Having a blocked toilet is certainly a major source of inconvenience for practically all homeowners, and repairs may cost a little more than most people would expect. Should you be unlucky enough to have a working toilet that is constantly running or suffering from a leak, it can ultimately waste water, hike up your water bills, and eventually lead to an obnoxious mess and sounds. In Great Britain, many cases that afflict a broken toilet aren’t too difficult to repair, and need only a few basic tools and supplies.
Research
You will need to familiarise yourself with how that toilet works, and inspect the unit to see if any adjusting of the components will help to fix the issue. You might find that, you will need some tools to get that broken toilet working properly again. Think about using an emergency plumbing service should you want the problem fully checked out and dealt with.
Chains and Handles
Should you have a defective toilet handle, or one that no longer wants to work, the problem is with the chain that links the handle to the flapper. If you want to have a go at this problem, take the lid off the toilet cistern and check out the area where the handle enters the cistern. If the chain has become disconnected from the end of the handle, simply reconnect it and problem over. If the chain is connected but the toilet still won’t flush when you push the handle, try shortening the chain instead. The chain may be simply tangled or twisted, and should be easy to repair by hand.
To Plunge or Snake!
If the toilet still refuses to flush due to a blockage, try using a plunger. Try, aligning the cup end of the plunger over the hole in the bottom of the toilet, and move the handle of the plunger up and down. This can be a dirty business! If this does not work, try putting a plumbing snake down the pipe and unwind it down into the toilet and attempt to clear the clog.
To Flap or Not to Flap
The flapper assembly might be the culprit if a toilet keeps running or filling repeatedly. Have a peek inside the cistern and see if the flapper is lying flat over the hole running into the toilet bowl. If it isn’t, try wiping the base of the flapper with a small piece of cloth to remove any build-up of minerals from the water. Should the flapper look cracked or beyond repair, replace it with a new one. And if the flapper isn’t the problem, check out the float ball in the cistern to make sure it isn’t rubbing against the walls.
Cover and Seat
And finally, should you have a cracked seat or seat cover, take out the rear bolts at the back base of the seat and change the damaged parts. If there are any cracks in the bowl or cistern itself, the whole toilet itself will have to be replaced.
Make sure to get that seat repaired ASAP!