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Is your toilet overflowing? Strange smells coming from the washroom but you’re not sure what’s going on? There’s nothing more frustrating in the home than a toilet that isn’t working properly. Not only that, but a broken toilet can also be a hazard to both the home and your health. If you have problems with your toilet, don’t wait to let the problem get bigger. Call Service Fox today and we’ll come to take care of any problems you might be facing.
Our staff are well trained and well equipped to identify any problems you might be having with your toilet, and to fix them on the spot. Diagnosis of your problem is the first step and there’s not much we haven’t worked with before. Once we discover what’s causing your problems, we can start fixing it. These are usually centred around the following: a blocked toilet (toilet paper, sanitary products, children’s toys), the constantly running toilet (where water just keeps on moving through and you can’t seem to stop it), the non-flusher (the flushing mechanism might be broken) and the slow filling toilet (something is going on inside the toilet that’s causing the water to flow less efficiently). Or it could be that the pipe leading to your toilet is cracked or bursting, in which case, you need an emergency plumber!
At Service Fox, we aim to satisfy through high quality customer service. We use high quality tools and technology, along with state-of-the-art systems, to determine the problems you’re facing – and to come up with the best solutions to fix it.
But before we tell you how to repair your running toilet, we’ll first explain what a ‘running toilet’ is and what causes them.
Normally, when you flush your toilet, the water in the cistern flows freely into the toilet bowl and then the cistern gradually refills with fresh water. The water flow is then shut off when the water reaches a certain level by lifting a float. However, if your flush isn’t powerful enough, the water won’t be able to refill the tank and your toilet will just keep running.
This isn’t necessarily something that you need a 24-hour plumber in the Sutherland Shire for, as it’s usually something that can wait till the next day. But you’ll at least want to know what causes a running toilet, as this will allow you to better communicate with any inner city plumbing service that comes to your home.
Flapper Seal Failure – Around the flapper there is a seal that helps to avoid leaking water into the toilet bowl. Over time, this seal can become corroded, causing water to leak into the bowl and causing a flush failure. This may be as simple as replacing the seal around the flapper. You can usually find this seal at your local hardware shop.
Length of Flapper Valve Chain – The flapper valve is held in place (and allowed to move up and down) by a chain. This chain can sometimes be too short, not allowing the flapper to close properly, allowing water to leak into the bowl. If the chain is too long, there won’t be enough pressure to produce a strong enough flush. This can be fixed by shortening the chain with a pair of pliers, or buying a new, longer chain – they should come in standard lengths for toilets – make sure you choose one that’s longer than the one that you have now.
Broken Toilet Handle – Another thing that can cause issues with running toilets is a broken toilet handle. Over time, the bolt that holds your toilet handle may become corroded, or the connection between the handle and the flapper may also become corroded. Either way, you’re going to want to replace the toilet handle and see if that fixes your problem.
While these fixes might work, if you find that your toilet is still running, it’s time to call in professional help from Service Fox, your friendly plumbers offering top-notch plumbing services in the Eastern Suburbs. You should call us in if you’ve tried to fix the issues listed above, and your toilet still runs. While those are the most common causes of running toilets, there might be another problem.
Remember that by waiting to call in an inner city plumbing service, your water bill is increasing by the second. No matter where you live in Sydney, our Service Fox team can help you. We have plumbers in the Sutherland Shire, and plumbers in Cronulla. We also service blocked drains in Cronulla, so if that’s what’s causing your running toilet, we’ll know how to fix that.
Service Fox can help with diagnosing and fixing your running toilet by checking that it’s not something more serious. Or, if everything you’ve read above about how to fix it just sounds like Greek, we’d be happy to come out and take a look.
When purchasing a new toilet, there are many options available to you – colour, shape, size, piping arrangement, even technological advancements – smart toilets and touchless flush systems, to name a couple. However, one of the major choices you’ll need to make is that of a concealed cistern, versus a visible cistern.
In order for you to better make your decision, we’re going to list the pros and cons behind both systems and teach you a little about what concealed cisterns actually are. So that, when you’re choosing your next toilet system, you can make a better-informed decision.
Firstly, a cistern is a reservoir for holding water – your toilet’s cistern is typically located directly above the actual toilet bowl and is connected via a pipe to your water supply, so that your toilet can drain and then a special mechanism within the cistern allows the toilet bowl to be refilled with fresh water, which is stored in the cistern until it’s flushed again.
Most standard home toilet systems come with an unconcealed cistern, meaning that you can see it – it sits atop the toilet and can be accessed easily by a plumber, should there be a problem with your cistern’s water supply.
However, if you find yourself starting from a blank slate when it comes to your bathroom, then a concealed toilet cistern might be what’s best for your bathroom. These concealed cisterns maintain the same operating parameters as a traditional cistern, however, they are hidden in the wall itself via clamps, to the studs or beams of the wall.
You should regularly test the water in your cistern to ensure that it has not been contaminated. If contaminants are found, you need to contact an emergency plumber in the Eastern Suburbs immediately. There are plenty of options for plumbing services in the Eastern Suburbs, so if you live in Manly, you should contact Manly plumbing services, likewise in Sutherland Shire and Cronulla respectively – contact a plumber in the Sutherland Shire or a plumber in Cronulla.
1) Space Saving
One of the main reasons to have a concealed cistern is to save space in your bathroom. Not having a visible cistern means that you can save wall space and floor space, this allows you to maintain a more aesthetically pleasing visual in the bathroom.
2) A More Modern Look
Yet again, aesthetics are considered when installing a concealed cistern. The lack of cistern above a toilet is considered a more modern approach to bathroom interior design. This is often accompanied by a touchless, water-efficient toilet system.
3) Makes for a Cleaner Space
The more traditional box-style cisterns can gather bacteria and dust on their underside – which is often overlooked when you’re cleaning your bathroom. So, concealing your cistern in the wall will eliminate the extra bacteria in your bathroom.
1) Trickier Maintenance
One of the main cons of having a concealed toilet cistern is that they are often harder to maintain, though when installing your concealed cistern, you must ensure that you have an easy way to access it, should it need to be looked at by any inner city plumbing service.
2) Extra Expense
Concealed toilet cisterns, because of the nature of their connections to the rest of your bathroom plumbing, are considerably more expensive than your average traditional cistern. Due to the labour involved, maintenance of your concealed cistern will also be pricier for any emergency plumber in the Eastern Suburbs.
3) Lack of Manual Control
With a traditional cistern, you can manually refill your cistern in the event of an issue with your plumbing, or a loss of water pressure. However, with a concealed toilet cistern, this isn’t the case. So, this lack of manual control can sometimes present problems.
There’s no doubt that getting a concealed cistern is a more modern choice for your home. However, it’s better to make that decision while your home is being built, rather than to renovate the cistern in – that takes a load of extra work. See if a concealed cistern is right for you and your home and if you have any problems or require any advice, contact Service Fox, and our representatives would be happy to help you.
It’s happened to us all at one time or another. That sinking feeling after pressing the flush button and the exact opposite starts happening. Instead of sinking down, you watch in horror as the toilet water starts rising higher… and higher… and higher still.
In your panic you almost press the button again, because hey, it works with the TV remote, right? But thankfully you stop yourself. While an unflushed toilet is a problem, an unflushed toilet overflowing all over the bathroom floor would be a disaster! That’s when you’d need to find an emergency plumber in the Eastern Suburbs… and FAST!
If you notice the water actually is still going down, that would be a relief at least. But when it’s draining much too slowly to do its intended purpose, what can you do about it? Well before finding a solution to fix the problem, like finding some affordable plumbing in Sydney, it’s a good idea to learn about the most common causes of a slow flushing toilet first.
Clogged Toilet
If the water rises too high when flushing your toilet, it often indicates a clog or blockage somewhere in the toilet plumping. If the blockage is in the drain, you’ll need a plumber in the Sutherland Shire. Clogged toilets are typically caused by something getting stuck that shouldn’t have been flushed. This could be all kinds of foreign objects and household items, such as baby wipes, children’s toys, sanitary products, toothbrushes, facial tissues, and even excessive toilet paper.
Broken Valve
There is a ball or float valve located inside the cistern which is supposed to shut off the water once it has risen to the right height. If there is too much water, this valve might need a little adjustment, or if it’s broken or faulty it will need replacement. You might need plumbing services eastern suburbs.
Blocked Drain
This is easily one of the most common causes of toilet issues, which are typically caused by tree roots seeking nutrients or a clog that’s been pushed further through the plumbing. A blocked drain will also become increasingly worse with time, and there’s usually some kind of secondary indicator of blocked drains Cronulla. Sinks, baths, or showers may also be abnormally slow to drain, or there are gurgling noises or foul odours coming from them.
If the toilet isn’t flushing and the water level is rising, the first thing you should do immediately is turn off the toilet water supply. Look for a tap located just behind the toilet off to one side near the floor, and simply turn the tap clockwise to close. You might want to arrange a plumber Sydney in the inner west just in case.
Toilet Plunger
The right plunger used correctly will typically fix most clogged toilets. If it doesn’t work, simply call a plumber in Cronulla instead. Put the plunger into the bottom of the bowl and then push it gently all the way down to expel all of the trapped air inside the bell end. Then simply start plunging in and out. As long as you maintain the air seal, it will push the water back and forth inside the drain and hopefully will loosen the clog.
Water Blast
Wait until the water level is at least halfway empty and then quickly pour a bucket full of water into the bowl. You can also try using hot water after squirting some dishwashing liquid or similar into the bowl to lubricate the clog. This fast burst of water will work similar to a plunger by loosening and pushing the clog through the pipes. If the clog is still there, call a manly plumbing service instead.
Chemical Cleaners
There are a number of chemical cleaners available on the market which work fast to dissolve many clogs in your toilet. Just remember to read the instructions and always wear protective gloves and goggles. Sometimes this is better left for emergency plumbers in Sydney’s eastern suburbs instead, as chemicals can be dangerous.
Sometimes when toilets aren’t flushing correctly, it isn’t a simple thing to fix. In fact, it can often be an indication of a much bigger inner city plumbing problem. So if you’ve tried to clear the clog yourself, it’s time to contact experienced 24 hour plumber in Sutherland shire like Service Fox. We can troubleshoot your plumbing problem so your toilet is flushing normally as quickly as possible.
Before you learn how to fix your clogged toilet, you’ll need to know why it’s clogged and whether your clogged toilet is something you can fix by yourself, or if you need to call in an emergency plumber in the Eastern Suburbs.
Clogged toilets can be caused for a wide variety of reasons, some things will clog your toilet so badly that you’ll need to call an emergency plumber or get hold of a Manly plumbing service.
Baby wipes – One thing you definitely should not flush down your toilet, but it’s easy to make a mistake and do so – or for your kids to do so out of ignorance, is baby wipes. They’re made from thicker paper material than toilet paper and do not break down in your toilet’s downspout as well.
Toys – If you have children, who suddenly have missing toys, and you’ve suddenly got problems flushing your toilet – somehow, some way, their toys may have ended up down the toilet – it’s worth checking for when you call in a plumber in the Sutherland Shire.
Pipe problems – If you’re not having any issues with too much paper, or babies’ toys finding their way into your toilet, but are still having problems flushing the toilet, you may have larger issues like a burst pipe. If this is the case, you’ll definitely need the services of a 24-hour plumber in the Sutherland Shire. But don’t worry, there are many affordable plumbers in Sydney.
Slow septic system – One of the most important things to not forget about as a homeowner – though it’s easy to do – is to regularly pump your septic system. Not doing this regularly can cause your toilet to back up. If you need a professional to inspect your toilet and help with the pumping, contact one of the plumbers that specialises in blocked drains in Cronulla.
An older low-flow toilet – Some of you were quick on the jump with low-flow toilets, trying to save water and be environmentally conscious at the same time! Which is great – unfortunately now though, it might be causing your plumbing problems. If your toilet was installed between 1994 and 1997, it’s considered a ‘first-generation’ low-flow toilet. These are prone to not being powerful enough to fully flush your system. It no longer has the power required to push your waste into the drains. If problems persist, you may want to consider upgrading your toilet to a newer low-flow system.
Hard water buildup – While you might not think it, your water might actually be causing your toilet to become clogged. Hard water in particular can cause issues over time by causing a buildup of limescale and other mineral deposits. If you do have this issue and you suspect that it’s your hard water that is causing your problems speak to the team at Service Fox.
While a clogged toilet can be an annoyance, there’s every chance you can fix your problem yourself! Use the trusty plunger to try and remove the blockage. However, if you are unsuccessful, you can call on plumbing services in the Eastern Suburbs.
Your emergency plumber in the Sydney Eastern Suburbs will show up with a snake – a tool that allows them to extract objects from down the toilet piping. They’ll also perform a visual inspection of your toilet and pipes, to ensure that there’s no breakage.
Fixing a clogged toilet if the plunger fails is something you should leave to a professional plumbing service. Contact Service Fox today to see how we might be able to help you.
Depending on how your drains got blocked in the first place, clearing them could be a simple task or a mammoth one. Essentially, the sooner you get a professional in to find the problem, the less you’ll need to stress about the size of the project. A slow draining kitchen sink could soon become a flooded floor, if you don’t deal with it as soon as you notice the problem. That’s why we recommend getting in touch with our team as soon as possible if anything isn’t going right. Here are some of the signs you should watch for:
Give us a call today and our helpful team will provide you with the right advice and a quote for our services. We can come to your home or business, diagnose the problem and have it fixed right away.
Thanks to the wonders of indoor plumbing, we’re able to filter debris while flushing water down the drain and away from our homes. However, drains can, unfortunately, get themselves clogged during this process.
While it usually only starts out as a fairly minor issue, blocked drains and clogged pipes can very easily and quickly escalate into some pretty major problems which require costly repairs, such as pipe corrosion, flooding water, and sewage backing up.
What Does It Mean If Your Drain Becomes Clogged?
Whenever your drain becomes clogged, blocked, or is only draining water slowly, it will usually be caused by some kind of obstruction in the pipes, which will usually depend on which room the drain is located.
For example, the main cause of clogged drains in the bathroom is when soap scum builds up inside the pipes and binds with foreign particles of dirt, skin flakes, and especially hair. This accumulation of gunk continues building up over time as it reduces water flow and eventually blocks it off completely.
On the other hand, clogged drains in the kitchen are usually caused by the build-up of food particles, detergent soap scum, and cooking grease or oil. When food and other substances that are unable to quickly dissolve are washed down the drain, it doesn’t take too long before they create a significantly gunky and stubborn blockage.
While slow drains and blockages are a fairly common problem, they can sometimes be an early indicator of a much more serious plumbing problem such as gurgling drains, bad smells, broken pipes, or a tree root infiltration. These are significant situations that call for professional repair work before they end up causing broken water pipes, extensive interior damage, or raw sewage starts backing up inside your home or business.
6 Easy Tricks To Keep Your Drains Clear
While clogged drains in your home or business are always annoying, even more so when they happen regularly, they’re usually a preventable issue. And it’s much easier to prevent clogged drains by eliminating the problems that cause them than it is to unclog them. So, here’s the best ways to keep your drains clear and avoid clogging them altogether:
By taking these simple proactive measures, you’ll be able to limit how often your drain will clog by noticing any drainage issues before they cause more severe problems that are irreversible and costly.
What You Shouldn’t Do If You Drains Block Up
While something needs to be done if you have a clogged drain in your home or business, there are some things you shouldn’t do. For example:
DON’T keep running water down a completely blocked drain
DON’T use any other drains until you know the problem is with only the one drain
DON’T try pouring boiling water down a blocked drain
DON’T use acid drain cleaners or other dangerous chemicals
How Can Service Fox Help?
Attempting to fix basic issues with clogged drains by yourself is sometimes possible, but can be difficult without the right plumbing tools and knowledge. That’s why you should contact your expert local plumbers from Service Fox when you first notice any issues with slow drainage or clogging. Our professional experts offer a complete range of plumbing services to both residential and commercial properties, allowing us to locate the cause, deal with the issue, and provide your drains with a thorough deep clean.

Blocked drains present a range of hazards so if your toilet or sink is backing up, or your yard is flooding, we’re here to assist.
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If your flush isn’t flushing, or your drain isn’t draining, we can help. From blocked toilets to slow fillers, we can fix it all.
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We provide a full range of plumbing services across the Central Coast region of New South Wales for commercial and residential customers.
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This depends on two things – how bad is the existing roof? And how much money do you have to spend? Obviously replacing your roof is going to cost a lot more, but if you simply repair the roof and the damage increases over time, you could be facing a much larger financial burden in future. Your best bet is to talk to our team, have a consultant come out to take a look at it, and we’ll provide you with the right advice based on our evaluation.
We have a number of easy payment plan options. To find out more, simply get in touch with the team today to discuss.
Yes! You certainly can. We offer emergency plumbing services, including blocked drains, hot water repairs, dishwasher installation, cistern plumbing, pipe relining and shower plumbing, as well as gas fitting. We’re available for emergency repairs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!