Hot Tips and Info on Commercial Toilet Leak Repair
The topic of toilet leak repair is just something that really doesn’t come up in day-to-day polite conversation. We all have them in our homes and eventually given enough time and use everyone at some point will be in need of toilet leak repair.
Even so, it seems that people, for the most part, just keep their fingers crossed, hope for the best, and then eventually, when they do find themselves in need of toilet leak repair, they simply ignore it the best they can or go online to browse through the list of Pittsburgh plumbers then hire someone like Kwiatowski Plumbing at 412-681-9525 to do the work.
But if you’re short on funds or are a do-it-yourselfer who likes to tackle these types of projects on your own, then keep on reading because the following is a short helpful list of tips and pointers on the topic of residential and commercial toilet leak repair.
How much damage can a toilet leak cause?
If your toilet is leaking, you may not even know it. Then if your home or business was built on a raised foundation, the damage that leak can be causing can turn out to be substantial. It’s no secret that water flows downhill, so it’s not uncommon for a toilet leak to occur on the underside where it’s not visible.
The water will then saturate the wooden floor that it’s installed on, then it won’t take long for the dry rot to occur. Over time if the problem isn’t remedied, your toilet can begin to become unstable and even develop a noticeable lean.
So the simple answer to the question how much damage can a toilet leak cause? Is a lot, if its allowed to continue unaddressed. Even if your home sits on a cement slab foundation, a leak like this will work to provide habitat for a termite infestation.
How long is the service life of commercial toilets?
If you operate a business, then the odds are that it has commercial toilets or at least one commercial toilet in it. So with all the things you need to deal with throughout the day, the last problem you want to have to address is a commercial toilet leak repair.
In restaurants or gas stations, for instance, commercial toilets can get a lot of use. Some more than others. So you may be asking yourself, just how long is the service life of the commercial toilets in your business?
The answer is that in an optimal setting, if adequately maintained, commercial toilets can function almost indefinitely. This is in an optimal environment, though, because there are factors like vandalism, excessive use, and even hard mineralized water that can work to shorten their service life.
How to counter hard water conditions to avoid commercial toilet repair?
One common problem that plumbers in Pittsburgh PA encounter, is commercial toilet leak repair issues relating to mineral buildup caused by hard water. Hard water is a term that describes water it contains a high level of mineral content such as calcium.
The problems arise when the calcium builds up around moving parts and seals, where it then inhibits a proper seal causing leaks and functions as an abrasive to gradually wear down moving parts.
Hard water also leads to excessive mineral stains in a toilet bowl. So one highly effective solution is to install a water softening system, and that will do the trick every time. But a low-budget DIY solution is to use a mild acid, with vinegar being the most common, or a commercial cleaner to remove the discoloration in the toilet bowl.
Be nice to your septic system and it will be nice to you
Chances are that you give very little thought to your septic system as you go about your life. But that will for sure change quickly if your septic system begins to develop problems.
You may not know this, but it’s called a system because it is an actual system that functions to digest and liquefy raw sewage so it can readily soak into the ground in a leach field. It’s bacteria that does the work inside a septic tank, and bacteria is a living organism that can be killed or inhibited with harsh chemicals.
Chemicals like harsh commercial toilet cleaners and for sure bleach. So you should avoid bleach all together and use a toilet cleaner that is septic system friendly. Also, look into septic system stimulant additives that are flushed down a toilet to bolster and revive the bacteria to help them do their job.
Look inside your toilet tank
If you have never lifted the lid on the back of your toilet tank to take a good look inside, then maybe it’s time you did just that.
What you’re going to see in there is an adjustable float device that regulates the volume of water. Then down at the bottom of the tank, you’re going to notice a little black or red plug that’s attached to a chain that runs up to the business end of the flush lever.
Both of these are crucial for operating any toilet with a tank, whether it’s in a home or a commercial setting. So if you’re getting a steady drizzle of water coming down into the bowl, then reach down in the tank to use your finger to clean the crud off that black or red plug so it can form a better seal.
Then if you find that you need more water coming down into the bowl when you flush the toilet, simply adjust the float system by turning the plastic screw, so it will allow more water to be stored.
Pittsburgh Plumbers vs Do-It-Yourself
When all is said and done, though, if you find yourself facing the prospect of toilet leak repairs, your choices are two. Option number one and also the easiest is to pick up your phone and call a qualified Pittsburgh plumber like Kwiatowski Plumbing at 412-681-9525.
It’s real nice to have someone else rooting around in your toilet or septic system, but the problem here is that they have to be paid. So option number two is to do it yourself, for sure the cheapest option but it has its downside as well.
The downside is that toilets and septic systems are downright horrible places to work. A toilet bowl can be clean and sterilized, but the underside, if it has to be removed and for sure a septic tank are both rife with highly infectious bacteria that are downright dangerous.