try. If these tactics fail or you don’t feel comfortable trying a toilet repair on you own it is time to call in the experts. Mitch The Plumber can handle any bathroom plumbing issue; from leaky bathroom fixtures, leaky toilets, or a completely clogged toilet give Mitch a call today (735) 995-5063.
How Do Toilets Work?
Your toilet is operated by a fairly simple system of levers, floats, and seals but it basically consists of two parts, the tank and the bowl. The bowl is the part of the toilet that sits on the floor. It has a discharge throat at the bottom which allows waste to be flushed away.
The toilet tank is what holds the water that allows you to flush. When you push the handle, the water from the tank is released into the bowl. Gravity does a lot of the work here as the water seeks to level itself within the trap of the toilet. As the water seeks to level itself out, it pushes all of the waste through the "S" trap and it falls into the drain.
Common Signs a Toilet Repair is Necessary
Running Toilet - A toilet that won't stop running is the most common problem. Your toilet is designed with a float system inside that monitors and maintains the depth of the water in your tank. At the very bottom of the tank is a valve. That valve holds the water in the tank until you are ready to flush. When you flush, that valve opens and allows all of the water in the tank to rush into the bowl. Typically, this is a flapper style valve.
Since the valve is made of rubber, it can start to decompose over time. Sometimes the rubber hardens and warps. In either case, the valve no longer seals correctly and water is allowed to escape from the tank into the bowl even when you haven't flushed. Since the float mechanism in the tank is going to allow the water to keep running until the tank is full, your toilet will run forever.
Broken Flush Handle - Another common problem is often found with the flush handle itself. That handle sees a lot of use, and since they are often made of plastic, they can break. Mitch The Plumber can supply you with a variety of replacement handles to match all makes and models of toilets.
Leaking Toilet Bowl - A third common problem is discovered when you stand up and realize that your socks are wet. Water leaking out onto the floor from the base of the bowl is indicative of a few different problems. While it could mean that the porcelain has cracked, it's not very likely that this could happen without you knowing it. Something would have to hit the toilet quite hard for this to happen.
Most likely, this leak is cause by a faulty wax ring. If a toilet is not bolted to the floor firmly, it will rock ever so slightly whenever someone sits on it. Over time, this subtle rocking motion will cause the wax ring to work loose. This is usually a simple toilet repair that can resolve the problem and be fixed quickly and inexpensively.
If you are located in Dexter, Ypsilanti, or Ann Arbor and need a leaky toilet tank repaired or clogged toilet repaired or replaced make Mitch The Plumber your first calll (734) 216.0777.