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Causes Of Toilet Problems

Toilets are some of the most complicated plumbing fixtures in any person’s home. That means there are a lot of different problems that can pop up – and they all have different sources. In this piece, we’ll identify 7 of the most common problems you’ll encounter with your toilet – and how to fix them:

7 Common Causes of Toilet Problems

Drain clogs

This has got to be the most common plumbing problem. There’s a reason that anyone moving out of their parent’s house for the first time should have a plunger on their must-buy list – you never know when a toilet clog is going to come up.

Fortunately, toilet clogs are usually easy to fix when they happen. Just start plunging. If you’re having persistent problems with clogging, or if multiple drains are clogged, there may be a more serious issue at hand – sewer line problems, which we’ll discuss later on in this piece.

There are a number of things you should never flush down your toilet – and that includes flushable wipes. Avoid flushing these things to avoid unnecessary clogs! Worse case get a drain cleaning in Denver.

Clogged rim jets

Another cause of toilet problems is clogged rim jets. Rim jets are the little holes that send water from your toilet tank into the toilet bowl. When they get clogged, you may notice that your toilet doesn’t flush completely, or that it fills with water very slowly. 

They usually get clogged with mineral deposits. You can clear them out by pouring a solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water into your toilet’s overflow tube, then flushing the toilet after about 5 minutes. From there, use a piece of wire to clean the inside of each rim jet – you can use a mirror to guide you. 

Sewer line problems

Sewer line problems, like clogs and damage, can cause all kinds of headaches. You can tell your sewer line might be clogged or damaged if a lot of your drains are clogged simultaneously, and the clogs won’t go away. A sewer line repair in Denver can’t be fixed on your own – call a plumber.

Loose bolts

When your toilet is rocking, you may have loose bolts at its base. Simply remove the white caps over the bolts, check if the bolts are loose with a pair of pliers, and tighten them if needed. Be careful not to go overboard, however, as you could damage the porcelain. 

Leaky seals

Leaky seals can cause water to pool around your toilet – among other things. There are usually five seals in toilet construction – the one between the tank and the bowl, the ones around the mounting bolts,  the one around the toilet fill valve, and the wax seal at the base of the toilet.

To fix the problem, you’ll need to drain the area of water, remove the old seal, and replace it. This is easier to type than it is to do, so if you’re not sure how to, don’t hesitate to call a plumber. 

Faulty flappers

There are all kinds of potential problems with a toilet’s flapper – and almost all of them lead to the same symptoms. Either your toilet won’t fully flush, or it will run constantly – even after flushing.

You may need to replace or shorten your flapper’s chain. You may also need to realign the flapper so it fits properly in the flush valve opening, or replace the flapper entirely

Faulty floats, refill tubes, ballcocks, and more

We only had room for 7 common problems in this article, so this is something of a bonus round – there can be all kinds of faulty components in your toilet’s tank. 

When you hear hissing from your tank, it’s probably water trickling in from a flaw in one of the above sources, or from faulty fill valve assembly. Check all of the components, and repair and replace as needed.

We hope this has been a helpful introduction to common toilet problems – fortunately, with a little elbow grease, you can fix most of them yourself! If you ever encounter a problem you can’t fix, and you need a plumber in Denver, give us a call! 

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