6 Reasons You Need to Call a Plumber for Your Toilet

Posted by Jason Genah on 21-09-2020

Plumbing problems can be quite frustrating, whether it’s a clogged drain or toilet, leaking flapper seal, or damaged flush mechanism. Sometimes, a plunger or other home-made remedy will help to clear the blockage and get the wastewater flowing again, albeit temporarily. Plumbing issues can be quite scary if you have no idea what you’re doing. Especially since you don’t want to be responsible for your house flooding, the sewage overflowing your toilet, or any other kind of disaster that involves human waste being where it shouldn’t be.

At Drain King Plumbers, we recommend that you inspect your toilet’s inner workings every six months to ensure that the components are in good condition and functioning well. This involves flushing the toilet while the water closet lid is off to examine how the components work, checking that the flapper seals well, and the valve shuts off the water at the right level. If anything seems off, and there are other signs of problems with your toilet, such as brown water backing up into your sink or shower when you flush, your toilet continually clogging, or inadequate water to flush, then it may be time to schedule your toilet maintenance with a licensed plumber.

Here are some toilet problems that may need to be checked by a professional plumber:

1. Slowing flush

If you have used your toilet for years and suddenly notice that its flushing power has slowed down considerably, you will most likely try to use a plunger to unclog it. If this doesn’t help, though, then it means that there is no clog. Instead, it could be a sign of a build-up somewhere in the drain pipes far from your toilet. While you can continue to use the toilet in this condition for a few days or weeks as you wait to see if the problem resolves itself, the situation could also worsen and cause the toilet waste to eventually spew over.

You should contact a licensed plumber as soon as possible to investigate the cause of the problem and fix it. In most cases, a snake and camera will be used to assess deep inside the pipes to determine the source of the problem, which could be tree roots, hair, floss, or baby wipes that got caught in the pipes and caused a blockage to develop gradually. The plumber can then use the right equipment to remove the blockage and get your toilet working properly again.

2. Clogged toilet

If your toilet is clogged, and the plunger isn’t changing anything, then the problem may be farther downstream. You may try to unclog the trap using a toilet snake. However, if you notice brown water backing up into your bathroom sink or shower after flushing or the clog won’t end, you should call a licensed plumber to fix it as soon as possible.

3. Cracked tank or bowl

Your toilet should be durable, but accidents can cause the bowl or tank to crack, like when your child drops the lid, strikes it with an object, or some other kind of bump. Depending on where the crack is, your toilet may still be functional as you make preparations to replace the damaged part. Handy people can easily purchase and replace a cracked toilet lid or water tank if they get the same exact replacements. But since a toilet bowl is fixed to the floor and connected to the waste exhaust pipe, it could be tricky to replace it yourself. So, contact a licensed plumber to assist with the repairs.

4. Loose flooring around the toilet

If sitting on the toilet makes it feel unstable, the flooring around its base may have gone soft. This could be a sign of moisture damage from a toilet leak or other pipes passing through the bathroom. It’s impossible to use the toilet comfortably when the floor doesn’t provide enough support for it. Moreover, if the problem is not fixed promptly, the dampness could spread to other areas of the floor, causing more damage in the form of rot and mould, which can trigger allergies and other health issues. You must call a licensed plumber as soon as possible to troubleshoot and do the necessary repairs. Such problems typically require a toilet wax ring replacement for a broken seal, but there could be other issues.

5. Unusual toilet behaviour

After using and observing a toilet for years, it should be possible to detect when something is different, like bubbles or burps when you flush, the system not restoring after a flush, or lower water discharge without making any adjustments to reduce the volume in the water tank. Everything should work smoothly when you flush; if it doesn’t, you should investigate the problem. Possible issues include air getting into the pipes, worn out flush system components, or leaks. Contact a licensed plumber as soon as possible to diagnose the problem and fix it promptly before it develops into a bigger issue.

6. Running or leaking toilet

Toilet leaks are usually “silent”, which means that you’re unlikely to hear the water dripping, notice a puddle of water under a joint, or see water running continuously from the tank to the bowl (and then directly into the drain) unless you’re very keen. You can even choose to overlook it, assuming that not much water is being wasted. However, this slow leak could result in an increased bill of about $100 or more per month, so consider fixing it.

Final Note

Generally, if the problem can’t be fixed with a plunger or simple component replacement, then it’s best to contact a licensed plumber for professional toilet maintenance.

Any delays in fixing the problem, or failed DIY repairs, can increase the damage to the toilet, bathroom floor, and other areas where the clean or wastewater reaches. You will not only suffer the discomfort of foul smells from the mess and inconvenience of having one less bathroom in your house but also spend more on repairs and replacement parts compared to calling a plumber as soon as you detect a big problem with your toilet. With good maintenance, including repairing the internal components, your toilet can last for decades as long as the ceramic bowl doesn’t crack.