As a homeowner, there will eventually come a time when you need to fix your toilet. Most of the time it’s something simple that a homeowner can fix, but if it’s a serious repair, he or she will need to call a licensed plumber to fix the toilet. One thing every homeowner should have on hand is a plunger, as many toilet problems involve unclogging. If there are problems with the flow of water, they can usually be fixed by adjusting the ball valve, which is the device designed to allow the toilet water tank to fill without overflowing. It has a floating ball attached to a lever, which is attached to the valve that connects to the water inlet in the tank.

The most common toilet repair problem is a clogged toilet. When using the plunger to unclog the toilet, make sure the plunger cup covers the toilet drain before vigorously pushing down several times to release the clog so the toilet can be emptied and refilled. Before using the plunger, make sure there is enough water in the container because to get a good seal, the water must cover the suction cup. If more water is needed, add it with a bucket instead of rinsing it again. If it’s clogged, flushing it again could cause the toilet to overflow, causing more problems.

Eventually you will need to replace the toilet seat because it can become loose and start to move when you sit down. It is simple to replace the seat. You just have to remove the nuts that hold the seat to be able to remove it. If the toilet seat has been on for a while, the nuts may have corroded and won’t move. To lubricate them to make them easier to get out just a little bit of WD40 or other lubricating oil. Once you’ve removed the old seat, clean the porcelain before screwing the new seat in place. The seat should be tight and secure, but be sure not to over-tighten the nuts.

If the toilet seems to run continuously after it has been filled, the problem may be with the stopcock. This device shuts off the water from the fill valve once the tank is full. If you raise your arm and the water shuts off, you just need to adjust the stopcock. The valve arms are threaded like screws, making it easy to adjust. Turn it counterclockwise so it seats lower in the tank to close the shutoff valve sooner. If this doesn’t work, you need to replace it.