Fixing a Leaky Toilet

Fixing a Leaky Toilet

I’m sure you have experienced the annoyance of a running toilet, the kind of leaky toilet whereby the water seems to run all the time or at least every few minutes. It’s particularly annoying at night. You seem to hear it most often when you are trying to go to sleep, just about the time you drift off into slumber land the toilet water decides to run again bringing you wide awake. It only runs for about five seconds and shuts off. Fixing this type of running toilet is very easy and you don’t have to call a plumber that will charge you an arm and a leg to fix it. You can do it yourself for about $20.00, depending where you choose too by the repair parts.

There are only two reasons why most toilets leak. The first reason is that the flush valve is not closing tightly allowing a small amount of water to leak through the valve into the bowl which lowers the water level in the tank to the point that the float valve opens the internal ballcock valve to refill the tank. That is the noise you are hearing from a running toilet. The second reason is that the fill valve is leaking causing the water level in the tank to be too high above the overflow tube, sending water down into the bowl. The trick is to keep the water tank water level at about one inch below the top of the overflow tube. This is an easy adjustment.

Although there are many types of commodes the internal mechanisms are similar. To adjust the float valve to raise or lower the water level in the tank there is either a sliding clip on the float valve to raise or lower it or there is a coarse thread adjustment screw. Move the clip slide up or down the slide rod or turn the adjustment screw to change the water level in the tank. Hey, it’s that easy and you saved yourself the expense of calling a plumber.

A replacement the fill valve cost approximately $12.00 and the flush valve $4.00. To replace the Fill Valve:

• Shut off the water supply
• Drain the tank completely
• Disconnect the supply tube
• Unscrew the plastic retaining nut from the bottom of the tank and , remove the mechanism
•  Install a new fill valve assembly. It isn’t likely that you will have to make any adjustments as they are usually factory set for a 1.5 – 2.0 gallon tank.
• Reconnect the supply tube and turn on the water.
• Observe the refill and flush several times to insure it is functioning properly.

To change the flush valve simply disconnect the pull chain from the valve, unclip the valve from the stand pipe and remove it. Replace it in the reverse order but make sure that the valve seat is clean from rust and sediment.

That’s it, now you “are a do it yourself plumber”.  Replacement commode parts are available at any hardware store or home supply center. For more imformation on do it yourself projects visit www.homeimprovementplusperks.com

        Fill Valve Assembley                                Flush Valve