Q: What happens if you don't replace a toilet flapper?

• <div><p>If you don&rsquo;t replace a toilet flapper, your toilet tank will continue to empty and fill repeatedly, wasting water and running up your utility bills. Checking the flapper is a good first guess when dealing with a constantly running toilet. However, if these problems continue after replacing the flapper, you may need to hire a plumber to check and fix any bigger problems. </p></div>

Question 1

In what order do you renovate a bathroom?

Accepted Answer

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The order of your bathroom renovation should prevent damage to the completed work. Start with demolition and removing the old fixtures. Then, address structural repairs or water damage, if needed. Next, tackle the rough-in phase for plumbing and electrical work, install waterproofing, and work on wall treatments like tile or paint. Install your shower or bathtub, toilet, vanity, and sink. Flooring goes in after major fixtures but before the toilet. Lastly, install new lighting fixtures, mirrors, and other finishing touches as desired.

Question 2

Can I put vinegar in the toilet tank?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, you can clean a toilet tank with white vinegar. Before you do, shut off the water supply to the toilet. Then, flush it to empty the tank. Next, combine one part vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle and spray the mixture inside the tank. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse away the vinegar by pouring clean water into the tank. Make sure the tank is empty, then dip a scrub brush in vinegar and clean the tank’s inside walls. Turn the water back on and flush again to rinse away the vinegar.

Question 3

Where is the toilet vent pipe located?

Accepted Answer

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Toilets typically connect to your main vent stack, a vertical pipe that runs through all finished levels of your home and exits through the roof. It’s located behind the walls, but if you have an unfinished basement or a utility closet, you may find a portion of it running the vertical length of the space. Some basement toilets use an air admittance valve instead, which is a small vent located in the wall directly behind the toilet that extends upward a few feet from the drain.

Question 4

Why do some old houses have a toilet in the basement?

Accepted Answer

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Some older homes have toilets in the basement to combat sewage backups. This type of toilet, also known as a Pittsburgh potty, acted as a safety valve over the incoming sewer line. If a line backed up, it would back up into the toilet because it was the lowest fixture in the home, keeping it out of sight and away from the finished areas of the house.

Basement toilets were also used by workers with messy jobs, like those who worked in coal mines or steel mills. This way, they could clean up and avoid tracking dirt through their home.

Question 5

What happens if you don't replace a toilet flapper?

Accepted Answer

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If you don’t replace a toilet flapper, your toilet tank will continue to empty and fill repeatedly, wasting water and running up your utility bills. Checking the flapper is a good first guess when dealing with a constantly running toilet. However, if these problems continue after replacing the flapper, you may need to hire a plumber to check and fix any bigger problems.