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Top 4 Toilet Problems & Solutions

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Stephens Plumbing

April 10, 2015

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One of the biggest problems that our customers face throughout the year is a broken or faulty toilet. When you have this problem in your home or business, there is additional stress and frustration that can mess up your entire day. We have compiled a list of the top 4 toilet problems our customers face and some simple repair solutions to combat them. Take a look below.

Top 4 Toilet Problems And Their Solutions

1. Weak Flushing

Problem
Old or worn toilets can have hard water deposits in the syphon jet hole that cause weak pressure and weak flushing.

Solution
To rid hard water or calcium build up, mix one part muriatic acid with 10 parts water. Use a funnel and pour the mixture down the overflow tube in the toilet tank. Step away from the toilet to keep yourself safe from harmful fumes. You should hear a fizzing sound that means that the acid solution is eliminating the hard water build up.

2. Full Bowl

Problem
If your toilet bowl is constantly filling up as if it was just flushed, it can mean that the tank is leaking water. To find out if this is the problem, add a food coloring solution into the tank of your toilet. After around five to 10 minutes, take a look in your toilet bowl. If the water has turned the color of the dye, then your tank is leaking.

Solution
After a failed color test, you can assume that your flapper is not sealing completely. Replace the flapper in your toilet by simply shutting off the water supply valve then flushing the toilet. Once the tank is empty, disconnect the chain from the flusher and replace the old flusher with a new one.

3. Dripping

Problem
Do you hear a constant dripping after you have flushed your toilet? This can be because the fill valve in your toilet’s tank is not set or installed correctly. The tube is used to refill the toilet bowl after it has lost its water from flushing. If the tube drops into the overflow tube it can cause syphon water from the tank.

Solution
Check to see if water is leaking from the tube. If it is, then you will need to replace it. To replace the fill valve, turn off the water supply and flush the toilet to drain the tank of water. Remove the old fill valve using a wrench. Install a new one with the nipple facing the overflow tube. Tighten the nut to ensure that the new unit is installed securely. Finally, install the fill tube clip onto the overflow tube.

4. Toilet Clog

Problem
Clogs are a common problem that nearly every homeowner faces. Some of the most common causes of toilet clogs are low water pressure or an excess of materials in the plumbing.

Solutions
According to the severity of your toilet clog, you may need to contact a professional. There are some solutions you can try before calling a professional. You can use a plunger to force the water into the plumbing to pass the clog. For extra help when plunging, add dish detergent into the water in the toilet bowl. You can also use a closet auger to unclog your toilet. Insert the end of an auger into the toilet trap until you feel resistance. Crank and rotate the handle of the auger to press against and break up the material causing the clog.

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