Most Common Toilet Problems

The toilet is one of the busiest places in the house. On average, you will have to visit the toilet at least thrice a day. But some people visit the toilet even 8 times or more a day. This only means one thing, this is a must-visit section of your home.

So, if you encounter or detect any toilet issue, it is important that you rectify it as soon as possible. The most common toilet problems are toilet clogging, weak flush, leaks, noisy flush, etc. Thus, you should consider buying no clogging toilet, which has a powerful flushing system. In this post, we’ve listed some of the most common toilet problems and how to handle them. These are as follows:

Problems with toilet flushing

This is one of the common toilet problems. It can refer to a toilet that does not flush effectively, a toilet that flushes slowly, or a toilet that doesn’t flush completely. When a toilet with flushing problem isn’t resolved, it can cause stagnant water leading to health risks, bad odors, and increases the chance of more grievous blockages to develop. Some of the things that can lead to a weak flush include:

a) Blocked siphon jet or rim holes

These holes are located underneath the rim of the bowl of the toilet. When the toilet is used over time, these holes become blocked with had water. This is a minor problem as it can be dealt with by simply cleaning the holes with wooden sticks or any other hard bristle tools. If you’re not certain if this will work, you can as well hire a plumber to do a muriatic acid wash to make sure that it is well cleaned and unblocked.

b) An old toilet

If you have an old toilet model, you may as well experience flushing problems. This may be as a result of the old toilet not being able to generate a high-performance flush with its design or if it was not designed to function with the current piping or plumbing in the latest homes. If this is the case, then you should get in touch with an experienced plumber and have your old toilet replaced.

c) A loose flush handle

When your toilet flush handle becomes disconnected or loose from the main tank, flushing may become a problem. But this can be rectified easily by reconnecting the lift chain or lift wire that links the lift arm from the lapper. Alternatively, you can adjust the handle mounting nut inside the tank. Note that it has reverse threads that need the counterclockwise rotation to fasten it.

d) A bad flapper

Another cause of toilet flushing problems is a faulty flapper. When the flapper is loose, waterlogged, or a less tightened flapper valve, this can lead to an incomplete or poor flush. If you check and find out this to be the cause, the solution is very easy. Get a professional plumber to replace the bad or loose flapper with a new one, and the problem will be solved.

Problems with toilet leaks

Toilet leakage is also another common toilet problem. Toilet leaks can occur in different places as follows:

a) Base leaks

If you realize that your toilet is wobbly or unstable or if there is a puddle of water at the base of the toilet, then know you have an issue with the wax ring sealing, which is normally located at the base of the toilet. If you’re experiencing such a problem, then you should stop using the toilet right away. Additionally, you should get in touch with a professional plumber and have it fixed. In this case, don’t be surprised if the plumber removes the entire toilet in order to fix the problem.

b) Several leaks

The toilet comes with at least 5 extra seals for preventing toilet leakages. These seals can be found between the tank and bowl, at the base of the flapper, and mounting bolts. And if you have several leaks, but don’t know where they are emanating from, try to tighten the bolts and see if the leak disappears.

c) Water coming from the side of the tank

If there is a crack in the tank, it may cause water to sip from the cracked part. Check and see what the problem is. If it’s a cracked tank, then you will have to purchase a new tank and replace the old one.

d) Low water level in the bowl

Have you ever woken up only to find that a lot of water has left your toilet? There is nothing to panic, but you should be able to determine what the problem is.  In most cases, this is caused by a partial blockage in the toilet system that causes the siphoning of water out of the bowl. In rare scenarios, a crack in the interior piping of the bowl may cause the water to be less in the bowl. It is easy to deal with a blockage than to replace a cracked pipe. For a cracked pipe, you will need to change the entire toilet bowl. This is very costly.

Problems with toilet refilling

a) A constantly running toilet

A constantly running toilet is one of the biggest nightmares a homeowner can undergo. Not only does a running toilet increase your water bill, but it also makes noise and you may not get rebates if you have installed EPA WaterSense certified toilet; if your state provides one.

Usually, this is brought about by a bad fill valve or poorly connected flapper. Check the water level to help you pinpoint the issue. If you’re not able to identify the issue, call an experienced plumber and have him detect the issue and repair the toilet. Don’t waste any time, and you will end up saving on your water bill and prevent aggravating other toilet issues.

b) Automatic refilling

Apart from constant running, a toilet may as well fill itself without you flushing it. If you notice such an issue, just know that you have a “phantom flusher”. A phantom flusher is an indication that there is a small leak from the tank into the bowl that leads to it requires to be filled. As discussed above, it can be due to a poorly connected flapper. The best action to take is to replace the flapper.

Blocked toilet

This is one of the toilet problems that many people face and again, it is also one of the easiest to tackle. All you need is a flange and if the clog is stubborn, you can get a drain snake. This can be done by yourself, and you don’t need a plumber for this.

Conclusion

When you notice that your toilet is facing one of the above problems, you should immediately get it repaired instead of leaving it to escalate. Most common toilet problems are DIY projects, and just a few require the services of a professional plumber. Ensure that you have the right tools when repairing your toilet, and if you are not confident, simply call a professional plumber for help.