Toilet Repair in Mentone, CA

Mentone at a glance

Mentone is an unincorporated foothill community east of Redlands on the south bank of the Santa Ana River, and a gateway to the mountains along State Route 38. The City of Redlands has provided water to the Redlands and Mentone area for more than 90 years, using Mill Creek and Santa Ana River water, groundwater wells in Redlands, Mentone and Yucaipa, and State Water Project water when needed. Redlands' Hinckley treatment plant sits just north of Mentone.

Service is not uniform, though. Some Mentone parcels receive Redlands water and sewer through case-by-case out-of-agency agreements, and not every property is necessarily on city sewer. If a toilet backs up, find out first whether your home is connected to Redlands sewer; your bill or the previous owner's records usually show it.

Because Mentone has no city government, check with San Bernardino County about whether a toilet replacement needs a permit.

Choosing a replacement toilet

Signs you need a repair

• The tank refills now and then without use
• Water seeps from the base or the supply line
• The flush is weak or leaves residue
• The bowl shifts or the seat bolts are loose
• Slow drains in more than one bathroom
• A musty smell near the toilet with no visible water

Most of these come down to a handful of parts, and a plumber can usually tell which one from the symptoms you describe on the phone. A smell without water often means the seal at the floor is letting sewer gas escape, which is worth fixing even when the floor looks dry.

Seasonal notes

Foothill winters bring the odd frost, so supply lines in exposed spots deserve a look. In summer, tank condensation in cooled homes can leave puddles that look like a leak. Groundwater supplies in this area tend to be hard, so expect scale on tank parts over the years.