Your toilet is one of the most important fixtures in your home, if not THEMOST IMPORTANT. When it works well, no-one really notices. When it’s not working EVERYONE complains. That’s when you should call Atlanta Plumbing Plus at 770-447-0374.

Atlanta Plumbing Plus can take care of all of your toilet problems, whether it’s unclogging the toilet, finding a new handle to match the one you broke, rebuilding your existing toilet, or fixing a broken flange. One of our fully trained, licensed plumbers will be sure to take care of the problem for you quickly and efficiently.

We can also help if you want to install a new toilet either as part of a major home remodel, or because the old one nolonger works or doesn’t meet the water usage requirements of your county. Our licensed plumbers can help you to select the right toilet for you whether you are looking for a basic toilet with a good flush, an ADA-compliant toilet, or an elegant one-piece toilet to match your bathroom decor. And, they can talk to you about all of the latest features available such as heated seats, mechanically controlled seats and lids, and “dual flush” toilets.

You should also check out the toilets section of our Water Conservation page which contains useful information about Government Rebates when you install a water-saving toilet.

Once we get your current toilet back in working order, Atlanta Plumbing Plus also wants to make sure you know everything necessary to keep your toilet working well and ensure it doesn’t waste water and drive up your water bill. The remainder of this page covers toilet:

• Cleaning
• Maintenance
• Repair
• Unclogging

We’ve even included some helpful information about Bidets. Though they are not common in the USA, bidets are becoming more popular so we want to make sure our customers learn more about them and decide whether they wouldwant one.

But first, plumbers use a lot of funny words to describe the parts of your toilet. We can translate for you with our Glossary of plumbing terms. As you read the glossary, you will see there are lots of different toilet parts that can cause problems. Do your part to prevent these toilet problems by taking some of the basic steps described below. But remember, Safety is Your Responsibility* be careful as you work around your home.

Cleaning

• Don’t use toilet cleaners that go inside the tank. They can shorten the life of the parts in the tank, especially the flapper; and, some of them may also clog the holes in the rim of the toilet, preventing a strong flow of water and a strong flush.
• Be careful when you use a cleaner with a wire or plastic that attaches it to the bowl of the toilet. If the plastic or wire accidentally gets flushed down the toilet it can lead to a clogged toilet line.
• Use regular non-abrasive bathroom cleaners for a thorough cleaning of all vitreous china or cast iron products with porcelain finishes. Avoid using cleaners with abrasives in them. They will scratch the finish and cause it to lose its shine.

Maintenance

There are some basic things you can do to keep your toilets in good working order.

• Never flush facial tissue, sanitary products, or diapers down your toilet. They do not dissolve and can clog your drains.
• Never flush baby wipes down your toilet: the label says “disposable” not “flushable.”
  They will clog your drains eventually.
• A least once a year, take the following steps to check your toilets:

• Check to see how well the toilet flushes.

- Does it seem to flush slower than it used to?

- Do you need to hold the handle down for a longer time to get the toilet to flush?

- Do you have to jiggle the handle to stop the water from running?

• Check the toilet for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait 30 minutes then see if the water in the bowl has changed color. If it has, the ballcock or flapper should be replaced.

• Check the overflow pipe in the toilet tank. If water covers the pipe and is running in to it, the fill valve must be adjusted or replaced.

• Inspect the tank and bowl for cracks or leaks.

• Check around the base of the toilet for water stains or blackness (a possible sign that the wax seal or the flange has been broken.). If you find stains, determine how much damage has been done by standing over the toilet and rocking from side to side or back and forth on each foot. If the floor feels soft and “gives” a little under your feet, the floor around the toilet may be weakened or even rotted out.

Repair

Some home owners are confident of their ability to replace the parts in their toilet tanks themselves and we applaud them for doing so. However, we frequently have to make major repairs on a toilet after a homeowner has used the wrong part or the wrong tool. Sometimes we even have to replace the entire toilet when a homeowner has attempted a repair and cracked the bowl or tank. To prevent these types of accidents, be careful to follow the directions that come with the new toilet parts you purchase. Or take the worry out of the work by calling Atlanta Plumbing Plus at 770-447-0374. One of our trained and licensed professional plumbers will be happy to take care of all of your toilet repair problems for you.

Clogged Toilets

You should also call us when you face the most common plumbing problem of all: The dreaded CLOGGED TOILET!

Many things can cause your toilet to clog.

• Perhaps the toilet is not getting enough water because it needs a new fill valve or flapper
  
• You could be using extra thick toilet tissue or a facial tissue that does not disintegrate like toilet paper
• A child may have tried to flush a toy – or even mommy’s favorite piece of jewelry – down the toilet just to see what happens.

These types of problems can be taken care of quickly by a plumber with the right materials and equipment. However, if other fixtures in the home, such as sinks and tubs, are also draining slowly, the problem may not be your toilet. You may have a blocked main sewer line. If that is the case, stop running water down any of the drains in your home immediately. Then call Atlanta Plumbing Plus at 770-447-0374 to make an appointment as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse this type of problem gets. You need to have the line professionally cleaned and inspected as soon as possible.

Bidets

Chances are that if you have traveled to Europe, Latin America, East Asia, or the Middle East you have seen or used a bidet. Yet this sit-down wash basin that’s convenient to use and helps conserve water has never been a standard bathroom fixture in the U.S. This is beginning to change now. Though they were long considered a luxury item, bidets are becoming an increasingly common addition to the American bathroom.

If you want to add one to your bathroom you should make sure the work is done by a licensed Atlanta Plumbing Plus plumber by calling770-447-0374. We can make sure that the bidet is anchored to the floor properly, that the water supply and drain lines are properly hooked up, and that there are no leaks on the faucet.

If you want to have this high-end feature in your bathroom but don’t have a lot of space, you should consider having us install a new, space-saving toilet/bidet combination that is self-cleaning and has a lot of high-end features such as a heated seat, automatic temperature control, and built-in blow dryer.

You should also call Atlanta Plumbing Plus at 770-447-0374 if you have a bidet or bidet/toilet combination that needs to be repaired since these fixtures can be more complicated to work on than a standard toilet and not all plumbing companies have this expertise in house.