toilet’s drain, a key consideration that is often not followed by inexperienced repairpersons. To properly plunge a clogged toilet, turn off the water supply to the fixture, remember -ing to leave some water in the bowl. Then, push the plunger in and then pull out sharply while maintaining the seal with the commode, repeating the process until the water begins to drain. If plunging does not unclog the toilet, an obstruction somewhere in the pipe may need to be loosened or pulled out, which a plumber’s snake can usually achieve. ■ Foul odors You’ve cleaned the restroom, but a foul odor is still lingering in the air. Interestingly, the odor may have nothing to do with the actual cleaning; instead, it may be coming from an unattended floor drain. A floor drain will have a U-shaped or a J-shaped pipe directly underneath. Normally, water builds up in these curved areas and prevents sewer odors from being released; but, if the water evaporates — which is quite common in schools closed for holiday and summer breaks — sewer odors are released. The most effective way to address this problem is also the most simple: Pour a very small amount of a liquid trap primer into the drain. A high-quality liquid trap primer can last for years, essentially eliminating the odor problem. ■ Toilet gurgles A gurgle is that final sound you hear when a toilet is working properly. The water refills in the bowl and the tank and, when complete, it gurgles. However, if there is no gurgle, it usually means the water is still running and being wasted. A running toilet can often be corrected by doing something our mothers and fathers told us to do back in the day: Just jiggle the flush handle. If a quick shake of the handle doesn’t work, the culprit is likely a sticky flapper, in which case you will need to remove the tank’s lid and lift on the chain to reset the flapper. If neither of these simple solutions do the trick, the entire chain and flush valve must be replaced, both of which are surprisingly easy to install by following the instructions on the package. When It’s Time To Call A Plumber While a cleaning contractor can tackle these and many other plumbing problems that may arise in a facility, there are times when a plumbing professional is called for. For instance, low water pressure can be the result of a variety of causes. Many times, not only will a certified profes -sional be required, but if the problem is seri -ous enough, the local water utility may need to be called in as well. Other examples of when soliciting the expertise of a professional plumber is a good idea include: ■ A lack of hot water requiring repairing or replacing a faulty thermostat or install -ing an entirely new water heater ■ Pipes that have frozen, thawed and THE NEW PACIFIC S-20 AUTOMATIC SCRUBBER. PREMIUM SPECIFICATIONS. AFFORDABLE PRICE. The new S-20 is loaded with features and comprised of materials and components proven to be robust. Whether it be motor horsepower, cleaning down pressure, battery run time or low sound levels, you won’t find another like it in its price range -which is up to 10% less than market average price! Pacific Floorcare is a privately owned, truly American company that is uniquely positioned to deliver this value. Make the S-20 a key cleaning tool in your cleaning operations – you’ll be glad you did. REQUEST A DEMO CALL 800.968.1332 | VISIT pacifi c fl oorcare.com | EMAIL info@pacifi cfl oorcare.com Product Information no. 203 on page 24 www.cmmonline.com 33
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