Toilets are one of the most important parts of our homes. They are where we go to take care of our bodily wastes. Unfortunately, they can break down over time and need repairs. If you have noticed any problems with your toilet, then you should contact a professional plumber immediately. A broken toilet can cause serious damage to your home if not fixed right away. Here are some things you should know about toilets before calling a plumber.
This may seem obvious, however - What Is a Toilet?
A toilet is a device that flushes human bodily waste into a dedicated pipe or stack and into a sewerage or septic system. There are two types of toilets: a flush toilet and a siphon toilet. Flush toilets use water pressure to push waste down a drain pipe. Siphon toilets use gravity to do the same thing. Both types of toilets work by using a tank of water to fill a bowl. When you flush the toilet, the water level drops and the waste goes down the drainpipe. In a siphon toilet, the water level stays high until the user releases the handle. Then, the water drains out of the bowl and the waste goes down a separate pipe. The Flush style toilet is the most popular and used in main residential areas. Of these there are two types of installation, a P-Trap and an S-Trap. A P-trap exits the toilet and connects to the Stack via a hole in the wall. An S-Trap connects to the Stack via a hole in the floor underneath the toilet.
How Do You Know If Your Toilet Needs Repairs?
There are several ways to tell if your toilet needs repairs. First, check the overflow hole. Overflow holes are located at the bottom of the tank. If the hole is clogged, then you may notice a foul smell coming from the area around the toilet. Also, look for leaks around the base of the toilet. These leaks could indicate a problem with the pipes connecting the toilet to the Stack under the floor. Finally, if flushing your toilet makes the water level rise to near the top and the water either flushes slowly down the to normal leveles or not at all, then the toilet is blocked and you have an immediate problem that needs attention asap - obvious I know, however, alot of people put up with this issue and leave the problem which creates bigger and more expensive problems in the long run.
What Are Common Problems With Toilets?
The most common problems with toilets are leaking and overflows. Leaks occur when the seal between the tank and the bowl breaks. Overflows happen when the tank fills up faster than the bowl can empty. Another common problem is running toilets. Running toilets are toilets that don't stop working after flushing. This happens when the float valve malfunctions, this is a constant drain on your water, here is a breakdown on just how much water you could be wasting;
'A leaking toilet can waste up to 700 litres of water per day. A dripping tap can waste up to 150 litres '
How Can I Fix My Toilet?
If you want to fix your own leaking toilet, then you will need to replace the float valve. To replace the float valve, remove the tank cover and unscrew the bolts holding the tank together. Remove the old float valve and put it aside. Next, remove the tank cap and place it on top of the tank. Screw the bolts back onto the tank and tighten them. Replace the tank cap and turn the water supply back on. Now, you can test the toilet to ensure everything works correctly. Making sure there is now water leakage around the areas you have resealed (plumbers grease and tape are an essential and very cheap couple of elements here which can be bought at any hardware or even supermarket store.
How Much Does Toilet Repair Cost?
Repairing a toilet can cost anywhere from $50-$200 depending on how much work needs to be done. Most people choose to hire a plumber instead of doing the repairs themselves. However, if you are handy with tools, then you can save money by fixing the toilet yourself. There are risks involved with fixing your own toilet, yet if your handy, a small blockage or malfunctioning cistern can be replaced reasonably straight forward.
Where Should I Call for Help?
You should call a reliable plumber near you if you notice any of these symptoms. Lets face it, leaking taps are your number 1 water wastage problem, however, toilets come a close second, when leaking can waste more water than all your taps combined, and it's a dirty business if you dont know what you are doing. Most toilet repairs are quite straight forward and can be quickly completed why not call Simple Plumbing, we service right though all areas of Mt Druitt, including Plumpton, Hebersham, St Marys, Emerton and more...