You probably have a friend — you know, that one friend — who think that everything is music. He boasts about perfect pitch and claims he can correctly name the note the microwave makes when it’s done heating up your soup. He might even tell you about the songbirds in your own backyard.
The next time he’s over, ask him to identify the pitch of your toilet’s flushing sound. It’s not just a prank, either; most toilets in America will flush in the key of E flat. See if that one stumps him.
Of course, we don’t tend to think of our bathrooms as musical chambers. They’re typically in-out-and rooms where we don’t too much thought to what goes on inside them. But we should, according to statistics. The plumbing industry in America is worth just under $100 billion in revenue, which seems to suggest that perhaps we’re not spending enough time taking care of the appliances we take for granted inside our bathrooms — yes, even our musical toilets.
That’s why we put together this list of three common toilet ailments and how to remedy them.
Cleaning clogged drains
Most (wise) homeowners keep a handy plunger next to their porcelain bowls in the event of a clogging emergency. It’s a very smart move, but it only goes so far. Certain situations can’t be solved with a quick drain-plunging on your own, and in those times, it’s best to get in contact with a residential plumber (or if you own a business, a commercial plumber). There’s a lot more to a clogged drain than meets the eye, and you have have heard success stories using DIY methods like wire hangers and dish soap. But the more successful methods are those of a skilled, trained plumber.
Sealing up cracks
There are two kinds of cracks that can plague a toilet: cracks in the bowl and cracks in the tank. The latter can be identified easily by putting dye into the tank’s water and waiting for it to seep back out. If the spilled water is the color of the dye, it’s time to call a plumber and seal up that crack, or maybe even get a new toilet altogether. If it’s a crack in the bowl, you’ll have a much larger (and much smellier) problem on your hands. That’s how you’ll know when to hire a plumber immediately.
Preventing contamination
Picture yourself as a restauranteer, serving up culinary masterpieces to a base of loyal customers. You’re quickly rising in popularity and drawing diners from all around town when disaster strikes: bathroom troubles. Who would want to eat in a place where toilets are constantly running or backing up? Commercial plumbers can handle those needs, and they should do it sooner rather than later. Waste water can contain harmful bacteria (like E coli) which never blends well with a hip new neighborhood dining spot. The sooner it’s fixed, the better off your entire operation will be.
So whether you hire a team of highly skilled commercial plumbers or Joe, the gruff local residential plumber with a heart of gold, just hire someone. After all, you want your toilets producing a grand symphony of musical notes, not a dank cacophony of disaster. Read more about this topic at this link.