You probably don’t think of your toilet as a modern-day luxury—that is, it stops working properly. Indoor plumbing makes our lives easier, so when your toilet is out of commission, it can disrupt your home or business. Some problems are easy enough to fix with the help of a plunger or basic household tools, but others may require assistance from plumbing services in Modesto, CA. Here are some of the most common toilet problems and how to diagnose them.
Constantly running toilet
If your toilet sounds like a water fountain, it can send your water bills skyrocketing. This is usually due to a leak in the tank, which continuously allows water to flow into the bowl. The toilet’s mechanisms aren’t getting the message that the bowl is full, so it keeps drawing water to send into the bowl.
This can often be diagnosed by simply taking the tank lid off and looking to see if water is flowing. If it’s too difficult to tell, grab some food coloring from your kitchen. Put a few drops in the tank and check back in a half hour. If the water in your toilet bowl has food coloring in it, you have a leak. That indicates a problem with the rubber float or the fill valve. Your plumber can help you fix this issue.
Water leaking from the bottom or middle of the toilet
Your toilet is sealed between the tank and the bowl. However, that seal can break or deteriorate over time. Look to see if the water is coming out between the tank and the bowl—if so, the seal is probably broken. A plumber can help drain the toilet and reapply the seal so the water stays where it belongs.
If water seems to be coming from the bottom of the toilet, there may be a problem with the gasket between the bowl and the floor. Your plumber can easily repair this problem.
Keep in mind that if the weather is hot and humid, the water may just be condensation. If that isn’t the case, it’s best to call a professional.
Water leaking behind the toilet
Finally, water may leak from behind your toilet and pool in the space between the toilet and the wall. It’s important that you address this issue right away, since it can damage your walls and floors.
As mentioned earlier, this could be condensation if the weather is muggy. The best way to determine this is to dry the water intake pipe behind your toilet, then wait a few minutes to see if the water reappears. If it does, just put a pan underneath to collect the condensation.
If not, the shutoff valve could be leaking. You can tighten this with a wrench. If that doesn’t fix the problem, you’ll need to call a plumber right away.
When you need fast, reliable toilet repair in Modesto, CA, call Alvarado Pumping Septic Service today. We offer regular and emergency appointments for all your plumbing needs.