7 Signs of Toilet Troubles

Many people take their toilets for granted, but you should be aware of the problems that could make any of the toilets in your home unusable if the issues aren't addressed. Some signs of a failing toilet are obvious, but others are sometimes more difficult to notice and eventually become bigger problems more gradually.

By learning how to recognize these signs of toilet troubles, you can take swifter action to get the problems fixed by plumbing professionals who have all the right tools and knowledge to do the work.

1. Running Toilet

It's expected that a toilet will run as it refills itself with water after being flushed, but running for longer periods than normal or running when the toilet hasn't just been flushed usually indicates a problem. The issue could be caused by a valve, flapper, or pipe that should be fixed or replaced. Your toilet may also need more complex repairs or adjustments that should be handled by a plumbing professional.

2. Bubbling Toilet

When you flush your toilet, it's natural to see air bubbles in the water. However, your toilet could have a clog somewhere in the drain line that's causing bubbles to rise in the water even when you haven't flushed the toilet. Your toilet could also be bubbling if its ventilation system isn't venting properly, and a plumber can inspect this system and other plumbing components to identify the exact cause.

3. Phantom Flushing

Your toilet might suddenly flush on its own, which often indicates a water leak inside the toilet because of a faulty flapper. If replacing the flapper doesn't stop the phantom flushing, there could be a crack in the toilet or some other issue that's causing an external leak. If an external leak is the cause of the phantom flushing, the toilet may need to be replaced.

4. Incomplete Flushing

If your toilet doesn't flush all the contents inside the bowl completely, a simple flapper replacement may resolve the issue. There might also be a clog somewhere in your toilet's system that needs to be removed for the toilet to flush sufficiently. The problem could also be related to a more serious issue, such as a faulty or blocked drain vent, which should be addressed by a professional. 

5. Rocking Toilet

A toilet that rocks back and forth or from side to side when you're sitting and repositioning yourself on it could have loose bolts on the bottom that need tightening. However, you should definitely call a plumber if you notice water leaking from the bottom of your toilet as it rocks, as this often means that the toilet must be removed to replace the wax ring.

6. Repeated Blockage

A clogged toilet is often a simple fix, but there could be more serious problems that are blocking your toilet's water flow repeatedly. Paper towels, hygiene products, and other foreign objects that get flushed down a toilet could block a pipe and require manual removal by a plumber. Toilet traps and plumbing vents could also be obstructed, causing frequent toilet blockages. 

7. High Water Bill

Leaking toilets often result in higher water bills, and the problem might go unnoticed at first if a toilet leak isn't obvious. A good way to find out if your toilet might be leaking is by checking the water meter over a two-hour period when you aren't using water to see if the meter increases. By making the investment into getting your toilet fixed, you'll save a lot of money in the long run.

Whether you have one or more toilets in your home that are giving you problems, you can address the issues the easy way by hiring the right plumbing professionals. Contact STREAMLINE PLUMBING AZ whenever you need plumbing service, and we’ll handle any plumbing job with quality and expertise.