For both renters and owners, a faulty toilet is nearly impossible to avoid. At some point in your life, you will likely deal with a commode that won’t flush, keeps running, or makes a weird sound.
But toilet problems can do more than just wreak havoc on your plumbing. Because it accounts for about 30% of indoor water consumption in your home, a toilet that’s not functioning properly could cause your water bill to skyrocket.
But when these issues arise, it can be difficult to determine the best course of action. Should you call a plumber or can you handle the fix yourself?
That’s why we’ve put together this toilet troubleshooting guide to help you navigate the various issues you may encounter in the loo.
1. When the toilet makes a weird sound after you flush
You can expect to hear a lot of sounds coming from your toilet, but some are more troubling than others. If you hear what sounds like a foghorn when you flush the toilet, the culprit could be a loose or worn washer in the water fill valve mechanism.
To diagnose the problem, you should check and lift the float ball all the way to the top of the tank when you hear the noise.
If the noise stops afterwards, then a loose or worn washer is the issue.
However, if the noise is more like a whining sound, there may be a water flow issue.
Make sure that your main shut-off valve to the toilet is in the fully open position, where water can freely come in.
A buzzing noise when you flush could involve the fill valve, and could also be related to excessive water pressure. Use a pressure-reducing valve on your main water line to help solve this problem.
2. When the toilet is clogged
A clogged toilet is probably one of the most common plumbing problems.
If you don’t have a plunger in your home, a clogged toilet is the universe’s way of telling you it’s time to go buy one.
Buy a durable rubber plunger with a flange for effectiveness.
Be sure the plunger fits tightly at the bottom of the bowl and it’s completely submerged. Plunge as vigorously as possible without splashing, and with a little luck, you’ll be flushing again in no time.
Try the “volcano” method using hot water, baking soda, and vinegar. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer, and then allow it to cool for five minutes. Add a cup of baking soda to the toilet, followed by 2 cups vinegar. Pour in the water and allow the mixture to sit for several hours.
For more stubborn clogs, you may need to buy a plumbing snake.
Feed the flexible end of the snake into the toilet drain until you encounter the clog, then twist the snake handle to break up and dislodge the obstruction.
3. When the toilet keeps running
If your toilet keeps running long after you’ve flushed it, your water bill is likely to take a hit. You can go from using a few dozen litres of water a day to hundreds of litres a day.
To identify the problem, remove the lid and look at the fill valve, or water-measuring device.
If it is defective, you will see water running through it continuously. Reach behind your toilet to the main toilet shut-off and turn the lever to the right to shut the water off.
Then, call a plumber to either replace the flapper or adjust the fill valve.
4. When the toilet wiggles
Toilet stability is important especially since you sit on it multiple times a day. If you push on the end of the toilet and it wiggles or moves, you need to reset it. Unfortunately, this is not as simple as resetting your laptop or phone.
A wobbly toilet could indicate a faulty flange, which is the pipe fitting that both mount the toilet to the floor and connects the toilet drain to a drainpipe. This would need to be repaired or replaced by a professional so as not to damage the floor during the process.
5. When the toilet handle wiggles
This may be one plumbing project you can handle on your own.
First, check the handle and make sure that it is intact and has smooth movement up and down with no resistance. If it’s in good shape, then adjusting the chain that connects the handle and flapper may be all that’s necessary. Leave about a quarter-inch of slack in the chain; this will ensure a good seal between the flapper and the flush valve.
However, if you push the handle down and there is resistance, the handle will need to be replaced.