How to Troubleshoot Toilet Plumbing
- 1). Plunge the toilet if it flushes slowly or gets stuck. If the waste line is obstructed, this is usually enough to clear the obstruction. If it doesn't, use a hand auger, also called a snake. Push the head of the snake down the toilet until it stops, then turn the handle to work your way through it.
- 2). Listen for gurgling sounds coming from nearby drains when you flush the toilet if it continues to flush slowly. If you hear any, it's a sign of inadequate venting. Check the vent openings on your roof for debris and clear it off.
- 3). Make sure the water level in the tank is below the overflow tube if the toilet keeps running. If it isn't, increase the length of the ball-float arm by loosening the ball to make the valve stop sooner.
- 4). Put blue antiseptic dye in the tank water if the water is running but the valve shuts off completely. Check the water in the bowl about 12 hours later. If it is blue, the flapper is probably worn out. You'll need to replace it.
- 5). Look for water leaking from the tank if you see it collecting on the floor around the base of the toilet. If it's leaking from either of the bolts holding the tank to the bowl, tighten it with a pair of slip-lock pliers. If it's a result of condensation on the tank, you may need to install a mixing valve in the toilet water supply. The mixing valve will add a little hot water to the tank supply to keep the temperature high enough to prevent condensation.
- 6). Remove the toilet if you can't pinpoint the cause of a leak around the base. Unscrew the water supply hose with slip-lock pliers, drain the tank and then unscrew the nuts holding the toilet to the floor and lift it off. Check the condition of the subfloor. If the water has been leaking for a while, it may be spongy, which may have been causing the toilet to rock.
- 7). Check the condition of the toilet flange, which is the metal ring that holds the toilet to the floor. It should be situated no more than 1/4 inch below floor level. If it is too low, the seal made by the wax ring may have ruptured. If the flange is corroded, it may not be holding the toilet securely enough, which can also cause the wax ring to break. You can fix the flange by installing a flange extender on top of it.
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