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Most Common Toilet Problems

One really learns to appreciate modern plumbing when your toilet starts to act up, especially when it happens at the worst possible times. Today we're taking a look at the most common toilet problems and give you some tips on how to prevent and or fix them.

➔ Gurgling Sounds In the Sink and Tub

Do you hear gurgling sounds in the tub or sink when you flush the toilet? That usually means that the vent pipe is partially or fully blocked.

How to Fix It: Take the hosepipe up to the rooftop vent and allow water to run through the pipe to help clear the clog while someone in the house keeps an eye for leaks.

➔ Slow Flush

A clog downstream from your toilet could be the cause of a sluggish flush.

How to Fix It: Fill a large bucket of water and try to dump it into the toilet as fast as you can without splashing. If it flushes better, it probably isn't a clog. If it is a clog, it will drain slowly while backing up into the bowl.

➔ Strong, Partial Flush

Over time, it is possible for the flapper valve to become waterlogged, which will cause it to drop too fast. If you have a strong, but partial flush, you should observe the flapper valve while you flush. If it doesn't stay up until most of the water has drained from the tank, it is faulty.

How to Fix It: If your flapper is waterlogged, you need to install a new flapper.

➔ Dropping Water Levels in the Bowl

If everything else is working fine, but you notice significantly reduced water levels, it could be caused by one of two things:

- a partial clog may be siphoning water from the bowl.
- a crack in the piping or the interior colon of the bowl.

How to Fix It: Remove the clog or call a plumber to fix the crack.

➔ Whistling Tank Fill

Toilets with a ball cock valve and a ball float at the end of the rod tend to make a whistling sound as the ball floats higher and closes the water fill valve, causing vibrations and noises.

How to Fix It: Invest in a new fill valve that stays open until the tank is full.

➔ Slow Filling Tank

If your toilet tank takes a long time to fill, it could be because the shut off valve, which is located under the tank, is partially closed. You will generally notice this if you've just moved into a new home, and it could be because the previous owner wanted to restrict the flow.

How to Fix It: Open the shut off valve more and see if that helps.

➔ Dripping Tank, Keeps Refilling

You will hear the tank fill up, and then you will hear dripping. After a few minutes, you will hear the tank partially filling up again, before the dripping resumes. A syphon problem could be causing the problem.

How to Fix It: There's a clip at the top of the overflow tube - it usually points to the water flow. Attach the clip to the overflow valve and you'll see the dripping stop.

When you have any of these or other common toilet problems (and even the uncommon issues), don't hesitate to get in touch with Anta Plumbing, any time of the day or night.

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Written by Anta

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