Tag: toilet

4 Things You Should Never Flush Down the Toilet

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things you should never flush down the toilet

Toilet clogs can often be caused by foreign objects ending up in the drain. It can be frustrating and a little gross to deal with these blockages. In order to prevent clogs, it’s important to know what you can and cannot flush down the toilet. To help you out, the pros at Roman Electric have prepared a quick list of things you should never flush down the toilet.

1. Flushable Wipes

This might be a little surprising since the word “flushable” is involved, but it’s generally not a good idea to flush these wipes. This is because they don’t break apart as easily as toilet paper, according to Consumer Reports.

2. Cat Litter

Yes, you heard us—cat litter. While it might seem obvious not to dump cat litter in your toilet, there are certain kinds that are branded as “flushable.” Save yourself and your toilet the trouble and dump the litter (even the flushable kind) in the trash. The troubles that can ensue after litter inevitably clogs up your drains are simply not worth it.

3. Paper Towels

Toilet paper is okay—paper towel is not. That is because paper towel has plastic fibers in it that can’t easily break down in your drain. Dispose of paper towels in the trash.

4. Diapers

No matter how strong your toilet is, it can’t break down diapers or disposable nappies in the sewer system.

Follow This Rule of Thumb

We’ve given you an idea of what can and cannot go in the toilet. If you are confused about what can or can’t be flushed, follow this rule of thumb: If it is not toilet paper, it most likely cannot be flushed.

How You Can Prevent Clogs

There are other steps you can take to prevent clogs, besides knowing what can or cannot be flushed down your toilet. Here are some ways you can avoid clogs and blockages all together:

1. Keep Toilet Lids Closed

Often plumbers will get called because a small toy is blocking the pipes. If you have young children, prevent them from putting any toys in the toilet by keeping your toilet lids closed. You can use a safety lock for extra security. 

2. Inspect Your Toilet Every Month

Make sure the various components of your toilet are functioning properly and are not worn out. Check the flapper and fill valve and ensure they are in good condition.

3. Get a Plunger

If you do not have a plunger, make sure you purchase a good quality flange-plunger. Learn how to use it properly, so you are prepared for any clogs.

4. What Toilet Paper are You Using?

While soft and plush toilet paper feels great, it might be harder on your drain. If you don’t want to change your toilet paper, make sure you don’t use too much of it.

Have any more questions about things you can or cannot flush down your toilet? Thinking about how you can deal with clogs in the most efficient way possible? Roman Electric can answer both these questions for you. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service online!

7 Common Summer Plumbing Problems

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As the seasons change, so does the way you use your plumbing. Summer brings a unique set of plumbing problems that are essential to prepare for and combat. The Roman Electric team has assembled this list of common summer plumbing problems that homeowners should know about. Read on to find out more.

1. Clogged Disposal

Summertime is for cookouts, grilling, block parties, and fresh summer fruits and vegetables. However, more guests in your home and more material going down the disposal could lead to big problems. Corn cobs, melon rinds, fruit stones, and meat grease will block your disposal. If you fear a backup, run cold water for a few seconds before and after using the garbage disposal.

2. Clogged Toilets

School’s out for summer, and that means your kids (and their friends) will use your home’s bathrooms for their restroom breaks. The added flushes will increase wear and tear on flappers, chains, and handles, potentially forcing you to make a repair sooner than anticipated.

3. Sprinkler Issues

In-ground sprinkler systems are especially vulnerable during summer. The increased foot traffic on your lawn threatens your sprinkler heads. A misplaced foot could crack the head and cause a leak. A leaking sprinkler is often hard to detect, because sprinkler heads are designed to spray water. But, the problem will eventually become evident on your water bill. Leaking sprinklers will increase your water usage and raise your utility bill.

4. Slow Draining Showers

Taking a trip to the beach? Be sure to rinse off before hitting the shower. Sand, dirt, and tiny bits of beach debris are common culprits of slow draining showers. However, if your shower is draining slowly, don’t reach for chemical clog removers – these only delay the problem and increase the wear on your pipes. Instead, try to snake your drain. Alternatively, call a plumber.

5. Overloaded Washing Machines

Vacations, trips to the pool, walks outside, and other outdoor activities will increase the work of your washing machine. Overuse and overloading of the machine can lead to leaks in the hose. A hose leak will not only increase your water bill, it can also flood your home! Luckily, a hose leak in a washing machine is easy to fix, you can do it yourself in about five minutes.

6. Sump Pump

If you have a basement in your home, your sump pump is an essential piece of equipment. Sump pumps keep your basement dry when rain threatens to flood it. Summer rains can be intense, and if you don’t regularly maintain your pump, it could break down. When your sump pump doesn’t work, you could be left with a significant amount of standing water in the basement.

7. Outdoor Faucet Leaks

Outdoor faucets get used frequently in the summer, be it for car washes, “slip and slides,” or other fun activities in the sun. But, once you’re inside, the outdoor faucet is out of sight, out of mind. Which means you can’t see it leaking. A leaking faucet can waste up to 90 gallons of water a day. This waste will show up as an increase in your utility bill. Make sure that your faucet is sealed tightly to the wall, and that the rubber washer is in good condition.

Have Some Common Summer Plumbing Problems? Call us today!

We hope this guide has helped make you aware of common summer plumbing problems, and how to avoid them. But, if you have a plumbing problem you can’t solve, don’t hesitate to call a professional. Roman Electric has served the greater Milwaukee area since 1929, providing expert HVAC, plumbing, and electrical solutions. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule an appointment online.

How to Fix a Running Toilet

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A running toilet isn’t that bad, as far as household problems go. There’s usually very little damage there, and the long-term issues that emerge as a result of a running toilet aren’t too serious, all things considered. However, this is one of the more irritating inconveniences around. It’s never fun when we’re lying awake at night, listening to the slow gurgle of the toilet that never stops.

So, what’s going on, and how do you fix it? Thankfully, the main causes behind a running toilet are almost always the same, and they’re not difficult to fix. Let the plumbing pros at Roman Electric help you figure them out!

Flapper Issue

The key to the water flow in your toilet is a mechanism called the flapper. It’s a rubber contraption attached to a metal chain that’s connected to the flushing handle. The flapper’s job is to seal the hole in your toilet that lets water flow from the tank to the bowl, and this is mostly where you can point to when your toilet starts running.

Since it’s made of rubber, it can deteriorate, crack, break or otherwise leak. When it starts to wear down, water will seep through into the bowl below. This explains why you’re hearing your toilet run!

To fix this problem, all you’ve got to do is replace the flapper. They’re fairly inexpensive and easy to install – but if flapper replacement isn’t your forte, then Roman Electric can do it for you.

Incorrect Water Level

To make sure that your toilet only fills with water to a certain level, it comes with a float that tells the toilet when to stop. However, it sometimes gets calibrated in a way that means it doesn’t stop the flow of water in time. When the float isn’t set to its proper height, then more water than necessary fills the tank.

Thankfully, it doesn’t overflow. Your toilet has an overflow tube that funnels excess water away, so you won’t have a floor covered in water. But the water will continually flow through the overflow tube until the float’s height is corrected, and that’ll sound like a running toilet.

To fix this, adjust the float if you know how. If you don’t, give us a call!

Problem with the Chain

The metal chain attached the flapper, which we mentioned earlier, is key to the whole mechanism working correctly. If it’s too tight – when there isn’t any slack – it’s more likely to crack open and allow water through. But it can also cause problems when there’s too much slack: it can get caught in-between the flapper and the opening to the bowl, providing another gap for water to leak through.

You can adjust the chain to give it the proper slack, or we can help you adjust it!

For the best plumbing repair in the Milwaukee area, look no further than Roman Electric. With our top-tier service and unmatched efficiency, we’ll have your toilets running like new in no time.

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to get your toilet back in shape before you know it!