Simple toilet problems and their solutions

Problem Toilet Bowl Overflows: Symptoms: toilet won't drain properly toilet overflows toilet does not appear to flush toilet flushes only partially

Major Clogs: A closet auger is a drain clearing tool specially designed for unclogging major clogs in toilets. A closet auger is a long piece of coiled metal that are extended 4-5 feet into your toilet drain through the toilet bowl. Crank the auger in one direction until is becomes tight then crank in the other direction. Repeat this until the auger is in as far as it will go. Crank the auger to clear the obstruction.Most clogs clear with one or two uses. Do not use other types of drain snakes with a toilet as they can damage the toilet. Contact a proffesional if the problem persists.

Problem
Running Toilet:
Symptoms:

• water runs continuously inside the toilet
• water leaking inside the tank
• the toilet handle needs jiggling to stop the water from running or to flush the toilet
• water continue to tricke down the inside of the bowl long after the toilet is flushed
• water periodically runs and shuts itself of during the day without the toilet being flushed

Solution:
Connections:
Check if the connections between the handle, trip lever and chain are all working.

Handles:
1. If a handle are loose, tighten the locknut and reflush. If the handle sticks, loosen the locknut on the inside of the tank and flush the toilet again.

2. Jiggle the toilet handle. If this stops the running water, adjust the lift chain inside the tank. The chain "may" be wrapped around the lift arm and you may need to move the position of the chain on the arm.

Chain:
Tangles in the chain can cause the toilet to run or not flush at all.

Flapper valve:
Sometimes the flapper valve is the culprit and doesn't seal the tank properly. Turn off the shut-off valve below the tank and flush the toilet to "empty" it. Remove the flapper and replace it with a new one. If the flapper valve seat is cracked, you'll have to replace the whole unit, which you can find at a hardware store. If the flapper valve and seat seem to be in good working order and your toilet is still running, the ball-cock assembly may need replacing.

Ball-cock assembly:
First empty the tank and then replace using a ball-cock assembly kit. Be sure to follow the kit's instructions carefully. 

Problem
Toilet Does Not Flush Properly
Symptoms

• Toilet doesn't appear to exchange any water
• Toilet takes more than 90-seconds to refill the water bowl
• Debris remains in the toilet bowl after you flushed

Solution:
If your toilet seems to flush, but doesn't remove everything from its bowl, you most likely have a water level problem. Remove the toilet tank lid and check the water level inside the tank. It should be 3/4 inch below the top of the overflow tube. If it's too low, carefully bend the float arm (attached to the float ball) upwards. If it appears too high, bend the arm downward. Reflush.