Troubleshooting Common Plumbing Problems at Home

Posted on July 21, 2023 by weilhammerplumbing

Plumbing problems can be a nightmare for homeowners, leading to costly repairs and wasted time. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to troubleshoot common plumbing issues before calling in a professional. From clogged drains and leaky pipes to running toilets and frozen waterlines, this guide will provide the necessary tips and tricks for tackling each issue quickly and efficiently. Keep reading to learn more about how you can easily fix your own plumbing problems at home!

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Common Residential Plumbing Problems and Solutions

Clogged Drains: Clogged drains can be one of the most difficult plumbing issues to tackle, but there are a few simple steps you can take to unclog them. The first step is to try using a plunger to dislodge any debris that may be stuck in the drain. You can also try using a combination of hot water and baking soda, as this will help break up any buildup. If these methods do not work, it might be necessary to remove the trap under the sink for further inspection.

Leaky Pipes: Leaky pipes can cause a lot of damage if left unchecked. To determine where the leak is coming from, start by checking all visible pipes for cracks or breaks in them. Once you’ve located the source of the leak, the next step is to seal it with a patch or an epoxy. If this doesn’t work, then it might be time to call in a master plumber.

Running Toilets: A running toilet can be very annoying and costly if left unattended for too long. The most common reason that toilets run is because the flapper valve isn’t closing properly. To fix this issue, start by checking the water level in the tank and ensuring that it is set correctly. If it is not set correctly, then adjust it accordingly. You can also try replacing the flapper valve as well.

Frozen Waterlines: Frozen waterlines occur during cold winter months and can cause major plumbing issues. To prevent your waterlines from freezing, make sure to keep the temperature in your home at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also ensure that any exposed pipes are properly insulated, as this will help keep them from freezing. If a pipe does freeze, you can try thawing it with hot water or a hair dryer on low heat.

Low Water Pressure: Low water pressure can be caused by a variety of different issues. The most common cause is blocked pipes or valves, so it’s important to check all visible plumbing for any blockages. If there are no blockages, then you may need to call in a professional plumber to identify the source of the issue and fix it accordingly.

Scale Buildup: Scale buildup can occur over time in your pipes, reducing water pressure and leading to clogged drains. To prevent scale buildup, make sure to regularly clean your pipes with a descaling solution. You can also install a water softener and filter system, which will help reduce the amount of minerals and scale buildup in your pipes.

Your Solutions to Plumbing Problems

With these tips, you should now have the necessary know-how to troubleshoot common plumbing problems at home. Remember that prevention is key when it comes to plumbing maintenance, so make sure to regularly inspect your pipes and fixtures for any signs of wear and tear. Doing this will help save you from costly repairs down the road! ⁠

If you find yourself unable to solve a plumbing problem, then it’s best to contact a professional plumber for assistance. They will be able to provide the necessary expertise and tools to tackle any issue quickly and efficiently.

Looking for some professional plumbing help? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for licensed and insured plumbing service in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our state-licensed master plumbers serve residential and commercial clients.

Do Not Let Your Guests Flush These Things Down the Toilet

Posted on July 8, 2022 by weilhammerplumbing

Summertime is a time for loved ones. With school out all season long, now is the prime time to visit family. Although enriching and enjoyable, hosting family from out of town can certainly pose some challenges, especially when kids are involved. Yet somehow, regardless of age, house guests tend to cause some plumbing challenges during their stays, particularly with the toilet, which is problematic considering the acute importance of having a functional toilet at all times, even more so when people are staying with you! So, if you are preparing to have family come into town for a visit, do your due diligence to ensure they don’t flush the wrong things down the toilet. Your plumbing and sewer system will thank you!

Continue below for a list of things that you might want to warn your house guests about before showing them to their rooms!

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Stick to the Obvious Flushing Rules

People tend to overlook the fact that most things do not belong in the toilet. Other than human waste, and toilet paper, nothing else should be flushed down the commode. This makes the list of incompatible items quite long, as you can imagine. But when it comes to house guests, there are some items that are more commonly a threat to your toilet. Give your guests a customary orientation on what not to flush down your toilets and sleep easier knowing you won’t be waking up to a mass overflow or backup.

Common Items That Should Not Be Flushed Down the Toilet

Avoid inconvenient toilet disasters and costly plumbing repair bills by telling your guests not to flush these items down the toilet:

Moist Towelettes and Wipes

Moist towelettes, disinfecting wipes, alcohol pads, and bathroom wipes should not be flushed. Even bathroom wipes that are advertised as “flushable” are not really flush-friendly nor do they disintegrate well. These items are notorious for causing backups in sewer systems and plumbing pipes. This can lead to pipe bursts, water leaks, and hefty repair bills.

Paper towels and tissue are also bad news for toilets. They should never be flushed, even if they are totally saturated.

Feminine Products

Items like tampons, maxi-pads, disposal underwear, incontinence products, and more are not meant to be flushed. These items expand in water and will quickly clog up your system. Rather than flushing, instruct your house guests to wrap them in toilet paper and toss them into the trash bin. The same applies to contraceptives like condoms.

Cotton Swabs, Balls and Pads

You wouldn’t think something as small and flimsy as a cotton swab or cotton ball would harm your plumbing system, but as it turns out, they are a common culprit behind toilet and sewer system backups. Like the other items listed, cotton balls, swabs, and rounds are made using highly absorbent materials, so they expand inside plumbing pipes and obstruct the flow of wastewater. Never allow your guests to toss these into the toilet.

Baby Diapers

Disposal and cloth baby diapers should be an obvious flushing no-no, yet they tend to top the list as far as toilet clogs go, especially in public restrooms. Never attempt to flush a diaper down the toilet, no matter how small or clean. They are large and highly absorbent, making them an instant plumbing obstruction.

Fireworks

Although the Fourth of July comes once a year, fireworks tend to linger all summer long. But do not let your curious niece or nephew drop a firecracker down the toilet! Placing a lit firework in the toilet will break the toilet, guaranteed. And if it doesn’t crack the porcelain bowl entirely in half (which is what normally occurs), it will damage the internal trap and fail to hold in the water. Can you say, toilet replacement?

Dead Fish and Amphibians

You may have been raised flushing dead goldfish, crawdads, and minnows down the toilet, but this is actually bad practice. Not only can fish and shellfish caused obstructions in the sewer system, but sometimes they are not actually dead, which can lead to an infestation. Stick to burrowing your dead pets or tossing your deceased fishy into the neighborhood pond.

Additional Items to Warn Guests About:

□ Dental Floss
□ Hair
□ Dryer Sheets
□ Razor Blades
□ Cosmetics
□ Plastic Wrappers
□ Toys

Are you having toilet or plumbing issues? Do you need plumbing service or repair before your family arrives for a summer visit? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 when you need professional and affordable plumbing services for toilets, drains, showers, tubs, water heaters, water softeners, and more. We serve residential and commercial clients in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana.

How to Stop an Overflowing Toilet

Posted on April 6, 2022 by weilhammerplumbing

An overflowing toilet isn’t just a frustrating and panicky problem to experience, but it’s also typically a nasty one. Fortunately, there are easy solutions for fixing an overflowing toilet right in the moment and preventing it from happening again in the future. Continue reading to learn how to stop an overflowing toilet and who to trust in central Indiana for quality plumbing service and repair.

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What To Do When Your Toilet is Overflowing

The great thing about an overflowing toilet—and we know what you’re thinking; “What could possibly be great about a toilet that is overflowing its unsanitary contents all of your bathroom floor?” Nonetheless, there is a positive element, and that is the fact that you can usually fix an overflowing toilet on your own.

Here are some supplies you might want to have on hand for emergency purposes in the case of the toilet is ever overflowing: rubber gloves, disposable towels, plunger, auger, and disinfecting solution.

Here’s What To Do:

SHUT OFF THE WATER SUPPLY

The first thing you want to do when your toilet starts to overflow is shut off the water supply. There is a valve located at the base your toilet that supplies the water to the toilet. Turn this valve counterclockwise, following the age old phrase lefty-loosey & righty-tighty, to stop the water from entering your toilet. To further protect your home from water damages and flooding, turn off the main water supply to the home as well while you work on the problem.

It is important to know exactly where your main water shut off valve is in your home for these types of flood-level emergencies. Main water shut off valves are commonly located in mud rooms or utility rooms, or in the garage or basement. Once you turn the water supply off, either to your toilet or to your home, the toilet should not continue to overflow water. However, you still need to deal with the water that has already overflowed.

CLEAN UP

It is critical to clean up a flooding mishap or large water spill, like an overflowed toilet, as possible to prevent water damages. If you allow water to sit on the floor, even for fifteen or twenty minutes, it can seep through the floorboards and into the home’s insulation and so forth. This can cause all sorts of wood rot, mold growth, and structural deterioration. It can also lead to foundation problems and repairs, which are both costly and invasive.

Allowing dirty toilet water to sit even for five or ten minutes on your bathroom floor can cause warping, discoloration, mold development, and all sorts of other design and aesthetic defects in laminate, tile, vinyl, and wood floors. Just be sure to clean up the overflowing toilet mess. As soon as it happens, to prevent further problems and frustrations down the road.

SOLVE THE TOILET PROBLEM

Your next step in the process of fixing an overflowing toilet is to actually fix the toilet. You need to determine what caused your toilet overflow and remedy the problem so that your toilet does not continue to have overflow incidents in the future. Clogs are one of the most common causes of an overflowing toilet, so use your plunger or auger (drain snake) to release anything causing an obstruction. You can also take a look in the toilet tank to see if anything is disconnected or clogged. If you can’t figure out what the problem is with your toilet, contact a local Indianapolis plumber for toilet inspection and repair.

Are you having some serious toilet problems that require some professional attention? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for plumbing repair and service for toilets and bathrooms in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients.

How to Fix a Clogged Toilet When You Do Not Have a Plunger

Posted on January 19, 2022 by weilhammerplumbing

Toilet clogs are the worst. And they seem to always happen at the worst times, like when you are already running late for your dinner reservation, or when the pizza delivery shows up at your door and you have 5 hangry mouths to feed. To make matters even worse, you can’t find your plunger! Fortunately, there are several easy and effective ways to unclog a toilet without using a plunger, and they can all be done within a few minutes’ time.

Continue below to learn some of the top-recommended methods of fixing a clogged toilet when there is no plunger in sight. All of these methods require common household items you are sure to have on hand!

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Unclog a Toilet Without Using a Plunger

Hot Water

If you have a sink or bathtub that provides on-demand hot water, this could be your first, go-to weapon against a clogged toilet. Simply fill up a pan or pot with heated water, but not boiling. Then just dump the hot water down your toilet bowl. Wait 3 to 5 minutes to see of the clog begins to release on its own. If so, flush the toilet once or twice to move the process along. If this does not work, try out some of these other methods!

Toilet Fizz

Not only can you use a simply solution of baking soda and distilled white vinegar to unclog a toilet, but you can also take it step further and make your own toilet bomb. Like a bath bomb, toilet bombs explode into a fizzy frenzy when dropped in water. Their bubbling action and cleansing ingredients work well against toilet clogs.

Be prepared, these methods will cause the toilet to overflow more if it is already filled to the brim. Place a towel below to catch any runoff. To use the basic combo, pour 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet bowl. Wait 30 minutes and then pour a pot of hot water down the toilet bowl. Give it a flush or two and the clog should be gone!

If you want to make a homemade fizzy toilet bomb, combine 1 cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of citric acid, and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap into a bowl. Then pack the paste-like mixture into an empty ice cube tray and let it dry for 2 hours. Store them in an air-sealed container or mason jar. To use, just drop one into your toilet bowl, wait 30 minutes, then finish with a hot water pour.

Liquid Dish Soap

If you have liquid dish soap in the house, you could potentially have a secret weapon for fixing toilet clogs. Just pour a generous amount of it inside your toilet bowl (about a fourth of a cup), allow it to sit for 10 minutes, then finish with a hot water pour. After a few flushes, the soap should work as an effective lubricant, allowing the clog to release and flow down.

Wire Hanger

Mommy Dearest would allow you to use a wire hanger for toilet clogs! Just find one that is thin enough for you to bend into a hook. Use it like you would a drain snake or auger, pushing it into the bowl to looses any obstructions. Repeat and flush as needed!

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How to Tighten Up a Toilet Lever That is Loose

Posted on June 9, 2021 by weilhammerplumbing

Toilet levers, or handles, are used several times a day; so, it is no surprise that they begin to loosen overtime. Although not a serious repair, it is important to remedy a loose toilet lever because it can affect toilet performance and efficiency. Not only is a toilet with poor flushing performance unpleasant and unsanitary, but its inefficiency can also increase monthly water bills. Fortunately, this is generally an easy fix, and one that you can accomplish all on your own with a few simple adjustments.

Continue reading to review a step-by-step guide on tightening a loose toilet tank lever.

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How to Fix a Loose Toilet Handle:

What You Will Need

To tighten up a loose toilet tank handle, you won’t require very many tools or supplies. That is because it is not a very invasive repair. Most likely, you will already have the tools necessary to get the job done. This saves you time by avoiding a trip to the local home improvement store. All you need is your own two hands and an adjustable wrench.

How to Do It:

✅ Start by locating the water shut-off valve for the toilet. The supply pipe and handle should be behind the tank. Turn off the water supply to the toilet by rotating the shut-off valve handle clockwise.

✅ Once the shutoff valve is closed, remove the toilet tank lid. Grab both sides and lift upwards. It should not be sealed or connected to the toilet. Place it down slowly on a flat, stable surface so you do not crack or break it.

✅ You will now need to empty the tank of water. Do this by simply flushing the toilet with the handle. It is easier to adjust a loose toilet lever without water in the tank.

✅ Now look for the metal nut that secures the toilet lever to the inside of the tank. This is the nut that has come loose. Standard screws and other threaded hardware are forward threaded, but toilet lever nuts and screws are reverse-threaded with a plastic washer. This helps to prevent loosening overtime.

✅ Use your adjustable wrench to tighten the nut. Do this by grasping the nut with your wrench and turning it clockwise. Continue turning the nut until you begin to feel resistance. Once you feel this resistance, make only a couple more turns until it is difficult to turn any more. Be careful to not overdo it and accidentally crack the tank.

✅ Next, test the lever’s tightness and performance by pressing it as if you were flushing the toilet. If it does not compress well, it is too tight, and you will need to loosen it by one or two rotations. Loosen counterclockwise with your wrench.

✅ Finish by turning your water supply to the toilet back on!

Still having problems with your toilet or bathroom plumbing? Contact Weilhammer Plumbing Company at 317-784-1870 for Indianapolis Indiana plumbing services at an affordable price. We provide residential and commercial plumbing service and repair.

You Might Also Read:

How to Fix a Running Toilet Handle
3 Toilet Problems SOLVED!
The Two-Step Method to Fixing a Clogged Toilet

Why Choose a Toto Toilet for Toilet Replacement in Indiana

Posted on February 3, 2021 by weilhammerplumbing

So, your toilet is on the fritz again? Well, they aren’t meant to last forever, you know. When it comes time to replace your toilet, if you want one that will last for a very long time and meet all of your expectations in terms of comfort, performance, and appeal, a Toto toilet is what you are looking for. Continue reading to learn about all the wonderful product features and available models that will have you on the market for a new Toto brand toilet before the day is up!

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The Advantages of TOTO Toilets

If you are looking for a top toilet manufacturer that offers the latest in toilet technology, Toto is the brand for you. Since their establishment back in 1917, Toto has been a leading provider of toilets fore more than a century, and continues to be a top choice among consumers all across the world. One of the most recent and popular innovations by Toto is their Washlet design, which showcases luxury features like seat warmers, bidet-style water pumps, and even built-in dryers for Eco-conscience goers.

Top Toto Toilet Models on the Market for 2021:

? ► TOTO MS604114CEFG#01 UltraMax II
? ► TOTO MS604114CEF#51 UltraMax II
? ► TOTO MS992CUMFG#01 Neorest
? ► TOTO CST244EF#01 Entrada

Which Toto Toilet is Right For You?

Toto toilets come in a wide array of designs, including bowl shapes, heights, and features. Whether you choose a basic Toto toilet model or an innovative, luxury model, the Toto brand maintains the highest standards of excellence among toilet manufacturers, so any choice is a great one for you! The most basic models come with high-end features, such as integrated, premium seats and dual flush modes for water conservation. You can expect the more luxury-style models to offer features like bidet wands, air dryers, heated seats, night lights, automatic lids, automatic flushing, high power flushing (meant to prevent clogs), remote controls, flush options, and even automatic air fresheners.

One feature commonly overlooked by consumers on the market for a new toilet is height. The height at which your toilet seat lies is an important factor for comfort and convenience, and in some cases, even safety. Toto toilets come in two standard height options, allowing consumers to choose the ideal measurement for their bathroom needs. Standard Toto height is between 14.5 and 15 inches from the floor to the seat, while universal Toto height is between 17 and 19 inches. Although standard is the most common, universal models are becoming more popular because they are suggested to promote a more natural, and therefore comfortable, posture.

As for design, Toto toilets come in four different options: one-piece, two-piece, round-shaped, and elongated. One-piece Toto toilets are a singular, smooth unit that takes up very little space, while two-piece Toto toilets have a separate tank and bowl. Elongated Toto toilets have elongated bowls, but are the same width as round-shaped Toto toilet bowls. All Toto toilet seats are custom made specifically for Toto toilets, and will not slide around, unhinge, or crack.

Where to Get Trusted Toto Toilet Installation in Indianapolis Indiana

Call Weilhammer Plumbing Co. Inc. at 317-784-1870 when you toilet replacement in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our Indianapolis plumbers have decades of hands-on experience working with lavatory and commode systems, and provide a wide-range of residential and commercial plumbing services for all make and models, including urinals, bidets, automatic flush systems, septic tanks, and much more. We carry a full line of highly recommended TOTO® toilets, and sell them at whole-sale prices for your convenience. You can always be sure that we have the best quality plumbing appliances and products available on the market. Contact us to request a free estimate or free advice, anytime.