Maricopa homes with hidden problems: toilet bowls

The price of gas, finding a job and ensuring a quality education for their children are all problems that some Maricopans are experiencing.

However, one more thing can be added to that list – toilet bowls.

Toilet bowls, or more specifically Mansfield toilet bowls, are giving the residents of the city something else to worry about.

“We have had a lot of calls about failed toilet bowls and people with flooded homes,” said Pat Clark, an employee of Maricopa Mountain Plumbing.

While Clark doesn’t have any specific numbers on the homes her company has serviced, she said it is a common problem.

The failure is in a part of the toilet called the ball cock. The ball cock is located inside the toilet tank, and its primary responsibility is filling the tank with water.

“When the manufacturer was constructing these bowls, they over-tightened the nut, which eventually leads to the tank cracking and flooding the home,” Clark said.

Maricopa resident Paul Katzowsky experienced the problem firsthand.

He was at home relaxing when he heard a water sound coming from the bathroom. He rushed to the room and found the water feed line had disconnected from the tank and was flooding the room.

“Luckily, I was home to catch the failure,” Katzowsky said.

However, Katzowsky said his neighbor was not so lucky. “He came home one day to three inches of water in the house.”

Clark said that her company recommends that people with the Mansfield brand of toilet replace the faulty part before it causes damage.

“It is a about a $15 part if you do it yourself; however, if our company comes out and fixes it, there is a $90 service call fee,” Clark said.

The part can be purchased at Home Depot, Ace or from Clark’s store at 19536 N. John Wayne Parkway.

To determine the type of toilet in your home, look for the brand name, which is located between the seat and the tank.

To contact Maricopa Mountain Plumbing for repairs, call (520) 424-9414.

File photo