Is The Water In My Toilet Clean?

Many people are understandably reluctant to touch the water in a toilet. With a few precautions, however, contact with unsanitary water can be avoided. It may surprise most homeowners to find out that the water in the tank, is clean (potable) water suitable to drink (just ask your dog Fido).

Water from the toilet bowl cannot back up into the tank which insures the water in the tank is just as clean as water from a faucet. Truth be told, if you clean the bowl and flush several times, even the water in the bowl will be clean.

Mr. Rooter Tip of the Week

Tip #1 When a toilet is clogged, sewage may back up and flow onto the floor.

Tip #2 Wear heavy-duty rubber gloves when cleaning.

Tip #3 You may need to insert a plunger into sewage to clear a clog. After doing so clean the plunger thoroughly - inside and out- - with hot water and detergent.

Tip #4 If water starts welling up when you flush the toilet rather than swirling down into the bowl, you may be able to keep water from spilling onto the floor if you act quickly.

Tip #5 Remove the tank lid, reach into the tank (remember, this water is clean), and push down on the flapper or stopper until it settles on the flush valve seat.

Plumbing Trade Secrets: It may be necessary to repeat this manual operation to close the valve seat if the water and sewage begins to fill up in the bowl rather than going down the drain. When you close off that hole, water will stop flowing. Take steps to clear the clog before flushing the toilet again.

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