You’ve been using your toilet and you recognize a problem. Maybe you smell something funny, maybe you spot a leak on the floor, or maybe the toilet isn’t flushing like it once did.
If you are a handy person, you can do some investigative work to figure out what’s going on. If not, you might want to call a professional to assess the situation.
There are minor issues, like a running toilet, that most homeowners can fix on their own and there are serious issues that could damage a house.
The 7 reasons mentioned below are all reasons you should call a plumber to check your toilet. Let’s get started.
7 Reasons You Should Call A Plumber To Check Your Toilet
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Soft Flooring Around Toilet
One indicator that should concern a homeowner is if they feel soft flooring around the base of their toilet.
Flooring should provide adequate support to a toilet (find out how much toilets weigh here). But a soft floor could indicate moisture damage from the toilet or from something else under your home (there are many pipes in a bathroom).
If left untreated, moisture damage will result in a damp, rotting floor and could be associated with the development of mold. Mold can be hazardous to your health and is a major cause of allergies.
A plumber will likely know the problem and he/she might install a new toilet wax ring if your seal has broken (learn more about wax rings here). The cost of this is more than worth it if your floor is damaged.
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Slowing Flush (bug no clog)
You installed your toilet years ago and it always flushed well. But over the last few months, you’ve noticed a significant slow down in the flushing power. There doesn’t seem to be a clog in the toilet, and a plunger doesn’t solve the problem (make sure you’re using the correct plunger).
This problem is easy to ignore but could be a sign that there’s a build-up occurring in your pipes (farther away from the toilet).
In this case, you’ll want a professional to take a look to make sure there isn’t a blockage in the pipes. They often use a snake and a camera to look deeper into pipes and they should be able to discern the problem.
Hair, tree roots, baby wipes, and floss can get caught in pipes and a blockage can grow over time. These items are hard for a homeowner to remove but a plumber, with the right equipment, can take care of it with a little effort.
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Cracked Bowl or Tank
If you have a cracked tank or bowl you might be wondering how long it will last. Don’t worry, cracked toilets occur all the time and they should be okay until you can find time to change them.
Sometimes damage to a toilet occurs from a bump, or the lid was dropped. Young boys will often find ways to accidentally damage a toilet.
If you find a crack in the bowl you’ll want to get it changed. Replacing the bowl can be tricky and you’ll want some help, however, if the crack is on the lid or the tank you can replace it yourself. Just look up the model of your toilet and you should be able to find a replacement tank or lid (given your toilet is a 2 piece toilet).
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Plunger Doesn’t Remove The Clog
You’ve wife told you about a clog in the toilet and you fetched your handy plunger from the garage. You walk into the bathroom, ready to be a hero, except the plunger isn’t doing its job.
You walk out of the bathroom and you’ve got to call the real hero – the plumber.
If the toilet has a clog that won’t budge, you can buy a toilet snake for the trap, or you can call a plumber. If the plunger didn’t work, chances are it’s not a problem with the trap. It’s likely farther downstream and a plumber will be required.
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Abnormal Sounds
Does your toilet talk to you in a strange language when you flush? Do you sense it’s calling for help?
If your toilet burps or bubbles when it’s flushed, you may want to dig deeper and find out why. A toilet water should go down smooth and not have any problems with bubbles or air.
If your toilet is acting up, there might be air getting into the pipes and that’s never a good thing. I plumber will likely diagnose the problem quickly.
This one probably can’t be solved by you since the cause is coming from somewhere outside the toilet.
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Brown Water Filling The Tank
If brown water is filling the tank it’s not a problem with your toilet, but could be a problem with the fresh water pipes in your house. At first thought, you may think it has to do with the toilet, but it water filling your tank is brown, chances are the bathwater and tap water are also brown.
This is more common if you’re using well-water but shouldn’t be occurring if it’s municipal water. You’ll want a professional to look over the problem and advise on possible solutions.
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Water Coming Out From Bottom Of Toilet
Earlier in this article, I mentioned the problem of a soft floor under the toilet. That problem may or may not be caused by water coming out from the bottom of a toilet.
If you can see water coming from the bottom of the toilet it likely means your wax seal is broken and it needs to be replaced.
Replacing the seal can be done as a DIY project, but you’ll need to learn how it works and it will take some time.
If water is leaking it should be fixed quickly and plumber will do the job quickly and correctly on the first try.
Conclusion
Toilets are a relatively simple technology to work with. In fact, many of the problems we experience with our toilets can be fixed easily, without the need for a professional.
There are, however, problems we may experience that are much more complicated and require the help of a professional.
Any type of dampness is a major issue that should be solved quickly. Wet floors can ruin structural support and cause mold.
Backed up toilets are usually easy to fix with a plunger, but if a plunger doesn’t do the job it could be a serious clog farther down your pipes.
You’ll also want to keep an eye on your toilet to make sure there are no cracks. If so, it’s wise to replace the toilet as soon as possible.
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