Our bathroom toilets get a real workout through the years
. Once we install them or have them installed, we assume they'll just perform for us forever. For the most part, they serve their purpose well but occasionally toilets develop problems that must be taken care of so they function efficiently. Here are the most common problems with bathroom toilets and how to deal with them.
- Strong but incomplete flush - This may be caused by a waterlogged flapper valve, forcing it to drop before the flush is complete. This problem is best solved by installing a new flapper.
- Phantom flusher - This means the tank will continue to fill up with water, whether it was just flushed or not. This is usually caused by the tank leaking water and will mean the flapper needs to be replaced.
- Double Flushing is caused by the level of water in the tank being too high. Lower the level and this problem should stop.
- Water level in bowl decreasing too rapidly may be caused by a crack in the bowl but most commonly, it's from the colon of the bowl clogged with toilet paper. You can usually see this with a flashlight and mirror.
- Tank filling slowly is the result of the shut off valve being partially closed. Opening it up will fix the problem.
- Flushing sluggishly is usually caused by partial or complete clog in the toilet. To determine if there's a clog, dump a large bucket of water in the toilet and flush. If the water backs up and drains slowly, there is a clog.
Most problems with bathroom toilets are simple and can be fixed by the homeowner. However, if simple measures don't take care of the problem, contact a plumber.