If you are having problems with your toilet sometimes you just can’t wait for someone to come help! Other times your Landlord will need you to troubleshoot the issue before they come out with the proper tools. Either way, we have some guidelines to help!
Remember – Bennett Properties will be happy to help you in emergencies and with common repairs – but if it’s an easy fix that you can do – then give it a shot!
Your Toilet is Running! Or it’s NOT Flushing!
- If you ever hear (or see) your toilet suddenly run water but you didn’t just flush it- this means your toilet is not running properly. This can equate to hundreds of dollars added onto the water bill in a short amount of time! Look to see if your tank flush setting is low enough or if it needs to be adjusted.
- Toilets have a “fill valve” that has a small rubber washer inside. When this wears out it’s a simple $3 part that can save you loads on your water bill!
- Toilets have a “flapper” which is typically a rubber flap that covers the hole between the tank and the bowl. If the flapper is older it can sit wrong and cause water to continue to flow through after you’ve flushed. Another pricey leak that can be solved with an item less than $10!
- If your toilet is having trouble flushing – a simple plunger could be all that you need. Even if you haven’t felt like you flushed something to cause a clog- there are other reasons the line could get jammed. Maybe you used “flushable wipes” – these are marketed as flushable but any plumber will tell you- they aren’t! The material gets caught easily at all drain line joints – old or new. So if you use wipes it’s best to dispose of them in the trash. Drain line clearings can cost hundreds of dollars just to start! Ways you can fix your clogged toilet: Plunge with good suction to the bowl. Toilets are sturdy and plungers are made for forceful use! Or if that isn’t an option – pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Dawn dish soap (or similar) and let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour. You may need to plunge again, but sometimes the soap will dislodge debris build up on it’s own!
Toilets are such a simple design- but they can go wrong in a lot of little ways. We recommend keeping them on low water use flushes as a general rule and to keep them clean with a toilet brush and plunger.
And with any work order you submit, please give as much information as possible – Was the toilet making gurgling noises? When did it stop working? Is there any visible damage? (cracks or broken handle) Is it leaking? (If so from where- the back/front/inside?)
