How To Tell When Brookhaven Toilet Repair Is More Than A Quick DIY Job.
No one wants to deal with toilet repair, but when you have an issue with one of the most frequently used seats in your home, it’s time to talk about it. Most homeowners have had to deal with a clogged toilet or two (or three, or four…), and most have a plunger they keep on standby for just such occasions. But there are times when a plunger can’t solve the problem, and you’ll need to call for backup. Here’s how to tell when you should ditch the plunger and call a plumber:
The Water Keeps Running And Running
A continuously running toilet is not just annoying – it’s a massive waste of water and can show up as a significant increase on your water bill. The most common reason for a running toilet is flapper issues. The flapper seals the hole in the bottom of the tank. There is a chain that hooks to the flapper. If the chain gets caught or is too short, the flapper won’t close all the way so the toilet will keep running.
Another potential cause of running water in the tank is the ball cock. The ball floats as the tank fills which lets the valve close to stop the running water when the flush is complete. If the seal breaks between the float mount arm and the ball, the water will keep running. When this happens, it usually means the rubber diaphragm seal needs replacing. A plumber can easily fix either of these issues.
The Tank Refills Ever So Slowly
Do you ever feel like you have to wait around to make sure the toilet stops running? And it seems like it takes forever and a day? A slow tank refill could be a sign of a broken flush valve, or there’s a leak where your flapper meets the tank. Occasionally the flapper itself will leak. Over time the rubber flapper can wear out and crack, allowing water to seep through. This can slow the filling of the tank. If you have a leak, you’ll need a new seal and potentially a new flapper. This is definitely a necessary repair, so you don’t flush your money down the toilet every month with your rising water bill.
Water Near The Toilet Base
Water in the toilet is good, but water outside the toilet is very bad. You never want to see a leak in your house. Water can do extensive damage to your floor, sub-floor, and the ceiling below the leak, including damage to the flooring, the studs, and the drywall. It can even create a situation where mold growth occurs.
If you see water around the base of your toilet, take action immediately. You can tell if it’s residual water from a spill or an actual leak by cleaning it up and leaving paper towels on the floor around the toilet. If the paper towels stay dry, it’s probably not a leak. If the towels are wet, there are a few things that could be the cause of the leak:
- It could be the wax seal that connects the toilet to the floor. You’ll need to call a plumber in for this repair. They’ll need to replace the wax ring.
- Another potential source of a toilet leak is the connection between the hose that supplies water to the toilet and the toilet tank. If the water is coming from the supply hose, that could be the source of the leak.
- If it’s coming from the bottom of the tank, it might mean it’s time to replace the flush valve.
In these cases, a plumber can repair the issue. Sometimes, if the leak is severe enough, your plumber might recommend a toilet replacement.
The Plumbers Guild For Brookhaven Toilet Repair
You can’t go without a toilet, and if your toilet is broken, you want it fixed as quickly as possible. Clogs happen, and most can be cleared with a plunger and some elbow grease, but if your toilet has other issues, you might need to call in a professional. An experienced plumber can assess the problem and complete the repair so you can rest easy knowing you aren’t wasting water, that your water bill isn’t going to be sky-high, and that you and your family aren’t going to have to live without one of your most important pieces of household equipment.
Whether you have a clog you can’t clear, issues with the tank filling, or a leak anywhere in or around your toilet, you can count on experts at The Plumbers Guild to get your toilet back in business. Contact our friendly team of professional plumbers for all Brookhaven toilet repair jobs today.