5 Frequently Asked Bathroom Questions - With Answers

As professional New Westminster plumbers for over 10 years, we’ve encountered all sorts of questions about toilet repair, clogged toilets, bathtub repair-- you name it. We’ve created this guide to answer some of your FAQs related to bathroom repair. 

Over our years in plumbing repair New Westminster BC, there has been no shortage of interesting questions about bathroom and plumbing repair; if you’ve had a problem with your bathroom and had a question about it, you’re probably not the only one, so we’ve probably dealt with it before. 

In this blog post, we’re going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about bathroom plumbing and repair. 

Q: My Toilet Overflowed -- What Do I Do? 

A: This can be a very nerve-racking and uncomfortable situation, so if you start to see the water in your toilet bowl rising and rising with no sign of return, don’t worry. We know the feeling, and we’ve got the tips to help!  
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The most important thing to do when your toilet is overflowing is to first resolve the problem and clean up, and then it’s vital that you find the source of the problem so that it doesn’t continue happening. 

If you notice that the toilet overflows right after flushing, the most probable explanation is that your toilet is clogged. In this case, we want to stop water flow to the toilet so that you don’t find yourself with a lot of damage from flooding. The best thing you can do is to open the toilet tank lid and press the flapper valve, which will cut off water from entering the bowl and continuing to overflow. 

After the flapper valve is down, you’ll lift the float for the tank fill valve so that the tank won’t fill again. Keep both of those in place for roughly a minute so that there will not be additional water supply to your tank and your toilet’s water level can return to normal. 

If that doesn’t work, you can turn off the water source from the toilet directly; at the base behind the toilet there will be a lever that you should turn to the right. 

Resolving the clog

Once you’ve got the water supply stopped, you’ve got to address the clog. This can be as simple as using a plunger to remove a clog in the toilet bowl, and if this doesn’t help, you may find that you have a clog somewhere in the drainpipe, drain, or sewer line. 

Don’t hesitate to contact our plumbing experts to help you identify the problem and figure out the best way to unclog and repair your toilet or provide you with a toilet installation. We can help with even the most difficult clogged toilet in New Westminster!

Q: Why Does Water Get Cold in the Shower?
 
A: One big inconvenience that you may have identified in your bathroom is that the hot water in your shower doesn’t last, and you’ll find that the water gets cold towards the end of your shower. No fun! There could be a number of reasons for this issue. 

You’ll want to consider what type of water heater you’re using, and think about whether or not it can actually keep up with demand. This might be the problem, and you may want to consider a different type of water heater that can actually meet your needs. 

Alternatively, there could be something wrong with the hot water heater that needs fixing; if the water comes out warm but not hot, you may have to adjust the temperature setting on the hot water heater. If you only have a problem on the shower and no other areas that use hot water, it may be a valve issue (mixing valve) where your valve has become old, or maybe you need to replace the o-ring. 

If you think something’s wrong with your hot water heater, it may be best to contact an expert as it can be dangerous.

Q: How To Increase Water Pressure in the Shower? 
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A: When you find water dribbling out of your faucet or showerhead it can be pretty frustrating, so it’s no wonder that this is one of the most common issues that we respond to with plumbing repair and bathtub repair in New Westminster, BC. 

So what’s the problem? First, you’ll want to verify which water devices are experiencing the problem. Is it just the shower, is it just the sink, or are a variety of them running on low pressure? Run them all at the same time and see if the water pressure continues to decrease. If this is the case, it’s likely that it’s an issue with the main plumbing. You’ll at that point want to call in an expert plumbing team to help with your plumbing repair. 

If it was only an isolated problem to one faucet or showerhead, you can do some troubleshooting to see if you can get the water flow to go back to normal, as there can be a few small issues that occur over time. 
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First, if the shower is the problem, take off the showerhead and see how the water flows without it. There can be a number of things that can prevent water flow on your showerhead, such as a setting that restricts how much water comes out; also, over time, deposits build up in the showerhead and can clog it. If after taking off the showerhead and cleaning it up there is no improvement, it’s time to call in for plumbing service.

Q: How To Fix a Leaky Faucet? 

A: This is the opposite problem that we just discussed in water pressure, and if you have a leaky sink or bathtub faucet, you’ve probably had it with the constant dripping noises. Not only that, you may even see your water costs go up due to the waste of water being caused by the leak. 

There are numerous parts that could go bad over time, causing your faucet to leak. Some of these include nuts, washers, and bolts. It may be a pretty straightforward problem and you can see where the leak is coming from, but if not, you’ll likely have to disassemble your faucet and figure out what needs replacing, and then replace it. It could also be an issue with water pipes. 

If you’re not keen on going to your local hardware store a few times and doing some home improvement learning projects, at this point, it may save you time and effort in calling a professional plumber to help you with your bathtub repair. 

Q: Is There Really a Toilet Vent? 

A: Sometimes, people are confused about what appliances in their house need a vent, and which ones don’t. But there’s an easy way to remember-- if there is a need for a drain, there will need to be a vent. So, since there is a drain on a toilet, yes, it does have vents. 

Sometimes, if your toilet vent isn’t working properly, you may notice some odd sounds when flushing, or gurgling. Also, if you notice you have a consistent odor near your toilet, it could be letting in sewer gases, which can cause issues. 

Showers and sinks also have vents, since they also have drains. If you notice any strange noises or draining problems and can’t figure out what’s going on, there could be an issue with the vent or drainage system.
 
If you are concerned that your toilet, sink, or shower has a problem with the vent or something else, it’s a good idea to call in a plumber for a toilet repair, new toilet installation, or plumbing repair. New West Plumbers have a lot of experience in this and are just a phone call away to help with your toilet repair in New Westminster.