4 Ways Hard Water Can Impact Your Toilet

If you have naturally hard water in your home, then the water will contain more minerals and could impact your water sources in several ways. You may notice a different taste in your drinking water and stains in areas like your bathtub. The hard water can also have an impact on your toilets.



Learn how hard water can impact the daily use of your toilet and ways a plumber can help with treatments, replacements, and repairs.

1. Flush Rotation

The inner rim of a toilet bowl features small holes where pressured water rushes through to create a whirlpool effect that allows water to push down and flush properly. The buildup of hard water can create hardened minerals in those small holes and impact the way a toilet flushes.

You may notice your toilet does not flush as strong or fully rotate to spin and go down. You may find that you have to flush for longer and waste water resources just to drain the water. A plumber could individually clean out those holes and chip away at the hard water build-up or you could consider a toilet bowl replacement.

A new toilet bowl will flush faster, reduce water use, and help prevent clogs.

2. Flapper Suction

On the inside of a toilet tank, the flapper provides proper suction and prevents water leaks into the bowl. If hard water minerals build up around the suction area, then the flapper will not rest properly in the spot. You may notice a small trickle or constant running of the toilet water. These slow leaks could eventually turn to larger ones.

Essentially, you waste a lot of water with a loss of proper suction. A plumber can clean out the tank and replace the flapper. You could also consider a hard water treatment system installed in the whole house. A treatment system will prevent the issues from recurring.

3. Toilet Chain Corrosion

The toilet chain connects the flush handle to the flapper and could suffer some of the same problems as other parts of the toilet. Hard mineral deposits could attach to the chain, cause rust, and eventually cause the chain to corrode over time. If a chain corrodes and weakens, then you may struggle to flush the toilet.

The chain could also snap and make it impossible to flush the toilet with just the handle. A plumber can replace the chain with something more durable and ensure the toilet flushes properly. A new chain installation needs to have the proper length and slack to prevent water leaks or other issues with the toilet.

4. Refill Tube Clogs

The inside of a toilet tank also includes a refill tube. The tube shoots high-powered streams of water into a toilet to quickly refill the bowl. If minerals harden in the tube, then the tube could get clogged over time. Eventually, the water stream could no longer push through the tube and your toilet bowl may not fill properly.

A plumber can replace the tube with a new one to ensure the water shoots through. When you notice a toilet has problems, a plumber will perform a visual inspection of the toilet and determine the exact cause. In some cases, you could have multiple problems when you deal with hard water. Refill tube clog and flapper suction issues can occur at the same time.

For all of your toilet repairs and replacement needs, contact us at Art Douglas Plumbing Inc. We can help keep your toilets running smoothly and offer solutions for all of your hard water issues as well. If you notice a problem, do not hesitate to ask for professional help so you do not cause more damage or have to deal with major water issues.