Really… Ramen Noodles?
You will probably have a hard time finding a professional plumber in the United States that would recommend using Ramen noodles for toilet repair, but there it is, on the Internet! From China’s Douyin to America’s Twitter, a man uses Ramen noodles to repair ceramic cracks in toilets.
So – why are people repairing things with ramen noodles? The claim is that epoxy and resin combined with the starch from the noodles create a low-quality ceramic. A warning to never to put your whole weight on the toilet after the toilet repair. After all, it is Ramen!
Clogged toilets are not any fun; in fact, they are very inconvenient. When they happen, the timing usually isn’t the best, and waiting on a professional toilet repair by a plumber isn’t always feasible. Fortunately, most toilet problems are common and easy DIY repairs.
Common Toilet Problems
The first step in toilet repair is toilet repair troubleshooting what is wrong. So, what are the most common toilet problems and how do you fix common toilet problems?
Clogged Toilets
This is most likely the most common of any required toilet repair, especially in a home with small children. In most cases, the clog isn’t that far down, and a plunger can easily unclog the toilet. However, if there is an object that has caused the clog, and a flange plunger didn’t work, you may need to remove the toilet bowl from the floor and flush the object out from the bottom side.
Toilet Leaks
If you flush the toilet and water leaks from the bowl, it can be difficult to detect what toilet repair is needed. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and then flush the toilet. Then flush the toilet and if you see colored water leaking out, you’ll know where the leak is located.
If the toilet bowl is leaking, can you repair a toilet bowl? No, you’ll need to replace the bowl. If the leak is from the tank, the common cause is usually the flapper, the valve seat, or the gasket that needs to be replaced. There are kits at hardware stores that have all these parts in one package, replacing all of them is the best toilet repair.
If you don’t know how to replace a faulty toilet flapper, there are instructions on the package and there are video instructions online that can walk you through the procedure as well as other toilet repair tasks, including how to fix a running toilet.
The Toilet Bowl Isn’t Filling
If the water level is overfilling in the bowl, this is usually because the toilet is clogged; we’ve covered this toilet repair earlier. If you are wondering why your toilet is clogged, there are four possible causes:
- The fill tube is damaged – this toilet repair is simple by replacing the tube.
- Cracked toilet bowl – the only toilet repair is to replace the bowl.
- Faulty vent – every toilet has a vent in the roof. If this becomes blocked, it needs to be unclogged or replaced.
- Damaged fill valve – this component is what makes sure the toilet is refilled with each flush. When it becomes worn out, the toilet bowl can’t fill up and needs to be replaced.
A Whistling Tank
If you’re hearing more than water traveling through the plumbing, like a whistling sound, then you will likely need to replace the fill valve. Fortunately, this toilet repair isn’t too difficult, either.
Is it better to fix or replace a toilet?
And how do you know when a toilet needs to be replaced? Other than cosmetic issues, there are situations where toilet repair isn’t sufficient. Some things to consider in determining if another toilet repair is feasible or installing a new toilet is the better choice:
- Too Many Repairs: Like anything, after so many repairs, it comes to a time that replacing is better. If you have had to replace the fill valve, flapper, and other internal parts more than once every year, replacing the unit will be better financially in the long run.
- Frequent Clogs: If plunging is needed 2 or more times a week, it is time to have the toilet replaced.
- Cracks: There may just be a hairline crack in the bowl or tank, but it will grow. Replace the toilet! No toilet repair you can do will guarantee you that the crack won’t grow.
- Visible Scratches: If the toilet is worn out with scratches, it can be difficult to clean. Those scratches are holding bacteria and germs, it can never be thoroughly clean and sanitized.
- To Save Money: If you have a toilet older than 10 years, then you don’t have the low-flush style and it is costing you money with every flush. Time to upgrade with a new toilet.
A Closing Question: What is the average life of a toilet?
The average lifespan for a toilet is 50 years. Does that mean you’ll never have to replace your toilet? No. You’ll have repairs throughout the years, and the wear and tear of a toilet will shorten the life span. The water quality where you live can play a factor on the lifespan of your toilet too. The more sediment in the water, it wears the mechanisms in the tank out faster. Much like it does the water heater.