3 Toilet Maintenance Challenges

A toilet is one piece of equipment in a home that nobody wants to see malfunction, yet from time to time things happen such as clogs, leaks, or other issues. However, for people who take the time to learn about the various maintenance challenges associated with their toilets, many problems are able to be prevented altogether or detected early enough so that a plumber can be called to make the needed repairs. If you're interested in learning more about just what makes your toilet work the way it does, take a few moments and read over the following tips. It could make a tremendous difference in your Lakeland home.

Listen for Leaks

If you want to know if your toilet is leaking, just listen closely for any sounds that resemble hissing. If that's the sound you hear, chances are you've got a toilet that's leaking water 24/7. If that's the case, a plumber needs to be called as soon as possible to correct the problem.

Toilets that fail to shut off after each flush usually leak water from the tank back into the bowl, which over time can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily if the problem gets serious enough. If a leak is present, the flapper valve is probably worn out and in need of replacement.

Toilets Are Not Trash Cans

If you want to guarantee a clogged toilet, use it like a trash can and toss anything and everything in the bowl. If you do, you'll be calling a plumber very soon to clear the trap, drainpipe, or sewer line of one or more clogs. If the clog is in the sewer line, the repairs will be extensive and cost several hundred dollars at a minimum. To prevent clogs from occurring, don't use the toilet as a trash can and also use high-quality toilet paper that dissolves quickly when wet.

Purchase a New Toilet

Toilets that are over 20 years old are considered almost obsolete in today's plumbing world due to their gross inefficiency in the amount of water used per flush. Older toilets use more than 3.5 gallons per flush, while new toilets use less than two gallons per flush.

By replacing older toilets with newer ones, homes can save hundreds of dollars per year on water bills. In addition, they can also save on repair bills as well, since older toilets tend to break down much more frequently than today's more advanced models.

Are you having trouble with your Lakeland, FL toilet? Call Samco Plumbing at (863) 509-1718 for all your plumbing needs!