Whether you're saving water or fixing a leaky flapper understanding how a toilet works and how to fix it is essential. The following information will give you a basic understanding and some trouble shooting tips on standard toilets.
A standard gravity flush toilet has three basic working parts:
The Flush Lever & Chain - Opens the flush valve
The Flush Valve & Flapper - Controls the flow of water from the tank to the bowl
The Fill Valve - Controls the flow of fresh water into the tank.
Replacing a 3 1/2 gallon tank toilet with a 1 1/2 gallon tank toilet can save up to 350 gallons of water per week!
Installation of a toilet is a simple to complete project for any do-it-yourselfer. In addition to the tank and bowl, you'll also need:
Repairing a leaking toilet can save up to 100 gallons per week!
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The Flush Lever & Chain | This is typically a wear item, and not an item that causes a toilet to not perform, or to “run”. Check the flush lever arm to make sure it is not warped, broken. Check the chain to make sure that it is not too short or too long, and that it is not being obstructed by other parts inside the tank. | Replace the flush lever & chain. | |
The Flush Valve & Flapper | When the flapper cannot create a tight seal against the flush valve, water leaks from the tank into the bowl. This can be caused by warped, cracked or damaged flappers. If you have to jiggle the handle to get the water to turn off after a flush, you will likely need to replace the flapper. If there is damage to the flush valve itself, i.e. damage to the round portion of the valve at the bottom center of the tank, water can leak out of the tank, even around a flapper in good condition, and in these cases, the valve and flapper will both need to be replaced. This is the most common toilet repair problem, and the simplest to correct. | Replace the flush valve and/or the flush valve flapper. | |
The Fill Valve | Sometimes, extended use, as well as corrosion caused by chemical cleaners, can cause the shaft of the fill valve to either crack or fail. There is an overflow tube in the tank that catches and disperses into the tank overflow water. If the crack worsens, and the fill valve breaks away, it can cause the tank to overflow, and create flooding damage to property. | Replace the fill valve. There are several to choose from including ones with a vertical float and those with a horizontal float arm and float ball. | |
The Flush Valve Seal | At the point where the tank seats against the bowl, there is a rubber seal, that can sometimes harden and crack, causing a leak from the tank, and causing water to escape to the floor. | Replace the tank-to-bowl washer. | |
Wax Ring | A failing wax ring can allow water to leak from the base of the toilet, and create water damage to the floor. | Replace the wax ring with either a urethane core wax ring, or a waxless ring between the toilet bowl and the floor flange. | |
Bolt Set | The toilet bowl bolts to the plumbing pipe through holes in the china at the base, and attaches to a plastic or metal flange that is glued to the end of the drain pipe under the floor. These bolts can sometimes rust and eventually break, causing leaks. It is a good idea to inspect them periodically, and to go ahead and replace them when the wax ring is replaced. | Replace the bolt set if broken, stripped, or if you are replacing the wax ring.
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