Check for deals and rebates on high-efficiency models, and keep a special eye on the flush rating! Consider optional features such as pressure assists or heightened thrones.

If you don’t have a plunger, fill the toilet with dish soap or laundry detergent, add a pot of boiling water and then wait a few minutes before flushing. The hot water should break through the clog as the soap washes everything through the siphon and out of the drain.

A running toilet is usually caused by a faulty flapper, the rubber or plastic valve on the bottom of your tank that fails to seal. Open the toilet tank and adjust the float arm to see if the water stops an inch below the overflow pipe. If the water doesn’t continue to fill, the flapper needs replaced.

First, turn off the water supply to the tank and remove the remaining water with a suction device. Allow the tank to dry and then apply epoxy to the crack. Smooth the epoxy out and wait for it to dry to repair your cracked toilet tank.

Your toilet may smell when you flush because of a broken airtight seal. Sewer gas is blocked from entering homes by the drain venting system. A U–shape in the pipe holds a designated amount of water after each flush. The water acts as an airtight seal to block sewage gases. If too much negative pressure occurs, however, the water level can lower and break the seal, causing a smell after you flush.

If you are unable to cut the root or dig it up, you can try specially designed root-removal compounds or solutions. A hydro jetter can also be effective in cutting troublesome roots.