Easy DIY Toilet Repair Tips Worth Trying

Plumbing repairs are more common in the toilet as it is where the most common problems occur. While it is recommended that you call your reliable local toilet repairs plumber immediately, but here are some instances where a certain problem is easy enough for you to fix. Here are some of the most common problems in the toilet and how you can fix them.

Once you find it difficult to flush, it could either be the water supply is limited or there is no water at all or there a certain blockage in the flush tank obstructing the flow of the water. If the case is the latter, you can replace the valve yourself. This can be easily bought in your local hardware or plumbing supplies. Over time, the valve wears out and might need replacement. It is also essential to tighten the handle as it could also be the case.

There are times when the lever or the flush ball has worn out and will cause your tank to overflow. You will notice this because the water continues to flow after you have released the handle or if you still hear water flowing even after flushing. It could also be that the refill valve is trapped with dirt or damaged.

The non-stop water flow is a different case. You can fix this by moving the float ball as it might probably be sitting too high. Intake assembly toilets have clips attached to the rod, these need to be adjusted to lower the water level.

If you could feel that your tank is leaking. Clean and dry the floor area in the toilet. Once done, put several drops of food color in the bowl and leave it for a few minutes. Check if there is colored water the dry floor earlier. If you notice streaks of colored water then your toilet is probably leaking. See if there are loose bolts, tighten them up. In the case that the tank is really cracked, then a replacement is needed.

Sometimes there are occurrences of flush and handle valve. The solution to this is to reposition the flush ball once again. A flush ball sitting too high could cause the water leaks to happen. In the event that a broken valve is causing the problem, might as well replace it.

This is a common scenario during cold weather. Your local hardware store sells insulation for tanks that is quite easy to install.

Running Toilet Problems You Can Fix Yourself

Do you ever notice that your toilet continues to run long after it has been flushed? If you do, your first instinct may be to call in the toilet plumbing to get it fixed. But the problem may just be that your toilet needs a simple adjustment or a replacement part that’s easy to install — and you may be able to save yourself the trouble of getting an appointment and paying for the services of a professional.

When a toilet starts to run, it’s often a gradual problem that can be easily overlooked at first — after all, when most people have finished in the bathroom, they walk away and forget about it. But over time, you may notice a constant or intermittent trickling sound that goes on long after you’ve flushed the toilet and the tank has refilled. Putting this right may be easier than you think: here are a few simple DIY steps to try.

Take the lid off the tank. While toilet mechanisms can vary, it’s useful to be able to see what happens when you flush and try to spot the problem. Turning the handle on domestic toilets usually opens a flapper valve at the base of the tank, which lets the water out into the bowl. As the water goes down, so does a float that opens a water inlet valve. When the tank has emptied, the flapper should close and the float should rise back up to a pre-set level, at which point it shuts the inlet valve off.

See what’s happening. You may notice one of these situations:

1. The flapper closes and water rises but doesn’t stop before the level reaches the top of the overflow pipe.
2. The hinged flapper rises to let the water out, but doesn’t close again — so the water that’s coming into the tank is running straight out again.
3. You can still hear a small trickle, even though the flapper seemed to close and the water inlet valve seemed to shut off.

Quick and easy fixes to try

1. You can see the water level is rising too high. Try lifting the float gently to see if that movement closes the water inlet valve. If it does, try adjusting the float position so that it stops the water about an inch below the top of the overflow pipe.
2. The flapper doesn’t close. It may be catching on the chain that lifts it from the handle — or it may not be moving freely on its hinge. See the next solution for information on replacing an old flapper.
3. The trickle persists, even though the flapper closed and the water intake shut off. You may need to clean away mineral deposits that have built up around the flapper and prevent it closing properly. Alternatively, the soft plastic of the flapper itself may have hardened in the water and stop making a perfect seal. In this case, the flapper may need to be replaced. You can usually find the right part for your toilet at your local hardware store for just a few dollars.

If it’s one of the above scenarios, fixing your toilet by yourself should be quick and easy. But if problems remain, that may be the time to call in a plumber.