Don’t be mystified by the inner workings of your toilet tank. Brush up on these common issues so you know how to tackle them when they arise.
When it comes to plumbing, we’re all far too aware that there are a number of issues that can go down. This is especially the case if you’re flushing things you shouldn’t be or otherwise misusing your plumbing fixtures! That said, what about all that stuff within your toilet tank that you may not see very often? Issues can develop there, too, and if you aren’t taking the time to familiarize with yourself, you may not know what to do once problems strike. Here we take a look at four issues that can go down inside of your toilet tank.
1. The Flush Chain
If your flush chain breaks, say bye-bye to flushing your toilet until it’s fixed—unless you want to reach your hand into your tank and do it manually every time! Flush chains can also be too long, meaning your toilet may not flush with as much gusto as it ought to. It could also be too short, leaving your flapper left open and resulting in a constantly running toilet. Take a visual inspection yourself because chains are often easy to adjust and repair.
2. Your Toilet’s Flapper
Your flapper is what covers the hole in your toilet’s tank to prevent water from constantly flushing. It’s simple but rather ingenious if you think about it! While they may be made of plastic and last quite a while, they can slowly degrade or even become cracked or chipped. Sometimes, flappers become tangled or misaligned within your toilet tank. Once a constant running toilet happens, you should check your flapper first and swap it out if necessary.
3. Flush Handle / Arm
On the outside of your toilet, there’s a flush handle that attached to the arm. The arm is what eventually leads to the above-mentioned flush chain. It’s a simple mechanism but one that is prone to breaking, particularly if they’re made of plastic (and if anyone in the household is an enthusiastic flusher)! You can usually buy full flush handle and arm assemblies bundled together at hardware stores, so if one breaks, you may as well replace both.
4. The Toilet’s Float
Your toilet’s float is the part inside your toilet tank that attaches to the arm and sits above water level. Essentially, it acts as a tool to tell your fill valve once your toilet tank is full, so if it becomes damaged or stuck, you ought to replace it quickly. If it gets sticky, drain your toilet tank by shutting off the main valve and flushing, then spray the arm’s moving parts and rub it down with some household lubricant.
Call Mahon Plumbing Today
If you still have more questions regarding your plumbing, we here at Mahon Plumbing are here to help. We have been serving the wider Baltimore area since 1994, so we have the experience to back up our fantastic service! Call us at our Baltimore location at 410-766-8566 or our Pasadena location at 410-636-7944. Be sure to keep up with us on social media by following us on Facebook or Twitter.