If you experience any of these signs indicating a toilet problem it’s time to find a plumber. Learn what is likely causing each symptom, whether it’s an emergency, and the average cost to fix each. Ready to call our expert plumbers in San Antonio or New Braunfels, Texas on call 24 hours for emergency service? Call (210) 521-1500 now or email us to explain what’s going on and request service.
Symptoms of Toilet Bowl Problems
- Toilet makes a high pitched sound when you flush it or afterward when it’s filling with water
- It takes longer for the toilet bowl to refill after a flush
- The bowl isn’t filling with water or has very low water
- Toilet keeps backing up often
- Funny smell like noxious gas or sewer (gross!)
- Toilet bowl running
- Toilet moves or shifts when you sit on it or when you get up
- Toilet flushing on its own or gurgling
Toilet Whining or Making Whirring Sound
If your toilet makes a high-pitched squeal or whining noise when it’s refilling the valve it’s probably caused by a broken refill valve or the seal or a breach on the refill valve’s seal. Call a professional to have it looked at.
Toilet Refilling Slowly
If you notice your toilet bowl refilling slower than normal the most likely culprit is a bad refill valve. Toilet refill valves have a shelf life of about 7 years and need replacement if they’re damaged or the toilet is refilling slowly and it’s been 7 years or more since the valve was changed.
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Toilet Not Refilling or Low Water
If a toilet is not refilling after it is flushed or the water is very low the most likely causes include refill valve failure or a clogged pipe leading to or coming from your toilet. Call a pro before it snowballs into a bigger problem.
Toilet Backing Up & Bad Smell
If your toilet backs up more and more often accompanied with a horrible odor it’s time to call a plumber. If you continue trying to flush the toilet at this point it could start backing up sewage into your shower and home because of a blockage in your main sewer line. This is a plumbing emergency requiring immediate attention, we urge you to contact your local plumber right away.
Running Toilet Bowl
If your toilet bowl is running frequently it’s not just making an annoying sound, it’s wasting gallons of water and making your water bill more expensive. The toilet’s fill valve could be bad so replacing it could solve this problem, but if it doesn’t you should consider calling a licensed plumbing company to inspect the rest of the toilet refill components and see if they need to be replaced. When the flush rod, flapper, and flapper chain are configured properly there should be almost no slack in the chain. A bad flapper could also be the problem.
Toilet Shifting & Moving
If your toilet moves or shifts when you sit on it or you can move it with your hands it’s not secured to the floor properly from the toilet flange. This can cause a whole host of problems like leaks and improper water pressure and needs to be addressed by a professional plumbing technician.
Toilet Gurgling
If your toilet is gurgling there is likely a blocked line somewhere leading to or coming from your toilet. The gurgling sound is caused by suction, which occurs when negative pressure is present in the blocked line. Don’t ignore this problem or you could have a disgusting toilet overflow incident and the water damage that comes with it.
Ask Our Plumbers to Fix Your Toilet
Contact the experienced plumbers at Service First AC Repair & Plumbing to request a toilet diagnostic visit. We’ll assess the problem and give you an honest quote for service, repair, or replacement based on your options after diagnosis. Repairing it can sometimes be as simple as replacing a $10 part, or it could be something more serious like a blocked main sewer line. We look forward to serving you, our valued customers.