Q: Should I hire Roto-Rooter or a local plumber?

• <div><p>If you know the job is going to be extensive (and you don&rsquo;t like surprises), hiring a Roto-Rooter specialist may make sense for you. You&rsquo;ll know how much you&rsquo;re going to pay right away.</p><p>That said, <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-hire-best-plumber-plumbing-tips.htm">hiring the best plumber</a> isn&rsquo;t solely about price. If you've worked with a plumber you trust before or have a list of plumbing services you need tackled at your home, working with a plumber might be a better choice for you.</p></div>

Q: Do toilet tank bolts need sealant?

• <div><p>Sealant doesn&rsquo;t need to be applied to the bolts, but it can be a good way to stop an active leak in the moment. However, don&rsquo;t rely on it as a cure-all; instead, make sure to fix the problem at the source by changing or tightening the bolts. </p><p>If you do use sealant, make sure to spread it thickly and evenly across the bolts and the tank's porcelain. </p></div>

Question 1

Should I hire Roto-Rooter or a local plumber?

Accepted Answer

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If you know the job is going to be extensive (and you don’t like surprises), hiring a Roto-Rooter specialist may make sense for you. You’ll know how much you’re going to pay right away.

That said, hiring the best plumber isn’t solely about price. If you've worked with a plumber you trust before or have a list of plumbing services you need tackled at your home, working with a plumber might be a better choice for you.

Question 2

Is it normal for water to spill when I'm changing a toilet fill valve?

Accepted Answer

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First, check that you have cut off the water supply to your toilet. This is a project that can only be done safely if running water cannot reach your toilet fixture. If you're seeing water trickle out after you've confirmed that the water supply is shut off, you can probably rest assured that what you're seeing isn't a problem. It's common for leftover water to spill out when you're removing your toilet's fill valve. If something goes wrong while you're working on your toilet, you'll need to look at your home's policy to see if your homeowner insurance covers water damage.

Question 3

How do you empty a broken toilet?

Accepted Answer

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To drain a broken toilet, place towels or plastic sheeting around the base in case of splashing or overflowing. Next, shut off the toilet’s water supply, usually via a valve on the wall behind the toilet. Begin flushing the handle to remove as much water as possible from the tank and the bowl. Don’t flush the toilet if it’s clogged, though. From there, use a large sponge to soak up any remaining water and wring it over a bucket.

Question 4

How are toilet seats attached to the toilet?

Accepted Answer

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Toilet seats have two mounting brackets on the back that accept mounting bolts. The bolts drop through the brackets, through two small holes on the top of your toilet, and then receive nuts to hold them in place on the bottom of the toilet. If you can’t see the bolt heads, you might need to pry up the mounting bracket cover, which is a plastic piece that hides and protects the bolts.

Question 5

Do toilet tank bolts need sealant?

Accepted Answer

•

Sealant doesn’t need to be applied to the bolts, but it can be a good way to stop an active leak in the moment. However, don’t rely on it as a cure-all; instead, make sure to fix the problem at the source by changing or tightening the bolts.

If you do use sealant, make sure to spread it thickly and evenly across the bolts and the tank's porcelain.