Why Does My Toilet Whistle

The unexpected whistling of your toilet can come about at the most inopportune time. Imagine flushing your toilet in the middle of the night and it happens to begin whistling at you. Clearly the result of some damaged parts. Unfortunately, the stores are closed and now you have a nuisance on your hands. Why does my toilet whistle? It whistles due to a worn down rubber gasket or damaged fill valve. Both items need to be replaced.

Let’s take a look below at the best approach to replace these parts.

Toilet valve may need replacing.

What Do I Need

Stopping by your local hardware store is a great idea at this point. You can purchase the parts that you need to stop your toilet from whistling. Pick up a fill valve replacement and the rubber gaskets that go with it. Let’s review the necessary steps for making this replacement happen.

Follow these steps to replace the valve:

  1. Shut off the water valves under the toilet tank and empty the remaining water from the tank.
  2. Unscrew the plastic nut from the old valve from the bottom of the tank.
  3. Make sure the new fill valve is adjusted to fill to the adequate water level and attach it to the toilet tank.

How Much Does It Cost

The cost to repair a whistling toilet can be rather inexpensive. If you know your way around a toilet bowl you can make the fix rather quickly. The cost of the materials is all you will come up with and that can range from $20 to $45 for the parts. All parts can be found at your local hardware store. If you are going to hire a professional plumbing contractor to make your fix, you are looking at paying $75 to $200 for parts and labor.

Other Recommended Maintenance

While you are taking care of the whistling sound from your toilet, also check around the base to make sure it isn’t leaking. Next, move to the t-bolts and make sure they are in place, and then check the wax ring.  Lastly, you may need to replace the toilet or caulk.

Next, take a look at the sink in the bathroom. If there is calcium buildup, you will need to take care of this. Calcium buildup can be caused by hard water so getting a water softener will be helpful. Also, you can use white vinegar to take the calcium off the faucet.

Lastly, if you find that your bathroom smells like sewage, there is an issue but you can fix it. It may be the toilet, sink, jacuzzi tub, or shower drain. Taking a closer look at these areas will help you find the cause and get rid of the nasty smell.

Toilet leaking water is a plumbing issue and needs to be tended to.

When Do I Call A Professional

Dealing with plumbing concerns is never a fun project. You can accidentally make a bigger mess with water leaks and spills that don’t otherwise need to happen. Accidentally breaking the porcelain of your toilet tank is possible if you don’t really understand the leverage of replacing your fill valve and gaskets. Calling a professionally licensed plumbing contractor allows you to save time and money on your plumbing projects. They will get the job done quickly and correctly. Consider calling on your local home inspection team to get a thorough home inspection, which can include your plumbing.

Conclusion

In order to avoid further damage to your toilet and bathroom, it is a great idea to contact a professionally licensed plumbing contractor. Your plumbing contractor can replace the fill valve and rubber gasket quickly and save you time and money. If for some reason you have other plumbing needs, they can complete these projects all at once. Contacting your local home inspection team to determine if you have other plumbing concerns is a great idea at this point. Consider the worn parts in your toilet as a way to remind you that everything breaks down eventually. Home Inspection Geeks can take a look at your plumbing needs when we come out for a home inspection in the Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties, IL.

How Long Does It Take To Replace A Roof

Having to replace a roof is never a fun task. Not only can it be costly, but it can be time-consuming and stressful. Do you just replace the shingles or do you go for something more trendy? This is just one of many decisions a homeowner must face when replacing their roof. Curb appeal is important in the neighborhood, in case you look to sell your home one day. How long does it take to replace a roof? Roof replacement depends on the type of roof and the damage to your current roof.

Let’s take a look below at some of the details involved with how long it takes to replace a roof.

How Long Does It Take

The time it takes to replace a roof varies based on the size, shape, damage of the roof, and the roofing crew. In some cases, you might need an entire roof reconstruction and this could take a couple of days. The roofing contractor that you hire will be able to give you the best timeline for the completion of roof replacement. Keep in mind that most licensed roofing contractors have multiple projects going on at the same time.

So, it is highly likely that you will see a team for demolition day, and then they might not return for a day or two. The standard timeframe is a single day to remove the old materials such as shingles and sheathing. Then you might need another day to install the new materials. This timeframe varies based on the damage to the roof and size of the roof.

Pitch of the roof can affect how long it takes to install.

Factors That Affect The Timeframe

The existing roof and the square feet of that roof are huge factors that can affect how long it takes for a roof replacement project.

  • Weather-colder months and the rainy season might delay the roofing replacement
  • Roof Shape and Size-the bigger the roof, the more material needed, the longer it will take.
  • Materials Used-type of roof materials selected, such as synthetic slate, shingle roof, metal roof, etc.
  • Accessibility-how easily the roofing contractor can scaffold and support his/her crew on the roof.
  • Historical Significance of the Roof-historically significant buildings have specific laws and code for reconstruction. Following to a specific detail can take time.
  • Damage to the Current Roof-shingle replacement or replacing the boards underneath can determine the length of the job.
  • Steepness or Pitch of the Roof-steeper the roof the more difficult it is to rip off the old and install the new. Safety first will require the roofing contractor to take their time and ensure that all is safe when working on a steep roof.
Asphalt shingle roof

What Is Different In Each Roof

The actual timeframe of a roof replacement can vary based on complexity, time of year, and size of the roof. Roofs can be categorized as easy to difficult, in terms of replacement and installation. Let’s take a look below at the differences.

  • Asphalt Shingles (easy)-can be completed in 1-2 days.
  • Metal (moderate)-can be completed in 2-5 days.
  • Membrane (moderate/difficult)-can be completed in 2-14 days.
  • Wood Shakes (moderate)-can be completed in 2-5 days.
  • Concrete Tile (difficult)-can be completed in 5-14 days.

So, when wondering how long it might take to replace your roof, consider the type of roof that you currently have and if you are going to use the same materials for your new roof. Do you have a flat roof or pitched roof? You might decide to change the roof look and switch from shingles to a metal or tile roof. Keep in mind that this changes the timeframe of completion by the roofing contractor.

How Much Does It Cost

Unfortunately, replacing a roof can cost a lot of money. The varying pricing across the country is vast. Depending on where you live, a new roof could cost $3.50 to $16 per square foot. So, the size of your homes roof, materials needed, and labor fees are all factors in determining how much you will pay. The national average for a new roof is $8,000 to $12,000. In many cases, roof damage is caused by a naturally occurring environmental factor and can be covered by your homeowners’ insurance. Make sure you do your research prior to replacing the roof.

Other Recommended Maintenance

While you are getting your roof inspected, you will want to consider other roof inspection items. Check out this roof inspection checklist. The checklist will help you look for areas of repair, such as any exposed nails, missing tiles, or flashing to name a few. Lastly, if there are damaged shingles, they should be repaired or replaced. This might save you some time and money, rather than replacing an entire roof.

When checking your roof to see if it needs to be replaced, take a look at the plumbing vents as well. Plumbing vents stick out from the roof and their purpose is to keep methane gas out of the home. It is important to keep it clog-free, as in no bird nests, debris, rodents, or humans blocking it.

Lastly, gutters are great to have on a roof but sometimes homes don’t have them. Does this mean you must get them? Not necessarily. You can have a rain dispersal system, french drains, or a rain barrel collection system.

When Do I Call A Professional

Call a professionally licensed roofing contractor if you are concerned about damage to your roof. A professionally licensed roofing contractor will assess your roof damage and recommend any needed repairs. Also, if you are missing any of the shingles and have substantial damage, a professional can help with a replacement cost estimate.

Also, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can conduct a roof inspection at the same time as your home inspection. The home inspection team can give you a checklist of damaged areas on the roof, that allows you to share with your professionally licensed roofing contractor. Having both a home inspection team and a reputable professionally licensed roofing contractor saves time and money.

Conclusion

When working on a roofing project it is always best to contact your local home inspection team. They can recommend a reputable professionally licensed roofing contractor. In addition, the home inspection team can look at other damage to the roof, so that you can begin to get an idea of the magnitude of repairs that are needed. Getting the home inspection can save you money on your roofing project and ensure that you hire the best roofing company in town. Give Home Inspection Geeks a call. Home Inspection Geeks can take a look at your roofing needs when we come out for a home inspection in Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties, IL.