A faulty toilet can cause the wastage of many gallons of water each year, especially if there is a leak in the toilet tank. Most of the repairs that are required in toilets are actually very easy jobs which you can do on your own. All you need is periodical checking and knowledge of using some of the basic plumbing tools. You can save time as well as the expensive plumber costs. Simple problems like unclogging of toilet, stopping a running toilet, replacing some parts, flushing properly, silencing a noisy toilet, replacing the wax seals etc can be easily handled by you. Here is a guide that will help you to repair your toilet. Read on.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time Required: 3-4 hours
Resources Required: Plumbing tools
Instructions:
1. Unclog the toilet
When there is some blockage in the bowl, water overflows. If the bathroom sink is not backing up then the block is close to it. In case, the sink is backing up then the block is quite far inside. If the clog is due to some object dropped like a toy or a piece of cloth, it can be retrieved by using a closet auger or a plunger. If the block is inside along the sewer lines or the drain you may need other tools to remove the toilet and clear the block.
2. Fix toilet leak
Most often, you may not notice the leak directly but may find that there is considerable loss of water from the tank. To detect the leak use a few drops of food color in the tank. If there is a leak you can see the color leaked into the bowl. It may be due to the flapper that is not fitting well on the valve seat. There may be a crack in the valve seat or the gasket between the valve and the tank may not be working well. They have to be replaced.
3. Replace the toilet seat
The toilet seat and lid may require a replacement at times. This is one of the easiest repairs that can be done by you. You can buy the style of seat that is matching to your bathroom design. The replacement seats are manufactured to fit all kinds of toilets. To replace the old and broken one, remove the nuts on the hinge and take out the seat. If you feel that the nuts are corroded, use new ones. Place the new cover and seat and fix the nuts securely. Do not over tighten. They may be difficult to remove later.
4. Fix problem of water supply to tank
If the ballcock valve is not functioning properly, the water supply to the tank is restricted. In order to fix this problem you have to replace the washers or install a new ballcock assembly. The shutoff should be completely open. Check for corrosion on the valve on the entry.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Why are some toilets noisy?
Some of the toilet manufacturers use cheap fill valves. If you have the problem of noise at the end of the tank then maybe there is a cheap valve. You have to replace it using a quality valve that does not have such problems. It takes only about 10 minutes to change the valve.
2. Is water bubbling in the toilet common?
In building where there are shared plumbing lines there may be some sort of blockage. So, this can cause the bubbling to any of the dwellers in the building. Inadequate venting also causes the backup and noise. A plumber has to check the blockage and the pipes if they are vented properly.
Quick Tips:
- If there is a leak between the tank and the bowl, tighten the bolts of the tank or replace the gaskets.
- To seal off the connections on the wall-mounted tank, you can tighten the couplings. Remove the pipe to replace the washers.
Things To Watch Out For:
- Sweating tank is usually seen during the summer when there is cold water in the tank. It cools the porcelain and the warm, moist air causes mildew that loosens the floor tiles. The best way to prevent this is by insulating the inside of the tank by draining and gluing the inside walls using rubber pads.
- If you are not able to do the jobs yourself it is better to call a professional plumber.
