Investigating 4 Strange Toilet Problems

Toilet problems are not just a nuisance for everyone in your home - some of them will leave you scratching your head. When you have a toilet plumbing issue that seems unique, rest assured that someone else has likely dealt with it before. You can never be too prepared, though, so learn some useful information about a few of these less common conundrums.

1. Strange Noises

If your toilet suddenly starts making noises that are out of the ordinary, this is often a sure sign that something has changed. Homeowners often complain about a continuous running water sound, which normally means that the toilet runs constantly. The cause could be a worn flapper valve inside the toilet tank or a faulty float switch that fails to stop the toilet from filling.

A gurgling noise, often accompanied by bubbles in the bowl or tank, is another common toilet noise complaint. Clogs in the sewer drain line or sewer vent can both cause gurgling and air bubbles in your toilet. Plumbers can remove clogs in the sewer vent and sewer drain line, including severe clogs such as those from tree root invasion.

2. Falling Seat

If you can't leave your toilet seat up without it falling and making a loud bang, you have a few options to solve this problem. The first thing to check is whether the toilet seat was installed too far back. Unscrew the toilet lid and pull the seat as far forward as you can before tightening the screws again. This can let the toilet seat rest on the tank at more of an angle so it does not fall on its own.

Your toilet seat may also fall because the toilet itself is not level. This is especially likely if you notice that the toilet rocks or feels loose when you sit on it. If the toilet does not leak, you probably do not have any damage in the wax seal around the base. In this case, you may be able to perform a quick fix by installing wedges around the base of the toilet.

3. Phantom Flushing

A toilet that flushes on its own can be quite alarming, but you will be glad to know that there are other ways this can happen aside from someone pressing the lever. A worn flapper valve could once again be to blame, or the flapper chain could be too short. Pressure from the water filling the tank could knock these components loose and cause a flush cycle if they do not fit perfectly.

4. Sweating Tank

Tank sweating is another term for condensation that builds up on the sides of a toilet tank. Since your toilet tanks are full of water, they are often significantly cooler than the air around them. In warm, humid climates, toilet tanks can collect generous amounts of condensation that eventually drip to the floor around them. This can lead to rotting and mold growth in the floor around your toilets.

Toilet tank sweating has several solutions. You can buy insulation wraps for your toilet tanks, or you can install anti-sweat valves that add warm water to the tanks. When you need to upgrade your toilets, consider low-flow toilets. Low-flow toilets hold less water in the tank, so they may not get cool enough to create condensation in your home.

Toilets are fairly simple devices, and problems are relatively rare, so the more interesting toilet problems can easily catch you off-guard. If you need repair and maintenance for your toilets or any other part of your plumbing, call Art Douglas Plumbing Inc for friendly and professional service!