
Top Tips for Easy Toilet Repairs
Today, we’re going over one of the most used and important fixtures in your home—your toilet. It can also be one of the easier things to fix in terms of plumbing repairs, as long as you know what you’re doing. So, let’s get to know your toilet.
How a Toilet Works
Understanding how your toilet works can help you diagnose and fix problems more easily. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Flushing Mechanism: When you flush your toilet, a component called the flapper lifts, allowing water from the tank to flow through the valve and into the bowl.
- Refill Process: Once the bowl is full, the flapper closes. The tank then refills through the fill valve. A float mechanism (a cup on newer toilets or a rubber ball on older models) stops the water flow when the tank is full.
Safety First: Turning Off the Water Supply
Before you make any repairs, always turn off the water supply valve located on the wall behind the toilet. This is also crucial if you have a water emergency. Simply turn the valve a quarter turn to shut off the water.
Handling the Lid
Remove the lid of your toilet tank carefully and place it somewhere safe to avoid dropping or cracking it. This may seem like a small step, but a cracked or broken toilet lid can be surprisingly costly to replace.
Common Toilet Issues and Fixes
Toilet Won’t Flush
- Check the Flush Handle: If the flush handle is loose, tighten the nut inside the tank. A loose handle is a common problem and usually an easy fix.
- Inspect the Lift Chain: Ensure the lift chain is connected to both the handle and the flapper valve. If it’s disconnected, reconnect it. If the chain is damaged or doesn’t fit properly, consider calling a professional like Goettl for help. Chains can be tricky and need to be adjusted just right for the toilet to flush properly.
Toilet Won’t Stop Running
- Check the Flapper Seal: Look for any nicks or tears in the flapper seal. If damaged, replace the flapper with one designed for your specific toilet model. A damaged flapper can cause water to continuously leak from the tank into the bowl.
- Inspect the Overflow Tube: Ensure the tube running water into the overflow pipe is positioned correctly. It should be in the pipe but not shoved too far, as this can create a siphon effect, making it seem like the toilet is constantly flushing.
Additional Tips
- Addressing Weak Flushes: If your toilet’s flush seems weak, it might be due to clogged rim holes. These holes under the rim of the toilet bowl can become blocked with mineral deposits. Use a piece of wire or a small brush to clean out any debris from these holes.
- Regular Maintenance: Regularly inspect your toilet for leaks. A simple way to check for leaks is to add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and wait 15-20 minutes without flushing. If the color appears in the bowl, you have a leak that needs to be addressed
- Use the Right Cleaners: Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners that can damage the internal components of your toilet. Instead, use mild, non-abrasive cleaners to keep your toilet clean and functioning well.
Conserving Water
Beyond repairs, your toilet can also be a significant factor in water conservation. Here are a few tips to make your toilet more efficient:
- Install a Low-Flow Toilet: Consider upgrading to a low-flow toilet, which uses significantly less water per flush compared to older models.
- Dual-Flush Systems: A dual-flush toilet gives you the option to use a half-flush for liquid waste and a full flush for solid waste, saving water with every use.
- Fix Leaks Promptly: A leaking toilet can waste a lot of water. As mentioned earlier, regularly check for leaks and fix them as soon as possible to conserve water and reduce your utility bill.
When to Call Goettl
By understanding the basic workings of your toilet and knowing how to address common issues, you can save time and money on repairs. Regular maintenance and prompt attention to minor issues can prevent major problems down the line. And remember, if a problem feels too complicated, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals at Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing. Happy fixing!
Testimonials
What Our Customers Say About Us
After note. Cameron came back by a day later to check on readings he wasn't able to get on first appointment. I have high confidence in his work. I'm very likely to work with them again
Brayan and Marcos did an awesome job on the new ac installation. Installed with no issues and has been on ever since. Perfect time with summer coming up. Walked through and job was very clean and organized. Great work ethic. Great guys.
Good Customer Service is terribly undervalued. GREAT customer service is almost unheard of nowadays. That above all, when paired with truly quality work will always ensure not only a return customer, but also brand loyalty.
Update - our air conditioner went out today (10/26/23) and JEHAD showed up to repair the issue but the issue was bigger than expected. Tomorrow we will have a brand new system! Goettl is an EPIC firm that treats customers right. Thank you again JEHAD for going above and beyond.
Goettl is the epitome of what excellent customer service is! Our Drain King, DAREAN, addressed all of our questions and concerns and not only unclogged our drain but went above and beyond to show us our drains leading to the street were free and clear of any other issues. Thank you Darean and thank you Goettl for a great experience!
Update: great experience with Edgar Loredo who kept it real with us and was very transparent. I appreciate his honesty and recommendations. Will be requesting him as our technician in the future if we choose to use Goettl
2/15/23
Thank you, Jorge G. Again for being so honest about our unit issues.
Kathy
H. Navarro
Frank Soto, plumber was very thorough in his assessment of the problem. Provided options and was patient in waiting for our decision. We are very pleased with Frank's knowledge plus his warm personality was a plus. Thank you Frank.
H. Navarro
Jeremy Ortega service tech did an excellent job removing, cleaning and reinstalling the flame sensors along with servicing the HVAC blowers. We are set for the next 2 years. Thanks again Jeremy.
H. Navarro
Thank you!
09/19/2024 - Husam Ismail did an outstanding job!!! Very personable and honest, so far with my experience with
Goettl he is the best technician that i have encountered.
02/11/2024 - Josh L. did a fabulous job!!! He was very personable and fast. Great experience, I would recommend Goettl to anyone.
Today is 21 July Sam stopped by and service was excellent 👌. Ralph was excellent, great customer service
Thank you goettl
Explain testing and clarified cost.
I was impressed.
Brayan, Jason, and Christian were the three techs who installed the unit and new ducts. They showed excellent work ethic. They cleaned up all debris, and most importantly, the system works perfectly. Today Ignacio came and inspected the work, and found no problems at all. The entire team has earned 5 stars.
November 6, 2024. The team Brayan, Christian and Jason worked awesome in replacing our whole A/C system and air ducts. They were respectful of our property, answered our questions without hesitation. They all did a fantastic job. We thank ya'll for your services and definitely recommend your business. We appreciate you.
November 7, 2024: Ignacio inspected the newly installed air condition and duct system. He was very knowledgeable, and good expertise. He listened and answered our questions and concerns..he helped us to install our Sensi a/c and heater app..
Fe Alexander
Leticia and Ed Baca
We had an blockage in our sewer line.
Tyler Leija was dispatched the same day, and found the blockage using a camera tool.
He cleared the blockage temporarily.
The actual fix would require digging up and replacing the bad area of pipe.
Paulo "Adrian" Dado and his crew came out the next day with backhoe, dug up the area, and replaced the section of pipe.
The next day, after inspection, Adrian and his crew filled in the hole and then cleaned up the area.
This is a brief description. There was A LOT of work involved.
Very professional work.
Our tech Jorge that came out the day before helped quickly assess the situation and get us set up for a new system and water heater. Jorge was very friendly, would highly recommend!
Frank did an excellent job at explaining every thing in terms that were understandable to both myself and my wife. This greatly assisted in making the right decision to look at all options on either repair or update/purchase for the future and in the long term, saving money.
Will definitely call and use
Goettle again and I will ask if Darrean could help again.
Couldn’t be happier. Came all the options