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Follow These Maintenance Tips To Keep Your Toilet Running Smoothly
By KARLI EDMONDSON-MATTHEWS
Look For Leaks
Toilet leaks aren't usually found until they've become a serious problem, so routine maintenance is crucial. Look for ripples in the bowl’s water every week.
Alternatively, put food dye in the toilet tank, and if the color of the water starts to fade without flushing it, then you know you have a leak. Checking for leaks can save water.
Use Water Softener
Place soft water or anti-limescale tablets into the toilet tank to remove the minerals in the water that cause limescale before it is flushed into the bowl.
A great ingredient for combating limescale is white vinegar. When you put vinegar in your toilet, spray the inside of your bowl and leave it to work overnight before flushing away.
Clean Regularly
You should clean and disinfect the toilet at least once a week, as E.coli thrives in and around the area. It also helps reduce the chances of the toilet clogging.
Disinfect the bowl with a product like Method's Antibac, then attack stubborn stains with a brush. Scrub beneath the bowl’s rim, too, and don't skip the outside of the toilet.
Check Water Level
When the toilet tank's water level is too high, the toilet may run constantly or make a hissing noise when it refills. When it's too low, the flush will be weak.
To check the tank's water level, flush and see how high the water refills. It should fill the tank to within an inch of its top but also shouldn't be higher than the overflow tube.
Don't Ignore Odors
If there's a nasty smell even after cleaning the toilet, the wax ring seal that prevents sewer odors from entering the bathroom may need to be replaced.
To fix it, you will need to remove the toilet itself, so it may be necessary to call a professional for help. The cost of replacing a wax seal is typically between $50 and $150.