When cleaning your bathrooms, it’s also a good time to perform the important task of checking the condition of plumbing fixtures such as the toilet, shower, bathtub and sink fixtures. Here’s a checklist to help you maintain the operation and usability of your bathroom.
Toilet Plumbing Maintenance
You can first start by testing your toilet for leaks, both inside and outside your toilet. In between flushes, it’s possible that your toilet tank can leak clean water into your toilet bowl, which is understandably hard to detect. One easy way to detect internal leaks is by simply adding food coloring to your toilet tank, then checking to see if the colored water leaks into your toilet bowl (this observation period includes NOT flushing the toilet, as the tank water will discharge into the bowl at that time). External leaks tend to be more noticeable, with water often visibly pooling at the base of the toilet or behind it underneath the pipes and shutoff valve. Simply place an old hand towel or paper towels around and behind your toilet to determine the area where the external leak is occurring. Depending on the cause of the leak, you may need professional assistance from a licensed plumber for toilet repairs or it may be something simple like a flapper valve in the tank.
Check and clean your toilet’s rim jets – the holes that dispense clean water to flush out your toilet bowl. Over time, mineral buildup and bacteria obstruct these holes. This prevents water from flowing out full force and can cause a weak flush. Look underneath the toilet rim and grab a toothbrush to scrub and remove any buildup in your toilet’s rim jets.
Determine if your toilet flushes efficiently without wasting water. Ensure the handle returns to its original position after flushes to prevent needless water from running. If it doesn’t, there may be an issue of it sticking or the connective chain getting tangled. Because a stuck handle often results in the stopper unable to close, once you initiate a flush the water continues to run from the tank and fill the toilet bowl long after waste removal. You may also need to remove the tank lid to ensure the stopper closes and the water stops running once the toilet has finished flushing.
Lastly, although this is not a maintenance task itself, remember that to prevent future clogs you should only flush toilet paper down your toilet. Even “flushable wipes” can contribute to or cause a clog, since they take longer to break down. Stick to flushing toilet paper only to be safe.
Bathtub and Shower Plumbing Maintenance
After cleaning your shower tub and walls, you may be tempted to stop there, but don’t! You also need to properly maintain your shower head for optimal performance. Naturally occurring hard water mineral deposits can build up in the shower head filter, clogging it and encouraging bacteria and mold to grow in the damp. This buildup affects the water flow and water quality that you shower in. While poor water quality can be an indication that you need your hot water heater flushed, a reduced flow of water is a clear sign indicating it’s time to clean your shower head.
Tie a ziplock or plastic bag full of distilled white vinegar around your shower head for a few hours. Submerging it in the vinegar will dissolve the deposits, and then you can use a toothbrush to scrub at the shower head to help dislodge the gunk. Be sure to run the water for a few minutes afterward to get rid of all the vinegar.
For bathtubs with shower heads, you may also need to check the shower diverter valve on your tub spout, which is responsible for switching the flow of water from the bathtub spigot to the shower head and can wear out over time. Turn the water on and observe the water flow when switching between the tub spigot and shower head. If the diverter valve isn’t working properly, you’ll notice water leaking out from one or both sources, and the flow of water seems weak or uneven. If your fixtures aren’t properly dispensing water where directed, you may need a replacement diverter valve. You can extend the lifespan of a shower diverter valve by channeling water to the bathtub spigot before fully turning off the water.
Your shower drain is also an important part of your plumbing maintenance that requires your attention. Over time, hair, dirt, soap scum and more can easily cause a clogged shower drain. If you notice your shower or more commonly, your tub draining more slowly than it used to, you likely have a clog that will only worsen without attention. If possible, remove the drain strainer and/or stopper. With rubber gloves on, attempt to remove any blockages you can see and reach. Straightening a wire hanger and bending a small hook at the end can also extend your reach. Finally, if you have metal pipes, pouring some boiling water down the shower drain can help dislodge some of the blockages. It’s often best to deter these problems by purchasing a drain guard that can help avert preventable clogs.
Bathroom Sink Plumbing Maintenance
Like with your shower head, bacteria and hard mineral deposits can clog your faucet or affect its water flow. After scrubbing and cleaning your faucet as much as possible, fill a bag with distilled white vinegar and secure it around your faucet head. Leave the bag there for a few hours, let the vinegar do its dissolving work, then remove it. Run the water for a minute or so to rinse out the faucet, and voila!
Your sink faucets also run the risk of malfunctioning due to repeated daily use. At some point, your faucet may start to leak or it may get harder to turn your faucet on and off. Diagnosing the reason for the leak or handle issue will depend on the type of faucet you have. But in many cases, the faucet cartridge is responsible for your sink faucet problems. The cartridge controls the water flow when you turn the handle, and may require a replacement valve to fix the issue. If the source of the leak instead stems from the base of your faucet and not the spigot, it’s possible you need a replacement O-ring to seal against leaking water. Knowing the type of sink faucet you have and paying close attention to how your faucet normally operates is the first step to noticing any issues and determining which replacement parts you may need.
The last item on your to-do list for bathroom plumbing maintenance checklist is properly maintaining your sink drain. The first step is to remove the drain stopper if possible. Doing so is necessary to effectively remove gunk and mold growth that accumulated over time, and allows you to disinfect both the stopper and reachable portion of your drain. If you find that your sink is draining slowly, it’s likely that you have a partial blockage obstructing the drain flow. Use products that are safe for your pipes to help dissolve the clog.
Regular maintenance is essential to ensure the effective performance of your bathroom fixtures. These simple, but important tips can help you achieve that goal when performed on an ongoing basis. If while considering your bathroom maintenance tasks, you decide you need professional plumbing assistance, don’t hesitate to call Atlas Home Services! Our team of experienced plumbing technicians are here to help you with all your plumbing repairs, maintenance and replacement needs. Contact us today!
