How to Fix Common Toilet Problems

Most of the time when there is something wrong with the toilet, you call the plumber. After all, that stuff is complicated, right? Sometimes.

However, you would be surprised to find that most problems can be fixed by you- in less than an hour and for under $10.

Plumbers make an average of $35- $50 an hour. Luckily for you, you are going to muscle up a little elbow grease and save a quick buck (more like $50- $100) by fixing these common problems yourself.

Money down the drain

Your loo is running...better go catch it.

3^rd grade jokes aside- the running toilet is one of the most annoying sounds. Most likely you pay the water bill and that sound is the sound of your nickels and dimes sliding down the drain. Lets look the most common causes and their fixes.

First, does the problem fix itself if you jiggle the handle? If it does, this one is easy.

Clean It Up

Take a sponge or cloth and wipe the seal and the flapper well. After you have cleaned off any gunk try it again.

If that does not do it, it is probably the valve seal.

Replace The Valve Seal

-Remove the flapper assembly and take it to the store to get the proper seal for your toilet.

-Shut off the water to the toilet or bathroom.

-Flush the toilet, being sure to hold the handle down until all of the water is out of the tank.

-Take the assembly to a hardware or plumbing store to ensure you get the proper seal.

-Replace it.

-Turn the water back on and flush the loo again after it has filled back up.

Flushed Away

If nothing happens when you push the handle down, start by looking in the tank to see if there is a chain attached to it. If there is not do the following:

Off The Hook

-Find the chain on the bottom of the tank. Attach the hook to one of the holes on the part of the handle inside the tank.

-If the flapper does not rest on the seal try a hole closer to the end.

-Try flushing it.

-If the flapper does not come up all of the way to let the water out, try a hole further away.

If the hook is broken or absent replace it with something you already have like an ornament hook, a bread tie or a piece of wire.

Sometimes the handle is broken. Take it off and get a replacement. Pay attention to where it was on your tank (left side, middle).

Water Under The Bridge

When you sit on the pot, does it leak from the bottom? This does not mean something major is broken. There is a really cheap seal on the bottom.

The Seal Is The Deal

-Go buy a replacement.

-Shut off the water.

-Flush.

-Disconnect the water supply tube.

-Unbolt the toilet from the floor.

-Lift straight up.

-Remove old seal and clean area.

-Replace seal.

-Set the toilet back on the seal and put it all back together.

With these tips you will never find yourself paying $150 for fixing something that costs $5-$10 to replace.

After all of that hard work, sit back and relax with a tasty mudslide...hmm.. on second thought, maybe a clean looking martini might look more appetizing about now.

Cheers.