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(615) 613-2055Your toilet is one of the hardest working fixtures in your home. You probably don’t think about it much until something goes wrong. And when it does, it usually happens at the worst possible time.
At SteadyFlo Drain Cleaning & Plumbing, we’ve seen just about every toilet issue you can imagine. Some are easy fixes you can handle yourself. Others need a professional. Here’s a rundown of the most common toilet problems and what to do about them.
That endless hissing or trickling sound is more than annoying. A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a day and drive up your water bill fast.
The most common culprit is a worn flapper. That’s the rubber piece at the bottom of the tank that lifts up when you flush. Over time, it gets stiff or warped and stops sealing properly. Water then leaks from the tank into the bowl, and the toilet keeps running to refill.
Replacing a flapper is one of the easier DIY plumbing jobs. Turn off the water supply behind the toilet, flush to empty the tank, unhook the old flapper, and pop in a new one. Most home improvement stores carry universal flappers for a few bucks.
If a new flapper doesn’t solve it, the issue might be with the fill valve or float. That’s when it starts to get more involved.
If your toilet doesn’t clear the bowl the first time, or you have to hold the handle down to get a good flush, something is off. Common causes include:
Check the water level in the tank first. It should be about an inch below the top of the overflow tube. If it’s too low, adjust the float to let more water in.
If that doesn’t fix it, mineral buildup in the flush holes is often the issue. A little vinegar and a small brush can clear those out and restore a full flush.
This is the classic toilet emergency. Nine times out of ten, a good plunger will do the trick. Make sure you have a flange plunger (the kind with an extra rubber piece that fits into the toilet drain) for the best seal.
If plunging isn’t working, don’t keep flushing. That’s how you end up with an overflow. Try a toilet auger instead. It’s a specialized tool that can reach further into the drain and break up stubborn clogs.
For recurring clogs, the problem may be deeper in the line. Our drain cleaning service can find and fix the root cause.
If pushing the handle does nothing, take the tank lid off and look inside. The most common cause is a broken or disconnected chain between the handle and the flapper. Reconnecting or replacing the chain is usually a quick fix.
If the chain is fine but the flapper isn’t lifting, the handle mechanism may need to be replaced.
Ever hear your toilet flush itself when no one is near it? That’s called phantom flushing, and it’s a sign of a slow leak from the tank to the bowl. The tank slowly loses water, then refills automatically, sounding like a flush.
The fix is usually a new flapper. Left alone, phantom flushing can waste a lot of water without you realizing it.
Any water pooling around the base of your toilet is a red flag. Common causes include:
If the leak is coming from around the base, the wax ring may need to be replaced. That’s a job for a pro since it involves removing and resetting the toilet. Ignoring it can lead to water damage in your floor and subfloor, so give us a call right away if you see water pooling.
Gurgling from your toilet when you flush or use another fixture is a sign of an air issue in your plumbing. It can point to a partial clog in your main line or a problem with your vent stack.
Don’t ignore gurgling. It usually means something bigger is going on. Our team can run a sewer inspection to find out exactly what’s happening.
If your toilet rocks when you sit on it, the bolts holding it to the floor may be loose. Or, the wax ring underneath may be worn out. A wobbly toilet isn’t just uncomfortable. Over time, that movement can break the seal and cause leaks under the floor.
Tightening the bolts is a good first step, but if it keeps wobbling, the toilet may need to be reset.
If your toilet takes forever to refill after flushing, the fill valve may be clogged or worn out. Sometimes it just needs to be cleaned. Other times it needs to be replaced. It’s an easy fix once you know what you’re looking at.
Some toilet problems are DIY-friendly. Others need a pro. Call us if:
The last one is important. If your toilet is acting up and other drains are slow or gurgling too, the issue is probably in your main line, not the toilet itself.
Most toilets last 15 to 20 years, sometimes longer. But if yours is constantly having issues, using way too much water, or looking pretty rough, it might be time for an upgrade. Newer toilets use much less water per flush and can save you money over time.
Our team can help you pick the right replacement and get it installed correctly. If you’re updating multiple bathrooms, we can handle the whole project.
Whether it’s a stubborn clog, a leak at the base, or a toilet that just won’t quit running, our licensed plumbers can help. We handle everything from quick repairs to full replacements, and we’re available 24/7 for emergencies when things really can’t wait.
Recurring clogs usually point to something bigger than the toilet itself. It could be a partial blockage in your drain line, a problem with your vent stack, or even a sewer line issue. Our team can find the real cause.
A running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day. Over a month, that’s thousands of gallons and a much higher water bill.
We recommend against it, even for products labeled flushable. They don’t break down like toilet paper and can cause serious clogs. Toss them in the trash instead.
Most toilets last 15 to 20 years with normal use. The internal parts wear out sooner and may need to be replaced every few years, but the toilet itself can go a long time before needing replacement.
SteadyFlo Drain Cleaning & Plumbing proudly serves the greater Murfreesboro and Nashville areas. Our coverage zone includes Smyrna, Franklin, Brentwood, La Vergne, Woodbury, Bradyville, Antioch, Lynchburg, Manchester, Morrison, Sparta, McMinnville, Cookeville, Smithville, Mt. Juliet, Nolensville, Rockvale, Gordonsville, Shelbyville, Spring Hill, Tullahoma, Christina, Wartrace, Winchester, and Rutherford County.
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