When that throne starts acting up, it’s time to consider toilet repairs in Midtown Atlanta. Here’s how to determine whether you need it or not.
If toilet repairs in Midtown Atlanta are high on your to-do list, then it’s best to take care of that as soon as possible. Bathroom maintenance is, after all, not nearly as exciting as a vacation or the holidays: savoring the anticipation does not improve anything.
But what if you’re not sure where to start? What if you don’t even know whether or not your toilet is broken, or if it needs repair or replacement? Who should you call for help?
These are all good questions, and luckily for you, they all have right answers. Let’s talk about the main signs of toilet distress, the signs you need repair, and the difference between repair and replacement. If you do have to get a new toilet, let’s talk about what to look for so you can make the right choice.
After all, that john and you will get to know each other pretty intimately, so you want to make sure you get a good one. Keep reading for all of the information you need to know to end up with a positive result for your situation.
Signs of Toilet Distress
Forgive us while we take a page out of your seventh-grade joke book. Accordingly, you might be an unhappy toilet if:
- You can’t seem to flush properly when your owner pushes your handle
- You clog up for no reason at all, like, it was just a normal pee they were taking so what’s the deal??
- You burble away during the best of times and straight up run other times
- Your water valve, lift chain or flapper are bent, stuck, degraded, rusted or otherwise defunct
- Your handle is stuck, loose or rusting
- There’s water pooling around your base and you don’t know why (and neither does your owner)
- Your tank doesn’t fill properly after a flush
- You smell—even when no one has been there recently to create a smell
- Your tank water is leaking into your bowl (which your owner can determine with a dye test)
If you’re this unhappy toilet’s owner and you notice any of these signs, it’s time to get some help from a professional plumber. But we’re guessing you want a little more reassurance than that first. After all, not all of these issues are a big deal, right? Can’t you wait until the big presentation is complete, your kids go back to school after winter break, or you finalize that trip to the Caribbean?
Answer: maybe not. Here’s what you need to know about repair and replacement.
Is Toilet Repair Enough?
We’ve already discussed how vital toilet repair is to your water use and budget. It stands to reason, therefore, that if your toilet is exhibiting issues of any kind, you should jump on it. Otherwise, you could lose thousands of gallons of water, which impacts the Earth negatively. Imagine if every American wasted that much water over a period of a few weeks or months! That’s billions of gallons a year, in our country alone. Not cool.
Plus, there’s the financial issue. You pay for every drop that runs down your toilet unused, which can total hundreds of dollars annually. If a serious problem goes unchecked, it could mean repairs in the thousands, especially if you have to replace pipes or foundations. So don’t wait on those repairs.
More specifically, you need toilet repairs in Midtown Atlanta if:
- The problem has persisted for several weeks
- You’re noticing secondary issues, like degradation of flooring or walls
- You see mold or mildew growing in the bathroom
- You spend more time futzing around in the toilet’s tank than you do actually sitting on the seat
- Your trusted plumber advises them
The last is most important. If you’re not sure whether or not you need repairs, have a professional plumber out to take a look. They’ll give you an honest appraisal of the problem as well as what you can do to rectify the problem. In some cases, you may have to replace it instead. But how to tell the difference?
Repair or Replace? Here’s How to Tell
The above issues probably require nothing more than a repair. However, sometimes your crapper truly has given up the ghost. (Fun fact: Did you know the term “crapper,” while popularly associated with plumber Thomas Crapper, is actually an offshoot of the medieval word “crap,” which has both Dutch and French origins? You’re welcome for your next piece of cocktail party trivia.)
One good sign that your toilet is done-zo is if it never flushes all the way, even after your plumber repairs it. That probably means there’s something wrong with the porcelain, which a simple repair can’t fix. There’s no way to repair the bowl, so whether there’s a hairline fissure, a big old crack or buildup in the bends of the toilet, there’s no choice but to replace it.
If you have the same problem again and again, there’s probably a structural issue with the toilet. For instance, if you have to repair a tank component two or three times, there’s likely a systemic problem causing it to fail over and over again, which means you need to replace the whole shebang.
Another unfortunate issue is when an object gets lodged in the toilet. Often the plumber can repair it with a snake, but that’s not always the case. If that jammed diaper cover, action figure or piece of costume jewelry (hey, we don’t judge) won’t come loose, then the unfortunate truth is you need a new toilet.
What to Look for in a New Toilet
When it comes to style, it’s important you get it right the first go around. Replacing a toilet costs a pretty penny, typically between $200 and $500, with costs ranging up to $800 if your plumber encounters any unexpected issues. The takeaway? You don’t want to pay that again a few months down the road when you realize you hate your toilet’s look. That’s why we’ve attached a handy checklist to help you determine what style will fit your current bathroom décor, so check it out before you pull the trigger.
Before you do that, however, you need to settle on more logistical matters. These include:
- Choosing the right flush type: gravity-feed, pressure-assisted, double-cyclone, waterless
- Deciding whether you want a dual-flush water-saving toilet (you know, like the kind they have in airports and hotels)
- Determining whether or not you have to adjust any of the plumbing to accommodate your new toilet (a question with which your plumber can help you)
Note that if you look for toilets with the EPA’s “WaterSense” label, you can save the planet a lot of water, about 13,000 gallons’ worth. Plus, you’ll save yourself about $130 a year in water bills. It’s always best to go green if you can, and now more than ever, green is the cheaper option, so it’s worth it.
You should also check to ensure that your toilet manufacturer is from the United States and has good ratings. There are numerous ways to determine this, from Consumer Reports to asking your local Lowe’s or Home Depot employee. However you approach it, don’t skip this step in the interest of efficiency. Doing so will only lead to headaches and more time spent dealing with the issue.
If you’re done waiting on toilet repairs in Midtown Atlanta, it’s time to get help. The Morningside Plumbing crew is happy to offer assistance, so feel free to click or call 404-873-1881 for plumbing repair today.