Broken toilets can often be repaired without the help of a plumber.
When a toilet needs repair in the home, it is a high priority. A non-working toilet can rob you of a basic necessity and it may not be quick enough or cheap enough to get a professional plumber out to your house. Fortunately, the toilet is not a difficult object to repair and often the average homeowner can get it working again without much difficulty. By following some basic repair tips, you may be able to diagnose the problem and get your bathroom back in working order in a short time.
Rocking Toilet
If you notice your toilet is rocking back and forth when you sit on it, or if you are finding leaking wastewater around the base of the toilet from time to time, it could mean that the toilet does not have a proper seal connecting to the pipe in the floor.
The toilet is connected to the drainpipe by an object called a flange. On top of the flange is a wax ring that seals the toilet to the pipe and prevents leakage, according to Bathroom Repair Tips. Often the problem is with the wax sealer ring.
Turn off the water supply to the toilet and flush the existing water from the tank out of the bowl to empty it. Unscrew the bolts at the floor and lift the toilet off and set it aside. Use a putty knife to scrape out the old wax and remove the ring completely. Replace the ring with a new one and set the toilet down tight on top of the flange to seal it and replace the bolts. If the toilet still rocks or leaks, the flange may be broken or else the floor is uneven, which could require professional assistance.
Proper Plunging
When paper or other debris clogs the toilet, the first tool you should reach for is the plunger. Although it may seem like a simple tool, many people are not sure best use this very effective tool for unclogging the toilet.
First, make sure the cup on the plunger is not dried out or cracked or it will not likely have the proper suction to dislodge the debris. If you are using a rubber cup plunger, add some petroleum jelly to the edge of the cup to condition it and help it to form the best seal possible. Remove excess water if possible so that the bowl is only about half full. Submerge the cup on the plunger and allow it to fill with air so that it will have greater force when you use it and then try to form a tight seal on the bottom of the bowl. Work the handle straight up and down and never at an angle to keep the seal intact and force the debris to move.
Sweating
If your toilet tank is sweating it is because the cold water against the porcelain is causing condensation when the warm outside air makes contact with it. The easiest way to fix this problem is by installing a tank liner, according to Home Tips.
Tank liners are available in home improvement stores and are simple to install yourself. Turn off the water supply and flush the toilet to empty the tank. Remove the lid to the tank and dry off the inside of the tank. Cut the insulation into panels that will fit the walls of the tank and stick them to the sides. Many of these products are self-adhesive.
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