Toilet Is Broke?

Question

It will not flush,and there is no water at all in the back tank.What do i do?

Answer 1

Years ago, it was necessary to call a plumber to fix even the most minor bathroom plumbing problems. Old designs, sewer gases, and other dangers made it nearly impossible for the home owner to even attempt to rectify the situation.


Today, thanks in part to efficient designs, better plumbing structures, and improved drainage systems, you can save yourself time and money by diagnosing your own plumbing trouble, and managing your repairs.


CONNECTIONS. With the toilet tank lid removed, attempt to flush the toilet and watch all the connections. Double check to be sure that the connections between the handle, trip lever and chain are all working.


HANDLES can sometimes become loose or "stuck" through everyday usage. For handles that appear to stick, loosen the locknut on the inside of the tank and try flushing again. For handles which are already loose, tighten the locknut and reflush.


TANGLES in the chain which connect the flush handle to the flapper or ball are common. Tangled chains can cause the toilet to run or not flush at all. Provided the inside of the toilet handle (trip lever) is not damaged or broken, you can simply untwist the chain and replace the lid of the toilet. Tangles can also be caused by loose handles. Adjust the locknut on the inside of the handle, if your toilet chain snags frequently.


DEBRIS. It is not uncommon for debris to collect underneath the tank ball. You can lift the ball up manually and clean any debris that has gathered in the underside or corners of your tank.


FLOATER BALLS are the large, hollow balls which float on the surface level of your tank. While the toilet is running, manually lift the float ball. If the water shuts off, your floater ball is set at the wrong angle. To repair the problem, carefully bend the tube connecting the floater ball to the toilet hardware, downward. Continue bending the tube with your hands until it is 1-2 inches below the overflow tube. This should stop water from running immediately. If it doesn't, you may have a damaged float ball. Check for holes and cracks in the ball. If the ball is filled with water or no longer appears to float, it needs to be replaced. You can replace the ball by unscrewing it from its tubing and screwing another on in its place.


TOILETS THAT WON'T FLUSH

Toilets that fail to flush are often the result of tangled or broken chains, loose handles, and improperly secured tank balls.


CHECKLIST

Toilet handle appears loose or stuck.

Pushing the handle of the toilet causes no reaction whatsoever.


Toilets that won't flush are almost always associated with worn handles and chains. Examine both the inside and outside of the toilet handle, to ensure its properly connected to the toilet chain. Reconnect the chain (or replace) if necessary, and reflush. If this doesn't rectify your problem, try tightening the tank ball by turning it clockwise. Reflush.



INCOMPLETE FLUSHES

If your toilet seems to flush, but doesn't remove everything from its bowl, you most likely have a water level problem.


CHECKLIST

Toilet doesn't appear to exchange any water.

Toilet takes more than 90-seconds to refill water bowl.

Debris remains in toilet bowl after flushing.


With the toilet tank lid removed, check the water level inside the tank. It should be 3/4 inch below the top of the overflow tube. If it's too low, carefully bend the float arm (attached to the float ball) upwards. If it appears too high, bend the arm downward. Reflush.


Chains, which are too long, can also cause toilets to flush halfway. There should only be 1/2-inch of slack in your chain. Adjust accordingly.


TIPS AND TRICKS

BEFORE making repairs to your toilet, it's always best to turn the water off. Toilet valves are almost always located in the back of the toilet, near the floor.


ATTEMPTING to flush the toilet, while peering inside the toilet's tank, will help you to diagnose what's wrong. From that vantage point, you should freely be able to ascertain which piece of toilet hardware is not functioning. For this reason, the first step in making any toilet repair is to remove the toilet tank and attempt to reflush the toilet.


CHAINS which connect the handle to other pieces of your toilet can easily rust, break or bend. You can help to prevent future toilet trouble by replacing chains once, every 2-3 years.


ALLOWING animals to drink water from the toilet means you'll probably suffer more clogs. Hair and debris, which collect at the bottom of the bowl while you pet is drinking, are the most common cause of clogged toilets.

Answer 2

Remove the lid from the tank. If there is an arm with a ball on the end, lift it up and down to see if water flows. If not, you need a new fill-valve. A Fluidmaster 400A valve is less than $10 at Home Centers and very easy to install with the enclosed instructions. Make sure the valve under the toilet is not turned off first before buying anything. Turn the handle counter-clockwise to check this.

Answer 3

Sensible man has the points.....Pretty much what I would have said

after making sure the arm and ball doesnt' do anything, make sure the water somewhere else isnt' turned off by accident. Turn off the valve counterclock wise, remove the hose from the valve, and slowly turn back on, if water runs then its definilty faulty components or perhaps limedepoits has clogged somewhere. Fill up with water and put some clr in the tank, this might clear it up. This is an alternative to replacement.

Answer 4

Sounds like the fill valve is broken or stuck at anyy rate you can fix this yourself if you are at all handy.
Step one turn off the water under the tank and remove any water from the tank with a sponge or a wet vac.
Step two unhook the water line from the bottom of the tank and remove the plastic nut under the tank.
Step three remove the fill valve and replace with a new one reverse the steps and see if you have water now

Answer 5

bring up the porcelain conceal from the back of the rest room. Porcelain can smash, be careful the place you place it. The cope with which you push down directly to flush is hooked as much as an arm that extends over the flapper and there it incredibly is connected via a chain or a twine to the flapper, that's the conceal that releases the water from the tank to the bowl. If this connection is disconnected, seem on the thank you to reconnect it. you're able to be able to could desire to close the water off - on the close off valve - on the wall, under the rest room. turn the valve to the excellent. bring up the flapper via hand to enable the water go out the tank. you will have the skill to make certain the way it became linked. If this is broken, you need to purchase a clean cope with, flapper or only the chain/twine, looking on what you detect desires to get replaced.

Answer 6

well a toilet is a pretty easy product. water comes from the valve on the back side. make sure there is water coming from that point. if so, the float on the inside of the tank isnt allowing water to come in from that valve. maybe needing to be replaced. move this valve (float) up and down to see if the valve is stuck or just rusted to the point where its not going to open or close. if nothing, get a toilet repair kit and replace

Answer 7

Find the water valve located below the tank and try turning it.
The water line feeding the tank has been shut off or is clogged with lime or deposits.

Answer 8

Try putting some water in the tank and try flushing it again If that doesn't work you need to call a plumber

Answer 9

Maybe it's just a broken chain that lifts the flapper.

Answer 10

try anything you can think of but last resort would be to call the plumber because they sometimes are expensive