Water damage restoration services in San Tan Valley AZ

7/1/2019 (Permalink)

Water Damage from Improper Toilet Maintenance

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and as your foot hits the floor it feels like a wet mush. What would you do? If this has just happened to you, make sure to give us a call at (480) 553-7103 so we can help! Recently SERVPRO of North Central Mesa had a water damage restoration job in San Tan Valley AZ that was caused by a broken nut on the toilet supply line from the upstairs toilet that flooded the whole upstairs and most of the downstairs. One of the largest causes of water damage that we come into contact with are under maintenanced toilets. Toilets should be checked on a quarterly basis to make sure they are working properly and to make sure none of the pipes are rusted or corroded. 

Suggestions to avoid Water Damage Issues

1. Check the toilet supply line (the piping from the wall to the toilet that fills the tank) to make sure it is connected properly, isn’t corroded, and doesn’t have any cracks. 
2. Check the Fill valve and flapper to make sure they are working properly to let in and out the right amount of water. If one of those mechanisms are not working properly flooding can occur.
3. Make sure the wax ring around the bottom of the toilet is intact. This takes a little more work to check. You will want to make sure the water to the toilet has been turned off (this can usually be done at the toilet supply line) and the toilet has been flushed. This does not have to be done as often as the others. But should be done at least every other year or if you feel movement at the base of the toilet.

If there is damage to the toilet supply line or the fill valve or flapper that causes a water damage restoration claim, there is a chance that it would not be covered by an insurance claim. Most claims are written to only cover sudden and unforeseen losses. So, if your adjuster decides that the loss was caused by a lack of routine maintenance, there is a good chance it will not be covered.

Because there are many toilet and toilet parts manufacturers, the picture with this blog post may not match your specific toilet. If you have questions as to what is where on your toilet performing a Google search for your make and model in the Google Images section will usually find a result that will match your toilet. Fluidmaster is one of the largest toilet and toilet part manufacturers in the US and has a great resource for helping you with your toilet maintenance. You can find that here: Fluidmaster Toilet TroubleShooting.