Is Your Toilet Wasting Water and Money?

Did you know that for most homes, more water is used through the toilet than any other appliance or fixture? Even showers and your washing machine may use less water than your toilet. It is estimated that a third of all water used in most homes is flushed down the toilet. When a toilet leaks or is an older, less efficient model, the amount of waste can be even more. Replacing your toilet can be the most effective way to reduce water usage in your home, saving a vital natural resource while also reducing your water and energy costs.

So what makes newer toilets more efficient? It all comes down to the design.  Larger flapper valves, redesigned trap ways and longer flush valves in new efficient toilets have improve the function of these fixtures while decreasing water use. With these new improvements, many of the newer efficient toilets can garner a large savings in water use, up to 20% in many cases. This savings can be reflected on your water bill and ensure you are doing your part in helping reduce water waste.

Don’t continue flushing water and money down the toilet with an old, inefficient model. Upgrade to a new toilet that will help reduce your water use while offering higher functionality for your home. Although replacing a toilet is a quick plumbing service, it does require expertise to ensure it is installed correctly. An improperly installed toilet can lead to even bigger problem such as water damage to your flooring if it is not sealed correctly. Contact your local plumbing company to discuss which of the newer options will work best for your needs and schedule a professional installation.

Be sure that your new toilet is installed correctly and properly sealed so that it will last for many years to come.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

Diagnosing A Toilet Leak

It can be disheartening to find a pool of water by your toilet. The first fear is that the entire unit will need to be replaced. The second is worrying about water damage if the leak is not stopped immediately. While some toilet leaks will result in the toilet needing to be replaced, some leaks may be smaller and easier problems to fix. Here are a couple of things to look for to find the leak before calling in a plumber.

  • Tank condensation – Water condensation on your tank can build up and cause water to drip. Often, this is not a major problem. Try wiping down the toilet tank, then check it in an hour or so. If there is no water on the floor, then it was just condensation, and there is probably no need to call a plumber.
  • Pipes – Check for drips or leaks in the pipes and fittings behind the toilet. Try wiping these down and watching for drips to form. If there is a drip, it may be something as simple as a worn out washer or fitting.
  • Toilet base – If there is water seeping from the toilet base, there are a couple of things that may be wrong. Your seal could have been broken between the toilet and the floor, requiring  the toilet to be replaced. The toilet also may have a crack, which would also mean you need to replace the toilet.

Although toilet repairs are generally a quick job, it is best to have a professional plumber complete the work. Especially when resealing or replacing the entire toilet, as it is important to have the expertise of a trained and licensed plumber to ensure the work is performed properly.

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing,Inc.

Time to Replace the Toilet?

While you are certainly able to replace the toilet yourself, your local building codes may prohibit anyone but a licensed plumber from doing it. Before starting on a toilet replacement, contact your local plumbing professional to see if this is really something that you can or even want to do yourself. You just may decide on letting the expert plumber perform the work on this one.

Before you even purchase a new toilet, much less remove the old one, you will want to measure the distance from the wall behind the toilet bowl to the center of the toilet floor drain, to ensure that the replacement toilet that you get will fit into the same space. Shut off the water supply, remove all the water from the tank and bowl of the existing toilet. Disconnect the tank from the wall, if necessary, and the bowl; remove and set it aside. Disconnect the bowl from the floor hold-down bolts, plug the drain hole with a rag to prevent backup of sewer gases, then lift the bowl straight up to remove it. Inspect the uncovered drain and clear it if necessary. Check the floor and if any has been rotted, rebuild it before installing the new toilet.

On the water outlet opening on the bottom of the new bowl, install a new sealer ring using toilet bowl setting compound around the base edge of the bowl. Remove the drain plug and place the new toilet bowl down over the flange while guiding the bolts. Press down to seat the wax ring and make sure the bowl is level. Tighten the bolts, reattach the tank, and reconnect the water supply after ensuring that the ballcock assembly is attached correctly.

Toilet In Need Of Repair?

Would anyone argue that the toilet is probably the most important plumbing fixture in your home? It is important because it receives the most traffic and performs a job for which we cannot do without, at least, not without great inconvenience. Although made to be sturdy and reliable, we’ve all had our momentary struggles with this piece of plumbing marvel and, whether it be a clog, continuously running water, or tank noises, there inevitably comes a time when home toilet repair is attempted.

Toilet repairs can vary in complexity, from replacing the seat to clearing a clog, or from fixing tank noises to a ballcock assembly. Once a person has a basic understanding of the working parts inside the toilet tank, most problems are resolved fairly easily. Similar to other trades, it is important to first diagnose the problem in order to ascertain the possible causes; to which, you can then implement the solution. Most problems relative to the tank or the correct flushing and filling of water, can be resolved by a slight adjustment of the float ball or rod, replacing washers and sometimes the ballcock assembly.

For more complicated main line clogs, repairs or replacement of the bowl, tank, or entire fixture, it is always preferable to contact your local plumbing professional. Even if attempting a minor do-it-yourself adjustment to the ballcock assembly, you may want to check with your plumbing contractor to ensure that the procedure you are about to do is the correct solution to the problem you are wanting to address. Compared to a clogged toilet, strange noises or continuously running water in your tank are not just annoying but costly in the amount of wasted water.  Therefore, make sure that your toilet system is functioning properly in all aspects.

Moving or Replacing a Toilet During a Remodel Can Create Problems

Bathrooms are one area of the home that frequently get remodeled. Sometimes the bathroom remodeling may include replacing the old toilet with a new one. Even if that is not the case, generally the toilet may need to moved out of the bathroom in order for the flooring to be replaced and wall finishes completed behind it. In either scenario, it is important to understand what can go wrong if you should happen to try and undertake this task yourself.

Not having the water supply shutoff to the toilet is a simple mistake that can have big consequences when removing a toilet. Make sure this is your number one priority.

One of the other problems homeowners can run into when removing a toilet from its seating can be rusted bolts. This can especially be a problem in older homes where the toilet has not been moved or replaced for many years. In attempting to remove the rusted bolts, one must also be cautious not to crack the porcelain if there are plans to reuse the toilet.

Once the toilet is removed, the flooring should also be examined for water damage. Leaky toilets can cause damage that deteriorates the subfloor beneath it. If this has happened, it will be important to replace the damaged subfloor before reinstalling a toilet in the bathroom.

The other problems that can occur during this process are during the installation of the new or former toilet. A wax seal needs to be installed before seating the toilet in place. Forgetting this simple step or doing it incorrectly can result in a leaky toilet. Tightening the bolts too tight when installing the toilet is problem you want to avoid. Over tightening could potentially crack the toilet’s base.

The safest way to avoid all these problems is to hire a professional plumber to both remove and install your toilet for you.

Common Plumbing Problems in Older Homes

If you buy an older home it’s almost a given that you will run into some plumbing problems. The first 12 months you own the home are when the majority of these situations will occur. Some things you will be able to remedy on your own and some will require the services of a licensed and insured professional plumber.

Older plumbing brings with it a special set of concerns that often are beyond the skill-set and experience of the the average handyman. Special tools may be needed that you won’t find anymore in a hardware store.

There are some things to look out for that will allow you to identify some existing situations and others that are likely to occur unless they are dealt with now. Below are a few tell-tale markers to look out for.

  • Hot Water Heater – The hot water heater is one of those appliances that can quit suddenly, particularly models that are more than 10 years old (the first four digits of the serial number will tell you the month and year of manufacture). If you have to replace one, make sure the new water heater has sufficient capacity and a good energy rating.
  • Tubs and Showers – Loose, chipped caulking and broken tiles can allow water to seep behind and underneath, damaging floors and walls.
  • Water Pressure – Low water pressure can indicate cracked supply lines or calcification in the lines.
  • Toilets – Staining at the base can point to a variety of problems. Dark stains are often indicative of mold and light or whitish stains can result from moisture seepage. Toilets and sub-floors may need to be repaired or replaced.

Your friendly neighborhood plumber will be happy to help you adjust to your vintage domicile and you’d be surprised at some of the arcane tools and supplies he keeps in his magic toolbox.

Shopping For a New Toilet

Whether you are remodeling your bathroom, installing a bathroom in a new home or addition, or replacing your old toilet with a water efficient low flow toilet, here are a few things to take into consideration while shopping for your new toilet.

First, measure the area where the toilet is to be placed to make sure that the new toilet will fit.  Toilets come in different sizes and you can avoid a return trip to the store by measuring carefully before you start shopping.

Measure from the wall behind the toilet to the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor.  Then, make sure that the distance from the back of the tank to the bolts on the toilet you are considering is less than this measurement.  In a tight space, you may also want to measure the side to side distance to make sure there is enough clearance.

You will need to choose between a one piece toilet or a two piece toilet. With a one piece toilet, the tank and bowl are combined into a single unit.  There is no connection between the tank and bowl to leak and these toilets have a sleek, modern appearance.  Two piece toilets have a separate tank and bowl.  They have a traditional appearance and are a little easier to install since each piece weighs less.

You can also choose between a round bowl which saves a little space and an elongated, oval shaped bowl that are a little more comfortable.  Toilets are sold in a variety of colors, but white is by far the most common.  You may be able to find what you are looking for in bone, but most other colors will most likely need to be special ordered.

Considering that most toilets will be used regularly for many years, professional toilet installation by a good local plumber who handles bathroom plumbing repairs is well worth the modest cost.  A poorly installed toilet can leak and cause damage to your bathroom floor.