DO-IT-YOURSELF TOILET REPAIR

One of the most often used rooms in the house is the bathroom, and if you have problems with the toilet, it can turn into a huge problem. If it is the only bathroom in the home, you will need to acquire

some basic do-it-yourself toilet repair skills to deal with any sudden malfunction--the sooner, the better. And you needn't be reminded how messy and nauseating a malfunctioning toilet could be if not

repaired in time. Relax, you don't need to call in a professional plumber for simple toilet repair jobs, because with these do-it-yourself toilet repair steps, you could repair any feature of your toilet and

save money, too.

InstructionsTo Repair Running Toilets

Move the handle to and fro. If this doesn't work, you may need to change the handle and/or chain attached to it. However, if jiggling the handle works, simply adjust the chain.

Inspect the ballcock. This feature consists of a vacuum-sealed, plasticball fitted at the end of an attached metal arm. The ball floats on the surface of the water-filled filled toilet tank. If you notice the ballcock touching any parts inside the tank\\ or the inner side of the tank closest to it, bend the metal arm away from the area of contact as much as is necessary.

Lift the ballcock away from the surface of the water to check if this stops the water from running. Bend the metal arm slightly downward if it does. This will enable the ballcock to limit the speed of water flowing into the toilet's tank.

Ensure that the ballcock floats efficiently on the surface of the water inside the tank. If it happens to be worn or cracked, water may seep into it and cause it to sink. In this case, you will need to replace the ballcock with a new one.

Check the condition of the metal arm attached to the ballcock, as well as the handle mechanism connected both inside and outside the tank. If one or both items happen to be worn, cracked or broken, replace them with new ones.

To Unclog Toilets

Remove the toilet tank's cover. Lift the ballcock to stop the inflow of water into the tank and prevent the toilet bowl from overflowing.

Place a plunger over the mouth of the toilet bowl drain and pump it vigorously. If you notice that the blockage has loosened, flush the toilet a few times. For fixing a stubborn blockage, follow the next step.

Use a suitable length of auger (steel coil) to reach into the curved pipe of the toilet until you make contact with the debris or dirt causing the clogging. Rotate the auger in a clockwise direction until its tip has penetrated the blockage. Then pull the auger out to free the toilet of the blockage. You may need to repeat this a few times until the toilet is completely free of the blockage.

To Avoid Wet Floors

Review all connections to detect leaks, specifically, the one that connects the water supply to the tank. If the bolts that connect the toilet bowl to the tank are loose, tighten them.

Check the wax ring fitted in between the floor and the bottom of the toilet, as well as the inlet/refill valves. Replace any of these items if found faulty or worn.

See whether the toilet tank is cracked. If cracks are detected but superficial in nature, drain and dry the water tank completely. Then use a suitable sealant to repair or fill the cracks. If this doesn't work, hire a qualified plumber to install a new tank. If the toilet bowl has cracks, it is advisable to have a new one installed.

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