The toilet. It’s certainly the workhorse when it comes to the inner workings of your home – not to mention what’s likely the most important fixture of all the pipes, faucets and fixtures that make up your plumbing. If your toilets aren’t working, it’s safe to say that you have a major disaster on your hands. Thankfully, you can take a few simple steps to prevent it from ever getting that far, and our Santa Maria plumbers have come up with five tips for avoiding toilet troubles.
1. Clean Your Toilet Regularly
Simple cleaner does the trick, or you can opt for vinegar and baking soda for an all-natural option. The reasons for this, however, go beyond the obvious of keeping your bathroom hygienic and smelling better. Cleaning your toilet regularly also makes it easier to spot a leak or a problem.
2. Inspect Your Toilet Twice a Year
Going over the inner workings about every six months to make sure the components are still in good shape and functioning properly can prevent a larger problem down the road. Take the tank lid off and flush the toilet. Watch the components work, making sure the flapper is sealing well and the fill valve stops running at an appropriate water level.
3. Toilet Running? Better Catch it!
Jokes aside, if you find your toilet running, it’s best to get to the bottom of the problem right away. While it may be easy to ignore, considering a running toilet isn’t necessarily leaking water all over the floor, but it’s costing you money regardless. Because a running toilet is a leaking toilet; the leaking water is just going into the bowl and down the drain. Fixing it right away will save you money down the road.
4. Consider What You’re Flushing
Best practice, in this case, is to not flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper down the toilet. Items like gum, cotton balls, Q-tips or other personal hygiene items can easily clog your toilet. Even things like “flushable” wipes aren’t designed to go into the sewage system, especially if you aren’t on a municipal system and utilize a septic tank. Also, if you have kids, make sure the lid is “child-proof” so no action figures, art supplies or, well, just about anything else you can think of doesn’t go for a swim.
5. Get to Know Your Plunger
A toilet clog is usually not very pleasant, but most can be fixed with a good plunger and a bucket full of hot water. What you shouldn’t do in case of a clog is use a chemical drain cleaner. First of all, they’re not designed for use within a toilet. What’s more, chemical drain cleaners are harsh on your pipes in general, and with a toilet they can be dangerous if they splash onto your skin, or their aerosols are inhaled during the flushing process. If you can’t remove the clog with a plunger, an auger or snake is a good backup.
For more tips on preventing toilet troubles or for a problem that requires the pros, our professional Santa Maria plumbers are always a call or click away.
