Owning a home can be very stressful. It’s gets even worse when you have a leak somewhere in the home. Many leaks can be attributed to a poorly working toilet or other issue with how it is connected to the plumbing system of the home. Finding a leak long after it started can mean thousands of dollars in repairs to the walls, flooring, and plumbing fixture itself. The minute you experience any issue with your toilet it’s important to have a Mesquite, TX plumber take a look to find what’s wrong and make the necessary repairs. Let’s take a look at the common toilet plumbing issues that plague homeowners in today’s post as well as when it’s time for a new install.
Common Toilet Plumbing Issues
Every home will experience problems with their toilet at one point or another. These problems, if left alone, can lead to massive water problems in the home. If the toilet with the problem is not on the bottom floor of the home it can send water down to the next level. The most common toilet plumbing issues are outlined below in this post.
Toilet Refuses to Flush
If the toilet refuses to flush then you have a serious problem with the plumbing. Before doing anything drastic you should check the handle, the flapper valve, and the flush lever. Either of these items could be broken, which would prevent the toilet from flushing. All three could be broken, which means the toilet will only flush if you replace all three parts. It’s also possible that the chain in the tank broke off from the lever, which will prevent the suction cup from raising.
Water Around Toilet Base
When you find water pooling around the base of the toilet you have a serious issue that needs to be rectified immediately. If you ignore the pooling water it can drip down to the floor below, causing water stains and even the growth of mold or mildew. The first thing you want to have a plumber do here is check the connections, fill valve, ballcock, bolts, wax ring and more are all secure.
The most common problem with water pooling around the base of the toilet is usually due to the wax ring around the base. If there is no wax present or if the wax has begun wearing off, it can easily cause the toilet to leak water. This is a very easy and inexpensive fix that you should not let sit and turn into a massive and expensive project.
Toilet Takes Too Long to Fill
Another common issue with a toilet is that it takes too long to fill. When a toilet takes too long to fill it likely means that the water supply valve is not open entirely. This is an easy fix because all you need to do is open the valve the rest of the way and flush the toilet again. If the toilet still takes too long to flush then you have a more serious problem and should call an experienced Mesquite, TX plumber.
Toilet Flushes Partially
If the toilet in your home flushes partially there could be a few causes to this problem. There could be low water or no water in the tank, too much slack in the chain in the tank, or an incorrectly installed flapper. These are all easy fixes but could require the work of a plumber if you cannot figure out the exact cause or if you cannot find the required parts in the store.
When It’s Time for a New Toilet
It can be difficult to differentiate between a simple repair for your toilet and the need for a new toilet in your home. There are some common signs you can be on the lookout for and we will discuss them in this section.
Constant Clogs
If you experience constant clogs in your toilet, or require multiple flushes to get all of the waste out of the bowl, it’s time to have a new toilet installed. The most common reason for this is that the toilet is likely an older one.
Frequent Repairs
If you are frequently calling a plumber to repair the toilet in your home, it might just be time to have a new one installed. You will wind up spending more money on repairs than the cost of a new toilet and the labor to have it installed.
Leaks at the Base
We mentioned leaks at the base of the toilet earlier. Some leaks can be fixed, while others might be a sign that the toilet might need to be replaced. If your toilet is exhibiting any of the signs mentioned in this post it’s time to call the experienced team at Flow Plumbing in Mesquite, TX to have repairs made or a new toilet installed.