We bought a new flapper for it cause it would not stop running. So now we bought a new one and now it takes a long time between flushes to be able to flush again. Please let me know what to do. I have company coming for xmas and I want to get it fixed before than. Thanks for your help. God bless you and yours!
2006-12-20 14:14:35 · 24 answers · asked by alicia s 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
OK! Several people have responded to your dilema. It shows in the varied answers you received. It has nothing to do with the flapper. The fill valve is the most likely culprit. If you turned the valve off, which is located below and to the left of the toilet, to replace the flapper, some debris might have been disturbed when you turned the water back on. The water enters the fill valve through the supply line. The fill valve has several chambers inside, that carry water to(a) the small fill line that runs into the overflow tube on your flushvalve,(b) to refill your tank after the flapper reseats itself. If there has been a break in the water main anywhere upstream of your home, dirt, rocks, leaves, etc. get washed into the mains, and as it travels through the water mains, as people open a valve, faucet, washing machine, etc., this debris enters your home and follows the pipes until it reaches the fixture that is calling for water. You can try and dislodge the debris, by turning the water on and off. It might be faster to replace the fill valve. It is a fairly easy job, that would only require a pair of channel locks. Turn the water off, and flush as much water out of the tank as possible. A small amount will be trapped in the tank, as the flush valve is raised from the bottom of the tank, and won't allow all the water to escape. This is normal, and OK. Unscrew the supply line from the bottom of the fill valve. There is a large nut on the bottom of the fill valve that must be removed. Now pull up on the fill valve, and remove it from the tank. Reassembly is the reverse order of disassembly. After everything is back together, wipe everything dry, and turn the water on slowly, and check for leaks. Use a flashlight to check for leaks, as water will "seep" down the supply line, and you have to follow it up, until you locate any leak. I hope this helps, but if you don't feel confident enough to tackle this, have a lisenced plumber do it for you. He will make sure there are no other problems, that you might not be aware of.
2006-12-20 17:12:13 · answer #1 · answered by poppyman54 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Dear Alicia: I'm not certain about your particular problem - but, here's my thinking : Beside your toilet is a valve. Turn it to the right and I think it turns the water flow to less into your toilet. Turn it all the way to the right and it will turn the flow of water OFF completely. To the left, the flow of water increases into your toilet.
When I had a problem like you are speaking of I found, to my good fortune, (!) that by increasing the water flow the tank fills up rapidly and you can flush again sooner.
If it isn't the water rate of flow, then perhaps (on an older model) it is the ball that floats inside the tank. If not adjusted well, it doesn't turn off the inflow of water properly, and the flush is not as good or complete until the ball causes the flapper to shut tight. The ball may be imbalanced. As long as the flapper stays open, I think the water keeps swirling in the tank and there is not a good flush available.
I hope I am leading you properly.
Best regards, Lana
2006-12-20 14:28:01 · answer #2 · answered by Lana S (1) 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is a water shutoff valve behind the toilet.
Flush the toilet and turn this valve it should increase the flow.
If it doesn't turn it the other way.
If it still does not work better the little hose inside the toilet might blocked with mineral deposits for the line itself that leads to the valve might be blocked in some way.
Beware that these valves can leak when they are adjusted. Especially if they are old. Be prepared to shut of the water to the house and bleed this line into a bucket if that occurs. The valve is easy to replace if necessary. It just unscrews usually and you take it to the hardware store, buy another to match, get some plumber's tape while you're there, wrap the tape around the threads, put on the new valve snugly and turn the water back on to test.
Have towels and/or a wet/dry shop vac at the ready just in case.
Good luck.
2006-12-20 14:24:41 · answer #3 · answered by octopussy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The flapper has nothing to do with the fill speed. Unless the flapper isn't closing all the way and it is still leaking.
Something else must have been damaged in the process of replacing the flapper.
2006-12-20 14:35:04 · answer #4 · answered by the4biddendonut 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry I don't know the technical names for these parts, but you have a valve that comes out of the wall or the floor. Attached to this valve is a plastic hose that is connected to the underside of your toilet tank. (It's purpose is to provide fresh water to the toilet tank.) Check the valve and see if it can be opened further. If so, you'll see that your toilet tank will fill faster, thus shortening the time you have to wait to flush.
2006-12-20 14:25:39 · answer #5 · answered by A C 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the problem is the water valve in the tank . It may have a long rod with a float or a cylinder that travels up and down a tube
It is worm. I am assuming that the valve is fully open at the wall,there should be no in between here on or off
2006-12-20 14:25:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like the fill valve isn't open all the way or somehow got clogged. Try opening and closing the valve several times to free it up. If it's still slow, check for obstructions in the supply line.
2006-12-20 14:17:13 · answer #7 · answered by Bill P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure ur flapper is seated correctly, run ur fingers around the base where it seats to ensurethere is nothing allowing water to pass. Also, you may want to replace the vavle assembly inside the tank, they get mineral deposits in them and slow the works.
2006-12-20 17:27:35 · answer #8 · answered by NIGHTSHADE 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the flapper does not have anything to do with the rate of inflowing water. perhaps you need to adjust the chain to allow less water out of the tank (1.6 gallons per flush should do the trick) on the otherhand maby you need to adjust the shut off valve at the base of the wall or floor behind the unit that you may have cranked off when you replaced the flapper.
2006-12-20 14:20:07 · answer #9 · answered by Stanley S 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Put a brick in the tank. It's like adding ice to a drink, it takes less to fill the glass. This will allow it to fill faster and shut off. Plus you will use less water per flush.
2006-12-20 14:16:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋