Your toilets are an essential part of your home, so it’s important to take good care of them. While these fixtures are made to be durable, they can develop problems or damage. The following tips can help you lower the risk of needing plumbing repairs for your toilets.
What to Flush
To prevent blockages or other problems with your toilet, you should only flush toilet paper. This kind of paper is made to fall apart when you flush it, which helps stop it from clogging pipes. Just make sure you don’t try to flush too much toilet paper at once. Doing so could clog your toilet.
What Not to Flush
You should avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper. Tissues and paper towels aren’t made to break up or dissolve as easily as toilet paper, which can lead to clogs in your plumbing. Although some wipes are labeled as flushable, you should also avoid flushing these down your toilet. Even flushable wipes can cause blockages in your pipes.
Cleaning Products to Use
Use all-purpose disinfectant sprays, toilet cleaners or vinegar, and plastic toilet brushes to clean your toilet. Stainless steel toilet brushes can scratch up your toilet. Cleaning your toilet on a regular basis can prevent odors and grime from building up inside your toilet bowl. If you need to unclog your toilet, use a plunger rather than chemical drain cleaning products.
Cleaning Products to Avoid
When cleaning your toilet, you should avoid using chemical drain cleaners and toilet fresheners. Chemical drain cleaners can break down minor clogs, but they can also cause damage to your pipes. Toilet fresheners that turn your water blue can end up causing damage to parts of your toilet tank.
Check for Leaks
Checking your toilet at least once a year for leaks can help ensure that you find them early and fix them before they get worse or waste more water. To check for toilet leaks, put a few small drops of food coloring inside your toilet tank. You shouldn’t see the color run into your toilet bowl from the tank. If you do, this means you have a leak.
Avoid Standing on Toilets
When you need to change an overhead light or clean ceilings, avoid standing on your toilet to reach. Use a step stool instead, or you could end up cracking or damaging the lid of your toilet.
Repair Problems Right Away
If your toilet has a leak, clog, or other problem, make repairs as soon as possible. This helps prevent these toilet problems from becoming worse. Have a plumber make any toilet repairs you’re not comfortable handling on your own.
If you need new toilets in your home, ToiletKing can help. Please contact us to learn more about our toilet installation services, which include pickup, delivery, haul away, and disposal.