Can A Toilet Be Repaired?

When is an overflowing toilet an emergency?

Sometimes an overflowing toilet can’t be fixed right then by plunging. If you flush a toilet and the waste and water begin rising to the top and the plunging process isn’t working, you may need to take an emergency toilet repair step and turn the water off at the toilet. There should be a turn-off valve at the base of the tank near the floor.

When this happens, it is sometimes because of a clogged sewer line. How does the sewer line get clogged? Many times it is because of a foreign object or other materials being flushed down the toilet that shouldn’t be flushed. Some of the things that can clog a sewer line are:

• Diapers or wipes
• Cotton balls, cotton swabs
• Feminine products
• Condoms
• Dental Floss
• Paper towels, facial tissues. …
• Medications
• Tree roots

In many cases, these things can be just temporary issue that requires toilet repair, like removing the toilet and removing what object is stuck in the base of the toilet. But if you’re having a constant problem with clogged toilets, it could be because of something more permanent, like tree roots busted into the sewer lines underground.

This will require more intense work that is more than basic toilet repair. This type of problem will require the plumber to find where the tree roots have pushed through the sewer line, remove the broken part, and replace it with a new sewer line.

Other toilet repair examples aren’t as extreme. Fortunately, most toilet repairs are more common in day-to-day life. Such as a toilet with constant running water. Why is my toilet running nonstop? There are 3 common causes for a toilet to constantly keep running:

• The flapper
• The chain
• The float
• The overflow tube

These components are inside the tank and while they may not be considered an emergency toilet repair, the problem needs to be isolated and repaired as quickly as possible. A continually running toilet is wasting gallons of water in a day, as much as 1 gallon of water an hour! Depending on the water pressure, it could be even more. This isn’t just a waste of a natural resource; it also causes a higher water bill.

So, how can I know what’s wrong with my toilet?

First, you need to turn the water that is feeding the toilet. Most toilets should have a knob behind the toilet right under the tank. Then remove the tank lid so that you can examine the components we described above.

• The Flapper Chain

Check the chain is connected to the flush lever and the rubber flapper. A possible quick toilet repair is if the chain is disconnected, reattach it. If it is too long or too short, adjust the chain length as needed.

• The Flapper

The flapper is made of rubber and over time, that constant exposure to water can cause it to not seal the drain because it has broken or become dirty and warped. You can do your own toilet repair by replacing this fairly easily using a kit available at your local hardware store.

• The Float

The float is a ball-type component inside the tank and is what controls the water level inside the tank. If the float is too low, your toilet will have a weak flush and if set too high, it causes water to overflow through the tube, resulting in a constantly running toilet.

Mark inside the tank one inch from the top and then turn the water back on and flush the toilet. Watch to see where the water stops filling up and if it is over the mark you made, the float is set too high. You can do a toilet repair by easily adjusting it up or down as needed.

 Okay, but what if the toilet isn’t flushing?

If your toilet isn’t making a complete flush on the first flush, check the following: flushing fully:

1. The WATER LEVEL inside the toilet tank

2. THE TOILET FLAPPER

3. THE INLET HOLES IN THE TOILET BOWL UNDER THE RIM

4. PLUNGE FOR A POSSIBLE CLOG

If none of those work, you should contact a plumber. They can inspect the functioning of the toilet and all the functions connected to the toilet. Once they have isolated the problem, they can make the toilet repair needed and get you back to business!

How often should I have my toilet maintenanced?

A toilet won’t need much maintenance, but what maintenance there is basically keeping it clean, inside the bowl and around the exterior. For deep cleaning the interior, follow these steps:

• Overnight Soak: Pour one cup of white vinegar into the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight.
• Tank Cleaning: Pour some toilet cleaning solution into the tank after you have done your routine cleaning then walk away. Each time the toilet is flushed, it will clean the toilet bowl, and kill bacteria and germs while eliminating residue and breaking down mineral deposits.