Toilet Bowl Repair

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Table of Contents (click on the sub-topic to get to the section you want)

• Fixing Common Toilet Bowl Issues
• Why Does My Toilet Bowl Choke So Often?
• When Should You Replace Your Toilet Bowl?
• Case study
• FAQs

Fixing Common Toilet Bowl Issues

Whether in residential or commercial areas, plumbing issues are bound to arise when not treated carefully. Things such as a leaking toilet bowl and a choked toilet bowl are some of the common toilet bowl issues. Most of these issues are comparatively simple to solve and any homeowner and business owner can do the plumbing work. Let’s take a look at the common toilet bowl issues and how you can fix them. 

1. Large Volume Flush 

Large-volume flushing happens when the water level in the water tank is set too high, causing the toilet to flush twice to release the over-capacity water.  

You may want to lower the water inlet amount from the supply valve, which is found usually on the side or back of the toilet bowl. However, this is only a temporary fix to your toilet bowl issue. If it happens even after adjusting the valve, you may want to consider engaging a plumber to examine the toilet bowl parts. 

2. Partial Flush 

On the other hand, if the flush is too weak such that it seems like a partial flush, it may be caused by the flapper valve dropping too quickly due to waterlogging. This is another common residential plumbing emergency.   

Observe the valve while flushing. The flapper needs to stay up, until around 80% or more amount of water happens to have drained from your toilet tank. If it is observed to drop too fast, a new replacement flapper is needed for the toilet flush system. 

3. Toilet Bowl Choke 

A clear sign of a clogged toilet bowl is when water accumulates in your bowl and drains slowly. Your toilet might be experiencing a partial toilet bowl choke, or there could be a real clog downstream from your toilet. Neither of them are an ideal scenario to happen in your home or office.  

Try pouring a bucket full of water into the toilet, with as little splashing as possible. If the water passes through easily, then it may not be a clog. You may try these other methods of unclogging a clogged toilet, but if it seems impossible on your end, it is recommended to seek a plumbing contractor for help.   

4. Slow Tank Fill 

This issue could arise from a shut-off valve present beneath the tank and is partly closed. It is a result of a restricted water flow into the tank that might be caused by the previous owner or the plumber previously engaged.  

When the shut-off valve is not affixed at the current position, you could adjust the switch to enable increase to the output flow. If it is permanently affixed, depending on the type of establishment that you need assistance for, you need a HDB plumber or a commercial plumber to assist you on the issue. 

5. Toilet Bowl Leak 

A few factors that may have caused this include a wear-and-tear of the wax/rubber ring between the toilet base and the drainage pipe, or it might be from the water supply, or even condensation.  

You may want to check if the leaking comes from the pan collar at the base of the toilet bowl,  or the supply line from the toilet tank. Drop a few drops of food colouring into the toilet bowl flush tank. If you see the colour appear in the toilet bowl, the leak is from the tank. Here are some other ways you can detect water leaks. In any case, your toilet leaking is not a good sign and you should engage a professional plumber for this. 

Now that you know what are the various toilet bowl issues, you are better prepared to identify them when it arises. If left untreated, it could lead to flooding and causing a sewage mess in your toilet. Call a plumber immediately to resolve the issue. For other toilet related issues such as shower services, you may also contact Everyworks Plumber Singapore. 

Why Does My Toilet Bowl Choke So Often?

A toilet is a bathroom fixture that is often used at home, so clogs in the toilet bowl can cause extreme inconvenience to the entire family. A toilet clog, also known as toilet bowl choke, is when there is a foreign matter stuck or some complications in the drainage system, causing the toilet difficulties in flushing. Sometimes this may even lead to an backflow of sewage water, flooding the bathroom with sewage waste. This is never ideal.

If you have a toilet at home that clogs often, you will have to understand the causes in order to prevent blockages in the future. Read on and know why toilet bowl choke occurs so often.

Causes of Frequent Toilet Bowl Chokes

Toilet bowl chokes are one of the most common plumbing emergencies a plumber gets called in for. Most people would be annoyed, even frustrated, when they encounter the inconvenience of a toilet bowl choke. Most of the time, you can tell a toilet bowl choke is imminent from other signs of common toilet bowl issues. If you find that some plunging of the toilet bowl only temporarily clears the clogged toilet, it is time to find out why your toilet bowl chokes so often, find the root cause and rectify it.

Some of the causes of clogged toilet in most Singapore home include:

1. Toilet Paper or Kitchen Paper Towel Papers

Toilet bowl choke by toilet paper usually occurs when a large volume of toilet paper is being flushed down at once. If a bulk volume of toilet paper needs to be flushed, be sure to flush in intervals to prevent a toilet bowl choke. Even though kitchen paper towels seem to be made of the same material as toilet paper, do not flush these down the toilet as they are made more impotent to dissolve into pulpy matter like toilet paper.

2. Foreign items

The toilet in your Singapore home is designed for disposal of human wastes and toilet paper only! Other foreign items like diapers, baby wipes, paper towels, tampons, sanitary pads, and so forth, can cause a toilet clog if disposed using your toilet, as they do not dissolve.

3. Waste Accumulation

Solid waste can accumulate and cause a blockage, especially when it is dry and in huge amount, which will obstruct the normal flow of subsequent wastes. When the drainage pipe become obstructed, this will develop into a toilet bowl choke. As a general rule of thumb, if there is a large volume of waste that needs to be flushed, be sure to do it in intervals, so that each volume becomes manageable.

4. Trees or Plants.. or Animals

Trees, plants or small animals can obstruct the pipes if the pipes are laid underground. It is possible that trees or plants can find their way into the pipes due to its natural instincts to seek out water sources. In Singapore, pipe obstruction by trees or plants occur more frequently for landed property owners. In some cases, we have also found small rats or cockroaches which died and accumulated in the pan collar, resulting in a toilet bowl choke.

5. Weak flush

A weak flush can also cause a toilet bowl choke to happen due to its inability to flush down solid wastes. When you notice a weak water pressure, it is time to replace your toilet flush system that provides you with a much stronger flush.

6. Old toilet

If your toilet is very old (lifespan is usually 20 -30 years old), it probably lacks the pressure that is required for clearing the trap and flushing it efficiently. This can lead to clogs frequently when there is low water pressure for a proper flush. If you are experiencing a low flush pressure, or if the toilet is showing signs of common toilet bowl issues, it is advised to get your toilet bowl replaced.

7. Blocked plumbing vent

Toilets used today have roof vents for directing fresh air into the plumbing system, and increase flushing pressure. Such vents, over time, may be clogged with outdoor debris like animal nests, sticks, leaves etc, which is one of the most common residential emergencies in Singapore. When the toilet vent is blocked, it can lower the pressure of flushing and result in toilet clogs regularly. One of the best clogged toilet solutions is to get a hire a plumber to clear the vents. It can be tough to detect blockages in sensitive plumbing, and you need special tools for removal.

8. Sewer line problems

Generally, regular clogging of the drains and toilets occur due to problems in the sewer pipe. Clogged toilets usually are a result of over-accumulation of human waste together with non-flushable items and toilet paper. It is also possible that the sewer lines be punctured by tree roots, allowing the entry of sediment etc that can act as debris. Problems in sewer line can result in issues in your home as well as outside, and also ruin your family’s health. With a professional plumber, you can unclog a toilet bowl choke easily.

When to Replace Your Toilet Bowl?

Ever had a toilet bowl issue and thought of getting a toilet bowl replacement or repair? Cases may vary depending on the severity of the toilet bowl problem. If the toilet bowl seems to need constant repairs or displaying signs of wear and tear, it is recommended to get it replaced by a plumber immediately. Here are some signs of when you need to replace your toilet bowl: 

Constant clogging 

A clogged toilet is a problem that no one likes to deal with. Recurring or random clogs are a common problem among many households. Some clogs may appear at odd times and you can clear it sufficiently, but the toilet bowl chokes soon becomes a weekly affair. When that happens, it is probably a better idea to have your toilet replaced. You can look for a water-saving model with an efficient commode and a low-flush toilet when you change your toilet bowl in Singapore. 

Cracks 

When you find water puddles around the toilet, check if the porcelain has developed cracks. Although your toilet could be operating well, you can waste plenty of water with a leaky toilet bowl. On top of an increased water bill, another thing that most people do not know about water leaks is their flooring getting damaged. This can lead to the growth of mildew or mould. In such cases, you should engage a professional plumber to install a new toilet bowl for you.  

Frequent need for repairs 

If your toilet bowl is constantly acting up, you might want to hire a plumbing specialist to inspect on the issue. The specialist will then decide on the necessary repair works and if need be, a replacement. It is unnatural to have constant toilet bowl repairs and chances are it may be too faulty to repair. 

Improper flushing 

Are your water bills rising? It could be due to an improper toilet flush system. An average toilet consumes 3 – 5 gallons of water during every flush, whereas only 2 gallons are used up by a low-flush toilet in each flush. Perhaps, it is time to switch up to a low-flush toilet bowl to reduce water usage and be environmentally friendly.  

When you notice unusual things happening with your toilet bowl, call Everyworks Plumber Singapore to assist you. Do not wait it out and think that it is normal for leaks to happen or for cracks to appear. Flooding could only bring further damage to your home and pay more for repairs. While at it, you may also want to check out our shower services if anything needs to be repaired or replaced too. 

Case Study

• Fix Leaking Toilet Bowl Replace Pan Collar Reseal Toilet bowl Plumber Singapore – HDB Ang Mo Kio