The toilet aka, water closet, aka porcelain throne, aka, The John, aka the crapper.
Throughout history, our favorite bathroom buddy has acquired many interesting names. We’ve come along way since the toilet was invented, style, functionality, and price have made the toilet a staple in our society, it’s one of the many things we take for granted on a daily basis, but without which we’d be lost. That being said, it seems prudent to make sure our toilets and plumbing are constantly working and well maintained.
To avoid any unwanted downtime. Here are a few tips to help keep your toilet maintained and prolong its life.
- Chlorine pucks or toilet bowl cleaners that are meant to be stored in the toilet tank are very good at keeping your bowl clean and smelling good, unfortunately, they also take their toll on the internal parts wearing them down much quicker. Fortunately, there are alternatives that can be placed in the bowl itself. Look for these bowl cleaners at your local supermarket.
- When cleaning your toilet, be sure to clean the underside of the rim, there are small holes there that when not cleaned will eventually reduce the flush efficiency.
A good toilet can last you a lifetime, there is a misconception that the new “low flow” toilets don’t have a good flush. Though this may have been true in the ’90s when the EPA first restricted the amount of water a toilet can use per flush, today, these toilets not only save you money, their new state of the art design will flush better than any older toilet.
One thing to look out for when purchasing a toilet is the MAP score (Maximum performance score ) toilets are tested by how many grams they can flush up to 1000 grams. Also, make sure you’re getting a toilet that easily serviceable so you don’t have to jump through hurdles looking for parts when it requires maintenance.
Today, let me first start off by saying that, there is no such thing as flushable wipes. Flushing wipes down your toilet is a sure way to get a blocked toilet. This happens because unlike toilet paper, wipes are far more difficult for the water to break down. One snag on an old or slightly poorly graded drain line and you could be looking at some serious downtime and money.
Listen to your toilet, if you hear a hissing sound, or the toilet seems to randomly fill, it’s very likely the parts are malfunctioning and require replacement, if left alone, you could be looking at a highly increased water bill.
Hope this helps guide you in some preventative maintenance and warning signs to watch out for. If you ever need a professional to diagnose or repair your bathroom fixtures give us a call at (954) 800-6364 in the Hallandale Beach or Pembroke Park, FL area.