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How to Prepare for a Miami Bathroom Remodeling

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Bathroom Remodelling Miami

Bathroom Remodelling Miami

All About Bathroom Remodeling Miami

Having your bathroom remodelled is not an easy project. With all the planning, budgeting and designs it can be really stressful. However, there are things that you can do in order to make this task easier. So, get rid of your boring and untidy bathroom and have your Bathroom Remodelling Miami properly planned.

Having a neat and well-designed bathroom can add value to your home and this can absolutely give a great impression to your visitors as well. Above all, the main reason for renovating your bathroom is not only to beautify it, but to make it accessible, safe and durable for long-lasting usage. In this way, you are not forced to spend for repairs due to damages and errors anytime soon.

Planning Your Bathroom Remodeling in Miami

  • Set a budget for your dream bathroom and remember, you must be ready for contingencies. Be ready for extra expenses that may come along the way just in case. It’s always better to have more in store than to come in short and that will always benefit you in the end.
  • Be realistic and synchronize what you want (design) to your set budget. No contractor would accept a job that would not suit for the given budget. That won’t be feasible and that is a fact.
  • More often than not, people or customers like you know already what they want. So, as much as possible work with your contractor and be on top of everything if you want to monitor the fixtures and supplies that will be provided.
  • Most importantly, you have to bear in mind to get a hold of and hire a reputable Miami plumbing company that will be able to deliver all that you will need to accomplish the bathroom that you have been longing to.

Things to Consider Before Hiring a Contractor for Your Miami Bathroom Remodeling

  • Be sure that your contractors will come from a distinguished plumbing company to assure that quality supplies and services will be rendered to you. That way, you won’t have to worry about getting ripped-off.
  • Check the company’s background by asking around of if the company was referred to you that’ll be much better. Check their website and browse through their history and check also their testimonial page to see customer’s comments.
  • Ask if they have any special discounts or promos that you can avail upon hiring them. Always seek for benefits like these because most companies offer to strengthen their marketing scheme.
  • Tell them everything that you wish to have and ask if they are capable of handling the job very well. Ask for the timeframe, because you would like to know how long your bathroom construction will take.
  • Ask for warranties for the supplies and service. Are they willing to retake the task free of charge in case something goes wrong? Will they be supplying the materials for free if anything breaks easily?
  • Above all, be sure that everything that you have talked about and agreed on is written black and white. Your must have a copy of your job order or contract as well.

To put you at ease and to make your job easier, contact only Douglass Orr Plumbing. We have been in the service for over 37 years from residential to commercial customers. We have highly trained plumbing contractors that are back by high-end equipment and gadgets to make their jobs easier. Contact us and have your Bathroom Remodelling Miami Service now!

How to Prevent or Stop an Overflowing Toilet

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All About a Clogged Toilet

Unclogging a Toilet

Unclogging a Toilet

  • Clogged toilet bowls can really be a pain in the neck especially when you are busy with your everyday life catching up at work, paying your bills and taking care of your children. It may sound lame but come to think of it, this can be a huge factor to add more stress in your life. Not only that it will waste your time unclogging a toilet using the conventional tools such as clogged drain chemicals and a plunger but the mess that this will cause you when it overflows will really exhaust you.
  • Maintaining a toilet is plain and easy. You just have to take some things into consideration and avoid nasty habits to be able to preserve and take good care of your toilet. In that case you won’t have to go through the hassles of cleaning overflowing water coming from your toilet bowl.

Guidelines to Avoid Clogging Your Toilet Bowls

  • The very first thing that you have to remember and practice is to never, ever throw anything down the toilet that will block your drains such as toilet paper, plastic wrappers, cigarette butts, latex rubbers, cottons and A LOT more!
  • Be sure to clean your bowls regularly with toilet liquid detergent and disinfectant together with toilet scrubs, brushes and be sure that you do this task with rubber hand gloves to protect you from harmful bacteria and germs.
  • Apply if necessary, a cleaning and freshening tablet that you can plunge in the toilet tank so that each time you flush your toilet this will automatically discharge a disinfectant solution that will freshen the water and will come out with fragrance.
  • Also, a lot of people are disregarding this but you really ought to clean your septic tank by hiring a professional at least every eight to ten years or depending on usage and the number of family members. Neglecting this can be a contributing factor to thicken and harden the scum that can block your drain pipes and above all, this is where the entire nasty odor will come from.

What to Do With Your Overflowing Toilet

This time it cannot be avoided but all that is left is to call a professional Miami Plumber to deal with this problem. Sometimes unclogging blocked toilet drains can be dealt with plungers and constant pouring of water from the pail but more often this can only be done by an experienced plumbing crew.

So to avoid this kind of plumbing problem, contact only Douglas Orr Plumbing. Backed by 37 years of plumbing experience and aided with top of the line tools and equipment, they can definitely deliver their jobs well. Visit their website at www.OrrPlumbing.com to know more about unclog toilet services!

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Uncover the Best Way to Unclog a Toilet in your Miami Home

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Best Way to Unclog a Toilet

Best Way to Unclog a Toilet

Best Way to Unclog a Toilet

Sad to say, a blocked toilet bowl can be a pain in the neck that happens oftentimes in lots of residential house holds. Thankfully, eliminating a clogged restroom along with a flanged plunger is certainly one plumbing project that pretty much just about every DIY handy-man can easily carry out. In spite of this, there are different options to unclog your bathroom and drains. So continue reading and understand the Best Way to Unclog a Toilet in your Miami Home!

Nearly all toilet clogs are because of foreign objects caught up in the toilet trap rather than in the drain pipe. This could vary, from a person by mistakenly using excessive toilet paper or maybe other plastic-type components being thrown straight into the toilet bowl. In extreme situations for example, the kids flushing something like a tennis ball down the drainage.

Is Your Toilet Clogged? Let us discuss the Supplies Needed

  • Flanged rubberized plunger – this kind of plunger includes a flange to the end. It’s intended specifically to fit bathroom drain pipe outlets.
  • Rubber safety gloves – make no mistakes because we’re handling waste debris, which makes this a dirty project.

Guidelines to Eliminate Your Toilet Problems

  • Put on your plastic gloves to shield your self away from the waste water.
  • Verify the water level in the toilet, by sticking in the plunger and ensuring that there is adequate water to cover 50 % of the flange. Don’t forget, the plunger flange certainly is the part on the end, which is made to fit into the drain outlet. If there is not adequate water to conceal the flange half way, add some.
  • Place the flange straight over the drain pipe outlet and push all the way down, that could produce a seal.
  • Quickly and continually shift the plunger down and up and be cautious not to slosh the water out of the bowl. If the water starts to drain, then you have effectively unclogged the bathroom .

An effective way to get started on removing a congested toilet is with a flanged plunger. If you have tried out the previously mentioned way, and the clog refuses to shift. It could be sensible to move into a much more powerful air operated plunger. Last but not least if the air aided plunger does not work out, use an auger, before you call a professional plumber.

For additional intricate projects contact only Douglas Orr Plumbing for your plumbing needs. These folks are equipped with top of the line apparatus and high-end electronics for making their tasks accurate and consistent. Backed by over 35 years of plumbing experience, they take great pride in themselves in standing behind their task and being trustworthy. You  can even call their 24/7 emergency hotline and rest-assured they’ll be right at your door step right away. We hope that we have provided you significant and useful information on the Best Way to Unclog a Toilet!

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Find Out How to Fix a Leaking Faucet in Your Miami Dade Home

How to Fix a Leaking Faucet

How to Fix a Leaking Faucet

How to Fix a Leaking Faucet

You’re about to learn how to fix a leaking faucet in your Miami Dade kitchen and in your bathroom. Whether the faucet is leaking at the handle or just not shutting off, the solution is the same, replace the cartridge. As a bonus, this also works with many bathroom faucets too.

There are a lot faucets that use a “cartridge” instead of “old fashioned” washers. This means that all the “working parts” are rolled into one simple cartridge. So if the faucet won’t shut off, or is leaking around the handle, the first thing to check is the cartridge. That is the most common type of most kitchen faucet repair.

How to Fix a Dripping Faucet Like a Pro

There are a couple of things you want to do when replacing a cartridge. First, make sure the water is turned off to the faucet. You can usually turn the water off right under the sink in the cabinet. After you’ve turned the valves off just try the faucet to make sure it’s off, otherwise you might find yourself in a scene from a sitcom…with water hitting the ceiling.

Then just start taking the handle off, paying attention to how everything is put together. When you get everything removed down to the cartridge, remove the little horseshoe shaped clip and pull the cartridge out. You may have to use a little force if it has any age on it. Actually, all new cartridges come with a little plastic tool that can help remove the old one. Just use the tool to spin the cartridge in the brass valve body so it will be easier to pull out.

The one thing to watch out for when installing the new cartridge is to make sure you install it with the little notch on the end of the stem in the same direction as the old one. When you see the cartridge this will make sense. This will make sure that the hot and cold are not reversed. If you aren’t sure what I mean don’t worry, once you get the water back on you can fix it easily if it’s reversed.

When you get the new cartridge pushed in place, make sure the little tabs on top are lined up so the horseshoe clip will go back in place. This is very important because that little clip is all that keeps the faucet from becoming a fountain.

Fixing Leaky Faucets Have Never Been Easier

Now, with the cartridge and clip in place, but before you put everything else back together, turn the water back on. Pull the brass stem in the center up to open the faucet and then twist to go from cold to hot. Visualize which way the stem will need to turn once the handle is installed to get hot water and make sure it’s correct. If not, turn the center stem 180 degrees and that should fix it. Just as a reference, from center most kitchen faucets will turn 90 degrees clockwise to get hot water.

Now that you’ve checked out the hot and cold directions and fixed it if needed, put everything else back in the order it came off. Make sure it all works when you’re finished and, if so, give yourself a pat on the back. You now know how to fix a leaky faucet.

However, if you want the most experienced and professional plumbing service that is hassle free, contact Douglass Orr Plumbing or browse through their website at www.OrrPlumbing.com and discover how these guys work. Backed by 35 years of  plumbing experience with thoroughness, aided with high end equipment so they can guarantee quality service that will absolutely top other Plumbing Services. So Just contact them and they will surely find a solution to your problem if you don’t know how to fix a leaking faucet.

Where to Find Water Leaks In Your Fort Lauderdale Home

Do you know how to check for water leaks in your Fort Lauderdale home? Doing so can help conserve water and save money. Finding major leaks is easy to do however, there are leaks that are hard to find. These are usually small but cannot be ignored because it still has a significant impact on your water bill.

How to Check for Water Leaks

How to Check for Water Leaks

How to Check for Water Leaks

Water leaks will not only cost you money but it can also bring major damages to your home. It can weaken your wood works and promote mold build up. It is not good to ignore these leaks. It is a waste of a lot of resources, not to mention its overall effect in our mother nature. That is why everyone is encouraged to do whatever they can to make sure that water is not being wasted.

Where to Search for Water Leaks

Water meter. The water distribution at home is metered for billing purposes. If you notice a significant change on your regular water bill and there is no additional person or water consumption in your household, it is time to check for water leaks.

You can do this simple water leak check by turning off all water faucets in the house including water connection on appliances. Make sure that no one is going to use it for awhile. Check the reading and take note on the paper for reference later and observe. If the hand or the small wheel of the meter is still spinning, you can conclude that there is probably a leak somewhere. But if the actual meter hand is moving, there is water running or major leakage somewhere in the water line. However if the hand is not moving, wait and read the meter again after 10 minutes or more. If the meter has moved, there is a minor leak.

If there is a leak, turn-off the water line valve. This is usually located behind or close to the meter box. Turn on a faucet near the meter to test. If the water comes out of the faucet despite the valve being shut-off then your valve is defective. Ideally, if the water valve is already shut-off there shouldn’t be any water that will come out of the faucet when you turn it on. Now, the water valve is shut off and there are no faucets that are turned on. Under this condition check again the meter’s hand if it is moving or not. If it is, there is water leakage between the meter and the shut off valve. If not, the leak may be somewhere inside the house. Thoroughly check the toilets, faucets, washing machine, water tanks and others.

Check Your Toilets and Dishwashers for Leakages

Toilets. Toilet leaks are often ignored especially on the pipe behind the toilet sink that has unnoticeable slow dripping. Check all pipes behind the bowl and flappers on the tank for any leaks and immediately repair. It will save you a hundred gallons a day per leak.

To check leaks on the toilet, add a reasonable amount of food coloring on the water tank and wait. After 20 – 30 minutes, if the color is mixed on the water on the bowl, check the flapper and replaced with a new one.

Dishwasher. To check water leakage on your dishwasher, you will need several sheets of paper placed underneath the machine before operating it. When the machine stops, check the sheets of paper you placed underneath to see it they are wet. If so, call a maintenance person to repair the leak immediately. It is important also for you to remember that regular dishwasher uses 15 gallons on every wash load. Make sure that when you use it, the load is full.

Washing Machine. Inspect your washing machine hose and the machine itself. Same procedure with the dishwasher, place the papers underneath and do your laundry. Any sign of wet parts on the paper is a sign that there are leaks on the machine. It is also highly advisable to check the external hose for any dripping as well as any loose connection on the faucet.

Hot Water Tank. Check the pressure relief valve. This is often found on the plumbing directly near the drain. Try listening on the pipe for hissing sound. This indicates a possible leak somewhere on the pipe. Checking leakages regularly not only it saves you money on bills and house repairs but you are also helping and contributing on saving the environment.

However, if you want the most experienced and professional plumbing service that is hassle free, contact Douglass Orr Plumbing or browse through their website at www.OrrPlumbing.com and discover how these guys work. Backed by 35 years of  plumbing experience with thoroughness, aided with high end equipment so they can guarantee quality service that will absolutely top other Plumbing Services. So Just contact them and they will surely find a solution to your problem if you don’t know how to check for water leaks.

Important Tips to Clear a Clogged Drain in Your Miami Home

How to Clear a Clogged Drain

Almost every home develops a clogged drain once in a while. There can be many reasons why this happens, including tree roots, inappropriate items flushed down the toilet, food or grease in the kitchen sink drain, or soap scum and hair clogs in the bathtub and shower drains. In some cases, these clogs can be quite simple for a homeowner to remove on their own. In other cases, the services of a professional plumber may be needed. Here are some tips for you to learn how to clear a clogged drain, along with some tools that you may be needing.

How to Clear a Clogged Drain

There are several tools that can come in handy when dealing with household drain clogs. The plunger, which is often the first tool you will reach for when trying to unclog any drain. These are quite inexpensive, usually only costing between five and ten dollars. Be sure to buy a well-made and sturdy one, since a cheap flimsy plunger will not be effective. Having one plunger dedicated for the toilets in your home and another for sinks, tubs and showers is the best approach.

You can also use a manual plumber’s snake or drain auger. This tool makes it easier to dislodge clogs that are situated further down inside the drain pipe. They consist of a long flexible steel cable, which is contained in a spool mechanism. A crank is used to move the cable in and out of the drain, thus clearing the clog. These come in various lengths, but a twenty-five foot cable is usually sufficient for most home clogs.

Power Auger for Unclogging Drains

However, for really tough clogs that are located even further away from the fixture, you might need to rent a power auger. These tools work basically the same as a manual plumber’s snake, except that they are powered by an electric motor. These devices have a lot of power and can cut through many different kinds of clogs, including tree roots. However, if you feel you need a power auger to deal with your clog, you might just be better off to call a professional plumber. If you do decide to tackle the job on your own, be sure that you have the rental agent explain the proper way to use the power auger, so that you can do the job safely.

If you have a particularly difficult toilet clog that doesn’t respond to a plunger, you might need to use a closet auger. These devices are designed specifically for toilets and use a cable enclosed in a rigid shaft instead of the spool style used by standard plumber’s snakes. They are also controlled by a hand crank. The end of the auger is configured in a certain way so that it can fit properly through the toilet trap, in spite of the tight curves.

Keeping Drains Running Clear

After you get your drain running clear again, there are some regular maintenance tips you can use to keep them that way. Running very hot water down the drain for about thirty seconds once a week can do a lot to prevent clog problems. You can also pour a tablespoon of salt into the drain, followed by a quarter cup of white vinegar. Allow it to sit for about an hour then flush with hot water. Pouring a half cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a half cup of vinegar can also be effective.

However, if you want the most experienced and professional plumbing service that is hassle free, contact Douglass Orr Plumbing or browse through their website at www.OrrPlumbing.com and discover how these guys work. Backed by 35 years of  plumbing experience with thoroughness, aided with high end equipment so they can guarantee quality service that will absolutely top other Plumbing Services. So Just contact them. They will surely find a solution to your problem and you won’t have to ask How to Clear a Clogged Drain” anymore!

Learn How to Fix Toilets in Your Miami Home

How to Fix a Running Toilet

How to Fix a Running Toilet

How to Fix a Running Toilet

A running and leaky toilet can drive a person nuts, but there are ways of fixing these types of problems yourself. One way of checking to see if you have a leaky toilet is to put food dye into the tank of the toilet and wait to see if any of the colored dye appears in the bowl of the toilet. If the dye does appear in the bowl of the toilet, then yes you have a leaky toilet. So just continue reading and you’ll learn how to fix a running toilet all by yourself!

A running toilet is easy to decipher, as it just seems to run non stop, unless you go and rattle the handle of the toilet. One of the causes of a running toilet is a flapper that does not seal properly. Many hardware stores carry the parts for almost every repair.

Repair Toilet Tip : How to Replace a Toilet Flapper

To replace a flapper, first shut off the water supply valve under the toilet, or the main supply if the valve leaks. Then flush the toilet to drain most of the water out of the toilet and unhook the old flapper. Be sure to take the old flapper with you, so you purchase the correct one when shopping. Follow the instructions that come with the new flapper, and hook the flapper chain onto the flusher lever arm, so that there is a little slack when the flapper is closed.

If the flapper does not leak, and the water still runs when you flush the toilet, then you need to inspect the fill tube connected to the overflow pipe. The end should be above the water line, if it is under the water line, cut it back.

Fix Broken Toilet Tip: Check For Leaks

Next, you should inspect the fill valve for visible signs of wear and test the float. If the float is improperly adjusted, the tank water level can rise above the overflow pipe and drain into it. Replace the old fill valve, if it does not completely shut off, or if it hampers the float arm operation.

Install the new float cup, according to the instructions on the package. Adjust the float to establish the proper water level, and finish the installation by attaching the flapper chain to the flush lever as described above. Turn on the water and flush the toilet to ensure it is running properly. These are the things that you have to take note of when fixing your running toilet.

However, for guaranteed quality of work and materials contact only Douglas Orr Plumbing The number one Plumbing company that you can find in Miami. Over 35 years of plumbing experience, they take pride in being honest and standing by their work. Backed by high-end equipment and state of the art gadgets to make their jobs accurate and consistent. Best of all, you can even call their 24/7 hotline for your plumbing emergencies. We hope that we were able to help and teach you some good tips on how to fix a running toilet.

Tips on How to Fix a Clogged Drain in Miami

How to Fix a Clogged Drain

How to Fix a Clogged Drain

How to Fix a Clogged Drain

It may seem like your kitchen and bathroom drains get clogged on a regular basis. Professional plumbing companies offer a complete variety of services and will repair your clogged drains at your home or office, but many recommend some green ways to keep your drains open, without using powerful industrial chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. These products may contain lye or acid, and can be dangerous to the wastewater system, your PVC pipes, as well as your health. By reading through this article you will learn many simple ways on how to fix a clogged drain.

You may want to use a more natural approach to keep your drains from getting clogged. Some health food stores carry bacteria based enzyme cleaners. Pouring a cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by about 3 cups of boiling water may also work, as long as water has not yet backed up in your drain. The chemical composition of the baking soda is changed by the boiling water, making it more alkaline.

Fix Clogged Floor Drain in Your Tub

If the water is not draining from your sink or bathtub, pour a cup of washing soda down the drain and let it set there for awhile to work its way down to where the clog is. Washing soda is more alkaline than baking soda, so be careful using it if you have already used a commercial drain cleaner, which will tend to be very acidic. This will result in the two chemicals reacting with each other and causing an even bigger problem. Also, washing soda can damage the plastic in your PVC pipes if you use it too often. This is another reason it may be best to call your plumbers in the first place.

Combining baking soda and vinegar, along with boiling water, will cause bubbles and fizzing that can help to unclog your drains. This method works particularly well when it is hair that is clogging the drain. Again, use caution with any of these methods.

How to Fix Clogged Kitchen Drain

If your kitchen drains are clogged, natural living enzyme culture drain cleaners will work well. These enzymes break down any organic matter that is clogging up your drains. This method also keeps your garbage disposal from emitting a strong odor in your kitchen. Enzymes do not work well on drains that are clogged by hair, so your shower, bath, and bathroom sink drains will not be cleared with this method. These types of clogs are better treated with washing soda and water.

As you can probably see, calling in a professional plumbing company as soon as you have a problem with your drains clogging up is the best way to make sure you are protecting your home and caring for your plumbing system.

However, for more serious repairs, leave it to the hands of professionals and contact only Douglas Orr Plumbing for all your plumbing needs. These guys are armed with top of the line equipment and high-end gadgets to make their jobs accurate and consistent. Backed by over 35 years of plumbing experience, they pride themselves in standing behind their work and being honest. These basic principles have allowed them to grow into one of the largest and most respected plumbing companies in South Florida. You can even call their 24/7 emergency hotline and rest-assured they will be right at your door step in no time. We hope that we were able to help you in a way and answer your questions on how to fix a clogged drain.

Fixing a Leaky Pipe in Your Miami Home

How to Fix a Leaky Pipe

How to Fix a Leaky Pipe

How to Fix a Leaky Pipe

Ever wondered how to fix a leaky pipe? Water is dripping constantly from the rag that you have wrapped around the pin hole in the water pipe. Let’s see how easy it is to fix that dripping and give you peace of mind. With some of the fantastic improvements in plumbing fittings in the last few years, plumbing repair has been made very simple especially in Miami.

Many leaks are caused by just a couple of things. The pin hole in the copper pipe that is caused by pitting inside the pipe. Usually this is caused by poor water quality. The inside of the pipe flakes off to cause a hole inside the pipe that eventually gets through to the outside. These often are given away by the green spot that usually is seen on the outside of the copper pipe first. This is caused by mineral left by the water evaporating off of the surface of the pipe. So in all reality there has been a leak eversince. The other main problem is the joining of two dissimilar types of pipes. Copper and PVC or Copper and Pex are two examples. The expansion rate of the two different types of materials is very different. This causes friction and constant movement where the two meet. This movement eventually will cause enough of a gap to allow the water to leak out.

Tips to Repair Your Water Pipe System

Until recently there where many redneck fixes out there most involving garden hoses, inner tubes, hose clamps, epoxy, and many other creative fixes. I have seen way too many to describe all of them. Now there is a great way to fix the water damage with a simple push fitting. The new design of the push fitting allows for the pipe to be cut at the hole and then a coupling just pushed onto the pipe to fix the leak. The hardest part of the whole process is to get the pipe cut neatly. The same fitting can also be used to replace those pesky plastic to copper unions that always seem to give trouble. Joining different types of piping is no longer a problem.

By doing a quick search for push fitting you can find a number of different suppliers of this type of fitting. I have used a number of different ones and they all seem to work well. My preference is the brass types as they seem to be much more rugged in construction. The price of those fittings also reflects that. The most common that I have seen and used are the Sharkbite Brand. These are very good, are sold in many plumbing supply stores.

Choose the Best Plumbing Company for Your Pipe Repair

Bottom line is that it is now very easy to fix your water pipe system. You can drop by at the nearest plumbing supply and grab the materials that you need. Pick up some of these fittings and impress the wife with talents that she did not know you had. You may even get brave and do that small plumbing project that she has been begging for. Now you can use these fittings to cut into that water line to run that new outside faucet or hookup that water filter yourself. With the push type fitting plumbing has been made easy enough for anyone to be able to do it.

However, if you want the most experienced and professional plumbing service that is hassle free, contact Douglass Orr Plumbing or browse through their website at www.OrrPlumbing.com and discover how these guys work. Backed by 35 years of  plumbing experience with thoroughness, aided with high end equipment so they can guarantee quality service that will absolutely top other Plumbing Services. So Just contact them and they will surely find a solution to your problem and you won’t have to ask how to fix a leaky pipe” anymore!

DIY Toilet Repair- Fixing a Dripping Toilet

By Carson Callaway

The Dreaded Drip: Do you have a toilet that just seems to drip and drip and drip? This is one of the most common problems that home-owners run into especially in older homes. Let’s take a look at how we would solve this problem in most cases.

The Scenario: You flush the toilet, and after you hear the water running normally as the toilet refills with water. Once the tank has filled, all seems to be well. Then a few minutes later, the toilet begins to unexpectedly run. You hear water entering the toilet for a few minutes and then it once again stops. This cycle repeats at various time intervals separated by anywhere from a few minutes to hours. If this sounds like your problem keep reading and I will do my best to explain what is causing this and the easiest way to repair the problem.

This problem is usually caused by a faulty fill valve. The seal on the fill valve may have deteriorated due to the use of toilet cleaning tablets that are placed in the back water tank. These chlorine additives can cause the fill valve to corrode over time. In general there is a flexible(often plastic) tube that runs from the fill valve of the toilet overflow. When water enters the tank, water is also sent through this tube. This water goes to fill the toilet bowl after it has lost its water from being flushed. If the tube that your toilet uses is too long or it is not attached to the overflow tube properly it can siphon water from the tank.

This causes the water level in the tank to subsequently drop and once the float falls too far, the toilet will try to refill the tank and will run. So now that you know what the problem could be, how do we go about fixing it? Well in this situation there is actually an easy fix. If the tube is not connected to the overflow tube, simply connect the tube using a utility clip and make sure that it is short enough so that there is no tubing that could interfere with the fill valve.

If you observe that the tube looks too long, just disconnect it, cut a few inches off with a pair of standard scissors and then re-connect and clip.

This should solve the problem. If it doesn’t you will likely need to replace the fill valve which is of course a little more work but certainly do-able. Head to your local home-owner and pick up a new fill valve which will come with installation instructions.

Take the time to seek out the employee working in the plumbing section and ask them to give you a hand selecting the best fill valve for your toilet type. Good luck!