Any urban area where people are going to be for more than a few minutes, there are going to be toilets. Home, work, businesses – a toilet is an essential fixture. Many places, including homes, have more than one.
Most of us have had to deal with the problems that occur when a toilet doesn’t work, including the nasty experience of an overflowing, clogged toilet. That particular problem is common enough that the majority of people know how to perform their own minor toilet repair at home with a plunger and some hard work to get everything flowing again. But sometimes, there are more unusual problems. Some of them are as easy to fix as most clogs, while others will truly need a qualified plumber to fix.
The Clog
The plunger that exists near a good many toilets around the world is also known in some places as “the plumber’s friend”. There’s very good reason for that nickname. In many cases, there is absolutely nothing quicker and better for getting that blockage out of the drain. Just make sure there’s enough water in the tank to cover the cup of the plunger, seal up the hole, and work the plunger handle up and down. It make take a little effort, but chances are good that whatever is in the way will be dislodged enough to continue its intended journey.
Every once in a while, there are some stubborn clogs that are difficult to remove. This might require the use of a tool you may not have, such as an auger, to insert directly into the pipe. Others may be so bad as to require the toilet itself to be unattached and turned over to remove the clog. Clearly, in these cases a qualified plumber is often the best course of action, unless you feel really comfortable doing it yourself.
The Cistern
Problems inside the cistern, rather than the bowl of the toilet don’t even seem so bad, since they often don’t result in water overflowing. The problem is often nothing more obvious than the sound of continually running water. But that problem can be far more costly, because of the many litres of water lost over time.
Most of these problems all relate to the water level inside the cistern, and a simple adjustment of the parts inside can fix it. Sometimes the lever that lifts the tank ball erodes and must be replaced. Or one of the parts is out of alignment, preventing the cistern from refilling after the toilet flushes. All of these are fairly easily repaired, often without need for a plumber.
It’s relatively rare for toilets to completely fail, but when they do, it’s a disaster that can’t wait. If it’s beyond your ability, do not hesitate to call a good plumber before the problem gets even worse.