Lots of people suffer when their toilets are not functioning properly, and there are two major problems with toilet tanks which seem to occur a lot, says plumber Rick Hedge. As owner of The Plumber’s Plumber, based in Southwestern Florida, proudly serving Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties, he talks here about easy solutions to fix the most common toilet tank troubles
There are two major problems we find with toilets, as far as the functionality of the toilets are concerned. One is a leaky flapper. That might sound a bit odd, but it’s simply the little device that releases the water from the tank to the bowl when someone flushes.
When you have a leaky flapper, the toilet will periodically turn on and off, and you will have water running in the toilet for no reason. It can lead to costly water bills. Luckily, it is simple and easy to fix. The actual material for the flapper only costs under $5. But if you do not fix t, it can lead to $20 a month extra added to your water bill. Generally, the rule of thumb is that a flapper only lasts about two years, so we recommend replacing them at that time.
Faulty Flush Valve
The next thing we commonly see as defective in a toilet is the flush valve in the tank itself. If it is not adjusted correctly or needs to be replaced, it can be costly. The flush valve is what is responsible for shutting off and turning off the water; it is like a mini float switch.
When the water level in the tank gets to the maximum level, the flush valve is what stops the water from filling up. But if it is not adjusted correctly, then water will keep on flowing into what is called the overflow, which will also cause increased water consumption, and a bigger water bill.
These two things should be addressed approximately every two years. Both of those items can be bought generally for under $20. But if they are not addressed, they can lead to an excess water bill of $20 per month easily.
