DIY Plumbing and Toilets: Safety is Priority 1

Some Do It Yourself Plumbing Toilet Projects

Replace a toilet flapper: A worn or damaged flapper can cause the toilet to run continuously, wasting water and driving up your water bill. Replacing a flapper is a relatively simple and inexpensive DIY project to help you save money and conserve water.
Install a new toilet fill valve: A faulty fill valve can cause the toilet to run intermittently or fail to fill up properly after a flush. Replacing a fill valve is a bit more involved than replacing a flapper, but it’s still a manageable DIY project that can help you avoid the expense of hiring a plumber.
Replace a wax ring: If you notice water leaking from the toilet’s base or a foul odor coming from the toilet, it may be time to replace the wax ring that seals the toilet to the floor. This is a more advanced DIY project that requires some plumbing knowledge, but it can save you money compared to hiring a plumber.
Install a bidet attachment: If you’re interested in upgrading your toilet to include a bidet, a variety of easy-to-install extensions can transform your existing toilet into a bidet without needing major plumbing work.
Fix a clogged toilet: A clogged toilet is a common plumbing problem that can often be resolved with a plunger or a toilet auger. While this isn’t a project you’ll necessarily want to take on as a DIY project, it’s helpful to know how to deal with a clog if it happens.

There are a few DIY tasks that you may need to do regularly to keep your toilet in good working order:

Clean the toilet bowl: Regularly cleaning the inside can help prevent stains and buildup that can cause clogs or damage to the toilet over time. You can use a toilet bowl cleaner and a brush to scrub the inside of the bowl and keep it clean.
Check the toilet flapper: As mentioned earlier, a faulty flapper can cause your toilet to run continuously and cause wastewater. It’s a good idea to periodically check the flapper to ensure it works properly and replace it if it appears worn or damaged.
Check for leaks: Leaks around the toilet base or the water supply line can waste water and cause damage to your bathroom flooring. Periodically checking for leaks and fixing them promptly can help avoid costly repairs.
Inspect the toilet tank: The inside can accumulate debris or mineral buildup over time, interfering with the toilet’s flushing mechanism. It’s a good idea to periodically remove the tank lid and inspect the inside for any signs of problems.
Test the toilet’s flushing performance: Testing the toilet’s flushing version periodically can help you catch any problems early on before they become more serious. Simply flush the toilet and make sure that the water is flowing smoothly and that the bowl is refilling properly after each flush.

By performing these DIY tasks regularly, you can help keep your toilet in good order and avoid more severe plumbing problems.

Please note that if you’re not confident in your plumbing skills or the project seems too complicated, it’s always best to consult a licensed plumber to avoid causing further damage or creating safety hazards.

These days, learning by watching a YouTube video is available for nearly every possible service a shade tree mechanic can perform on an automobile. Likewise, good-hearted folks on YouTube share information on Do-It-Yourself (D-I-Y) plumbing projects. If you’re a bit mechanically inclined, have some basic tools, and a Home Depot or Lowes nearby, you might be OK for some of the more straightforward homeowner projects.

For example, despite several attempts at jiggling the handle, if your toilet runs all day and all night, you may save a few dollars and determine if the flapper is bad and how to buy and change it. However, your number one priority is safety.

No matter what task you plan on tackling yourself, think about SAFETY first. Your essential safety tools must include Safety Glasses, Rubber Gloves, and a real flashlight (not the one on your iPhone). Even if you’re only working on a toilet tank, you can be surprised by a stream of water from the refill hose into your eyes, causing you to lose balance and slip. Let’s say there are too many places to fall and get serious injuries (hint: porcelain doesn’t bend) in any bathroom.

Rubber gloves are also important because you may not know if a caustic chemical was recently used to clear a clog. If you’ve watched enough YouTube faucet valve videos to learn to shut off the water valve to replace the flapper, which gets water-logged over time and doesn’t create a tight seal. This causes the water in the tank to drop, which causes the float to cause the refill, which makes a continuously running toilet.

Tips:

Take a picture with your cell phone camera to remember where everything goes. You will appreciate this tip more than you can imagine. Turn off the valve feeding water to the toilet tank (remember: turn right to tighten and left to loosen the valve). Flush the tank to empty the water in the tank. Remove the flapper STOP: If you don’t know where the flapper is and how to disconnect it, you may not be ready to tackle it alone. Review your favorite YouTube video and make sure the flapper and tank look EXACTLY like yours. Otherwise, look for another video, or STOP. Take the old flapper to your favorite plumbing supply or home improvement center. Find someone who can CONFIRM that the replacement part you are buying is IDENTICAL to the one you took off. Reverse the procedure and install the new flapper. Be sure the bowl refill hose is clipped onto the bowl refill pipe. Slowly turn the water back on, and check that the tank is filling up. Once it’s filled (there’s a FILL LINE etched into the bowl), open the toilet water supply valve slowly so that full pressure fills it. Check for any leaks. If it all works, congratulations! You’ve completed a project; other than the parts, it didn’t cost you any money. Plus, there is satisfaction in knowing you can resolve a problem. Bravo!

One last thought, if things don’t go exactly as planned, fear not. Everyone can miss a clip here or there. Go back and take another look at the picture. Does everything look identical? If not, why? Don’t panic.

At this point, calling a professional is probably your best choice. Those valves may not have moved for 25 years and are prone to leak, and now you have a whole new problem. Trust Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC to help you fix annoying plumbing problems, do it right the first time, and save you unnecessary sweat and strain. We’ll also be there to help you out of a jam before it turns into a nightmare.

About Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC

Exclusively Serving Bergen County, New Jersey

Michael Muccia is a Master Plumber and the owner and operator of Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC is a full-service Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) service company based in and serving Bergen County, NJ, since 1978. The Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC team of trained and certified service technicians offers various services, including general plumbing and heating maintenance, for residential and commercial clients.

Whatever your plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or ventilation needs are, it’s easier with Muccia Plumbing, Heating & AC. We treat our customers, large and small, with the best service in the industry. We know you have a choice when considering an HVAC company, and no matter what we do for you, we treat it as the most crucial job in our history. Our experience proves that we know how to work efficiently, which keeps costs low, uses only the best components within budget, and stands behind the work we do.

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Published at May 16, 2017
Category: Plumbing,Toilet Clog