Common Problems Relating To Toilets. The most common toilet problems are related to blocked drains and faulty cisterns. Realistically, you need to realise that you will not always be able to solve these problems on your own without the help of a qualified plumber.
With bleach or vinegar, use a quarter cup and let the product sit for about 30 minutes, with the lid closed. Tackle the rest of the toilet with a disinfectant cleaner or disinfecting wipes (use bowl cleaners just for the bowl). Working top-down, clean the tank, handle, lid, and both sides of the seat.
No need to worry, a running toilet is usually a simple fix. The three most common causes are a broken or dirty flapper, too long or too short of a chain between the flush lever and the flapper or a float that is out of position.
Check the water level in your tank. The water should come up to about one inch below the overflow tube. If the water level is too low, double check the water valve to make sure the toilet is receiving water. If this doesn't help, check for problems with the flapper, float, fill valve, and refill tube.
A toilet that cuts on and off by itself, or runs intermittently, has a problem that plumbers call a "phantom flush." The cause is a very slow leak from the tank into the bowl. This problem is almost certainly caused by a bad flapper or flapper seat.
Oftentimes, a clogged toilet is caused by a few common issues, such as too much toilet paper used, clogs in the toilet drain, toilet trap, or toilet vent, a sewer line clog caused by tree root penetrations, and even older low flow toilets.
The Flapper Is Leaking and Needs Replacing
Perhaps the most common reason for a running toilet is an old flapper that needs to be replaced. When flappers get old, they don't seal the way they should, and this allows water to pass constantly from the toilet tank into the bowl.
The most common cause of a constantly flushing toilet is a damaged flush valve seal. This seal is the plug that holds the water in the tank after a toilet is flushed. If it is not working, the water from the tank will keep running into the toilet bowl.
Cleaning, clogs and flushing
Cleaning your toilets regularly is the foundation of a good toilet maintenance checklist, but monthly is more realistic. Wipe down the entire toilet at least once a month, and don't forget to clean the rim jets, located under the rim of the bowl.
Toilets account for nearly 30% of the water usage in your bathroom, so keeping these essential plumbing fixtures in good condition is a must. While toilets do not require a significant amount of maintenance, some regular care and cleaning is needed to keep them in good working condition.
On average, most toilets will have a lifespan of between 10 and 15 years, even with regular use. The lifespan may vary depending on the toilet model and the wear and tear it experiences over the years. Most toilets will start to give you warning signs indicating the time for replacement is near.
Unclogging the S-trap may be the answer to why your toilet clogs easily. Plunging should move most clogs along. Again, look for the flanged toilet plunger to increase the water pressure and dislodge any blockages. A toilet auger is also a valuable item to remove the clog.
The standard toilet rough-in is 12 inches, but don't assume you have a 12” rough-in without measuring! Some older homes come with 10” or 14” rough-in sizes.
If your toilet is struggling to complete a flush, there are several possible solutions, including clearing a clog, adjusting the refill valve, fixing the flapper, cleaning the inlet holes, replacing an outdated model, or addressing a broader plumbing problem.
Flapper seal failure. Length of the flapper chain. Leaky fill valve. Broken toilet handle.
In the vast majority of cases, the problem is with the flapper, which is the rubber seal between the tank and the bowl. When it's worn, or the chain is too short, water seeps into the bowl, and the fill valve cycles on as soon as the float falls below the cutoff level.
Clean the Flapper
Don a pair of rubber gloves. Gently lift the flapper and scrub it with an old toothbrush or scouring pad. Scrub the seat assembly as well. Turn the water back on and test your work.
While toilet flappers are normally pretty durable, they can wear out over time. The average toilet flapper lasts about 4 to 5 years. It is important that you replace your toilet flapper when needed to prevent damaging leaks.
So, what's the cause? Leaky loos are usually caused by a faulty flush-valve or fill-valve inside your tank – predominantly on dual-flush WCs. It can happen with any WC brand and type, but most leaky loos are the result of a failure in valve seals.
A silent toilet leak (the one you usually can't hear) can waste around 500 to 800 gallons of water per day! The ones you can hear will waste much, much more. Such waste can typically be attributed to a faulty water level adjustment or a leaky flapper.
The most common are where bolts have become loose, the misalignment of pipes and valves, or the wax ring not sealing properly. You should be able to tell by sight where there is water leaking. In some instances, tightening the bolts or resealing a seal is enough to fix the problem.