HOW TO REPAIR A TOILET

Did you know that as much as 80,000 gallons of water can be wasted each year by an undetected toilet tank leak? It makes economic and environmental sense to occasionally check the toilets around your home. Even for older ballcock/flush ball toilet tank valves, a full line of replacement parts is still widely available. Or, you can install modern plastic devices instead of repairing the original parts.

The basic working parts of the old-style ballcock/flush valve toilet tank (a) and the modern tank with plastic valves (b).

The Ultimate Handyman troubleshoots, repairs, replaces and maintain all your toilets no matter how many you have. We have a maintenance program for facilities with more than 20 fixtures, in which we inspect, adjust and repair plumbing parts at the first sign of a problem, saving water; therefore, saving your money and the environment.

CHECK FOR LEAKS

* Most toilet flush tanks work in the same way. The tank contains two valves–a flush valve and a refill valve. One type of refill valve is commonly called a ballcock.

* When the flush valve fails to seat properly, water is leaked from the tank into the bowl. The leaked tank water is replenished by the refill valve, causing a continuous flow of wasted water.

* If the refill valve leaks, the tank overfills, and the excess water runs from the overflow pipe into the toilet bowl. A waterlogged float causes overflowing, even if the refill valve itself is functioning properly.

* You can check for a leaky flush valve very simply, as shown. Shut off the water supply to the toilet. The shutoff valve is located beneath the tank on the left side as you face the toilet. Mark the water level, then check it again in 20 minutes. If the water level has fallen below your mark, the flush valve is leaking. If not, the flush valve did not leak, and you know that any leaks are being caused by the refill valve.

* To check both the flush valve and the refill valve for leaking, simply drop some food coloring or laundry bluing into the toilet tank to color the water. Do this when the tank is fully refilled after a flush. Don’t flush the tank again until you have inspected the toilet bowl–a few minutes later–for signs of color. If the bowl water has a hue, there’s a leak.

Your toilet tank contains two valve assemblies–a flush valve and a refill valve. This drawing shows ballcock/flush ball valves (a) and modern plastic valves (b).

To check for a leaky flush valve, turn off the toilet’s water supply, and make a mark on the side of the tank at water level and check it in 10 to 20 minutes to determine if it stays filled.

SIMPLE ADJUSTMENTS

* Your toilet tank may simply need a good “tune-up.” Here are some adjustments you can make.

* Refill valve. If your tank has a conventional ballcock refill valve, the water level is adjusted by bending the float arm. The level should be high enough for complete flushes, but the water should not be to the top of the overflow pipe. Your tank should have a colored or molded water level mark. It should never be set so low that the bowl does not refill with trap sealing water. The rule of thumb is to set the water level about 3/4″ below the top of the overflow pipe.

* If the float rubs on other parts, simply adjust the float arm sideways. If the float lacks buoyancy, unscrew then shake it to determine if it is waterlogged. A waterlogged float should be replaced. The float arm can also be replaced, if needed.

* In tanks using modern plastic refill valves, the tank water level is adjusted in other ways. If your tank uses a hand nut, turn the nut clockwise to raise, or counterclockwise to lower, the water level. Or, your tank may have a sliding pinch clamp on an adjustment rod.

* Flush valve. Replacements for a flush ball and its actuating mechanism are available, but it may be possible to stop a leak with minor adjustments. Check the following mechanisms before purchasing replacements.

* See that the guide arm is centered directly over the seat. The guide arm should drop the flush ball directly into its seat. If the flush ball is not seating properly, make the adjustment shown.

* The guide arm should allow the flush ball to rise enough for a complete flush. If not, raise the arm. Be careful that it isn’t too high–then it will prevent the ball from closing completely.

* Check that the upper lift wire pulls the flush ball high enough. To adjust it, simply bend the wire for a higher or lower lift.

* The lifting hardware on a flapper-type flush valve should raise the rubber flapper to start a flush, but should not hold the flapper up off its seat. If this is occurring, the hardware is adjusted too short. Some types allow you to slide the flapper itself up or down on the refill tube to ensure that the flapper meets the valve seat squarely. The lifting hardware and flapper height adjustments are the first things to check when flapper problems arise.

* Refill tube. If the bowl-refill tube is out of place, water is routed directly into the tank, rather than replenishing water in the bowl. When this is the case, you will likely hear splashing sounds during tank refill. The refill tube should aim directly into the overflow pipe but should not reach below water level. If the tube extends too low, it will siphon tank water silently away. Fix it by repositioning as shown.

* Defective refill tubes on some valves can be replaced with new plastic ones. Simply place one end of the plastic tube over the serrated plastic lug on the body of the valve, and place the plastic holder in the top of the overflow pipe.

To adjust the water level on a conventional toilet tank, bend the float arm down to lower or up to raise.

One widely-used plastic refill valve has a pinch clamp to control the water level. Slide the clamp up to raise the level or down to lower it.

The flush ball’s guide arm must drop the flush ball directly into its seat. To center the guide arm, loosen the set screw and rotate it on the overflow pipe.

The bowl refill tube should be arranged to aim into the overflow pipe but should not reach below water level.

FIXING THE FLUSH VALVE

* Most toilet tank troubles can be traced to a faulty flush valve. You have three choices in correcting this common problem: (1) repair the old flush valve; (2) replace the flush ball with a more modern flapper or install a glued-in replacement flapper; (3) or install a new flush valve.

* These repairs require a varying amount of work. The more simple adjustments were discussed previously.

* Examine the old flush ball or flapper. If it is aged or encrusted with deposits, replace it with a new one. Scale deposits on the seat can be removed with steel wool or with No. 500 wet-or-dry abrasive paper. But if the valve still leaks, it must be replaced.

* You can install a new guide arm, if necessary. To remove the lift wire from a flush ball, turn it counterclockwise with pliers. If you are replacing all parts, simply cut off the old lift wire.

* Flapper. To replace a flapper, disconnect the lift hardware from the trip arm and slide the flapper up and off the overflow pipe. Install the new unit, reversing directions, and connect the lift hardware back to the trip arm. Any excess lift chain can be cut off or left dangling, if it doesn’t interfere with toilet operation.

* A loose trip handle can be fixed by tightening. The nut has left-hand threads, and must be turned counterclockwise to tighten (looking from inside the tank). Or, you can install a replacement trip handle.

* Glue-in repair kit. Many replacement flush valves simply glue in place on top of the old valve seat. While several brands are available, not every type of flush can be replaced by these devices.

* On single-piece toilet tanks–with a flush valve held in place with flanges that fit inside the opening–the flapper-ball may bind and prevent a leak-proof seal. On more common two-piece toilets, this problem does not occur.

* Using a glue-in repair kit is quick and easy, but you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions. To be sure you purchase the right kind of repair kit, take a rough drawing of the bottom of your toilet tank and flush valve to your hardware or home center store.

A lime-encrusted flush valve seat can be cleaned with steel wool to remove the deposits.

Mount the replacement flapper to the over-pipe

A glue-in replacement flush valve and seat combination glues into the seat of an old metal valve and makes a lasting repair to some valves without removal. Follow the manufacturer’s directions.

INSTALLING A NEW FLUSH VALVE

* Flush valves are held to the tank by one large jam nut on the bottom of the tank. Installing a new flush valve usually requires removing the toilet tank from the bowl, which can be rather complicated. However, wall-mounted tanks may not need to be removed.

* If the toilet tank must be removed, turn the water off completely, flush the toilet and hold the trip lever down to evacuate most of the tank water. Use a sponge to remove the remaining water. Disconnect the tank’s inlet fitting from the water supply. If the flexible riser tube is damaged, replace it.

* Then, unscrew the two rubber-gasketed bolts flanking the flush valve. These bolts go through the tank and bowl flange, with nuts beneath. Use caution–forcing the bolts may cause you to break the tank, bowl or both. Use plenty of penetrating oil on the threads. If they still won’t budge without force, try wrapping masking tape around a hacksaw blade and sawing with the teeth facing you, so the blade cuts on the “pull” stroke. The layer of masking tape will protect the bowl’s glazed surface from saw scratches.

* The tank should now lift away from the bowl. Lay it upside-down on a throw rug or newspaper padding to protect it, and unscrew the large nut holding the flush valve to the tank. Use channel-locking pliers plus penetrating oil and extreme care to avoid breakage. Clamp a well-padded locking plier/wrench around the flush valve to keep it from rotating inside the tank.

* Install the new flush valve according to the directions. The rubber gasket goes on the inside of the tank to prevent leakage. The flat washer fits on the outside to prevent tank damage.

* Use new brass tank hold-down bolts, which will remain workable. Tighten the bolts just enough to compress the tank’s soft rubber gasket and keep it from leaking.

* Install the water supply riser to the tank and turn on the water.

A new flush valve fits the hold in the bottom of the toilet tank. the rubber gasket goes on the inside; the washer fits on the outside.

Click on drawing above to view animation.

FIXING THE REFILL VALVE

* Brass-style toilet refill valves can often be repaired. To take a valve apart, remove the lever’s screws. This allows you to lift out the float arm and valve plunger. Check the flat rubber washer on the end of the plunger. If it’s worn, you can pull it out with pliers and either turn it around or replace it. This procedure usually corrects an overfilling problem. Next, reassemble the valve. If the tank continues to overfill, check to make sure the operating lever at the end of the float arm is functioning properly.

* New refill valve. To replace the entire refill valve assembly, first turn off the water supply. The tank should then be flushed and sponged out, as detailed previously. Remove the inlet nut and riser tube from the bottom of the refill valve beneath the tank. Hold the refill valve inside the tank with a padded locking plier/wrench to keep it from turning, and remove the nut beneath the tank. With the nut off, the refill valve assembly can be lifted out and a new one inserted in its place. Follow the exact instructions included with the unit you purchase.

* Finally, reconnect the riser tube and turn the water on. The tank should fill, allowing you to adjust the water level according to the instructions that were included with the valve.

* Anti-siphon valves. The best refill valves offer anti-siphon protection. In fact, this may be a requirement. This protection prevents back siphonage of toilet tank water into your home’s potable water supply system if a vacuum occurs in the toilet’s water supply system. Whether or not this is a code requirement, the anti-siphon valve is a good idea to protect your family and public health.