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Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
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Toilet Runs |
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A constantly running toilet is not only annoying but it also wastes water. A toilet runs because either the flapper, or tank ball, needs replacement or the valve is faulty. Determine the problem by squeezing a few drops of food coloring into the tank to color the water. After a few minutes, the water in the bowl will begin to turn color if the flapper is the problem. Otherwise, it's the valve.
Replacement flappers or stoppers are available for all types of toilets for under $10. Flappers are particularly simple to install by sliding the collar down the overflow tube, centering the flapper over the valve seat, and hooking up the lift chain to the trip lever so that it has a little slack.' Instructions are given on most flapper product labels.
Test it, and if the flapper closes too quickly, check the chain's length—pull it tight and then back it off one link and reattach it.
To repair a flush valve:
* Reach into the tank and reseat the tank stopper in the flush valve
* Try bending the float arm down or away from the tank wall
* Replace the float ball it may have filled with water
* After draining the tank, scour or replace a corroded flush valve seat
* Replace the tank-fill tube if it is cracked—or replace the entire assembly and
* Oil the trip lever and replace faulty washers.
  You may need to replace the flush valve, which is a bit more complicated. Before replacing it (or any of the other toilet tank components), turn off the water at the toilet shutoff valve.
Empty the tank by flushing the toilet and wipe up any remaining water. Disconnect and remove the tank-ball assembly.
Slide the collar of the new flapper down the overflow pipe until it's seated at the bottom. Adjust the new flapper so that it's centered over the flush valve and test it to make sure it seals the hole. Connect the chain to the trip lever.
Complete instructions should be included on the new valve's package, but if you're not comfortable with this type of work, call a plumber.
Some toilets fill with a noisy high-pitched whine or whistle. This could result from a defective inlet-valve assembly or water restricted by a shutoff valve that has been partly closed.
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