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jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 385
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 7:40 pm: | 
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So the plumbers finished my upstairs bathroom today, and after they drove out of my driveway I discover my DOWNSTAIRS toilet is running. I just got home, so one of them used it.
I open the lid and I cannot figure out how to make it stop. It's not one of those balls on a stick that I remember from my youth. It's a little hose that squirts water into the tank from a large square thing on the top of the water inflow. There's a central drain pipe that is just constantly running -- draining the water squirting from the little hose. I can't understand the stop mechanism. I turned off the water input to stop the running.
I don't want to do anything dumb, because right now it's the plumber's fault, and once I screw it up it'll be my fault. But it's Friday.
Please advise how to stop the running. Thanks to whoever responds. |
upondaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 616
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 7:49 pm: |
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Check the tank flapper. maybe it's not closing all the way. But why do you assume it's the plumber's fault? |
Joe R.
Citizen
Username: Ragnatela
Post Number: 338
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 8:15 pm: |
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It's definitely the flap. Has to be. The only way it's the plumber's fault is if he used that facility to relieve himself. This is a D.I.Y. |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 386
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 8:21 pm: |
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Why do I assume it's the plumbers' fault?
It wasn't running when I left in the morning. They were alone in the house working all day. I got home, said, "good bye" to them and walked over to a running toilet. I'll welcome alternative theories.
The flapper is closing, because the water is filling and running over the tube in the center that prevents overflow in a situation just liket his. Plus I re-flushed as my first fix, and watched.
Flapper? Check.
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jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 387
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 8:27 pm: |
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Okay, maybe the flapper isn't what I think it is. I checked the thing that lifts up when you flush. It drops back down and seals. There is slack on the chain. The tank fills, but nothing shuts off the inflow hose. It just runs out of the overflow drain forever.
It seems like the same problem that would happen with the old ball on a stick running toilet, where you could lift the floater ball and shut off the water coming in. Only I don't know what to do to shut of the water coming in.
I want this to be a DIY! |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 353
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 9:08 pm: |
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Replacement kits for toilet tanks can be found at any hardware store and are extremely easy to install. Buy one and install it. The toilet tank mechanism you describe has to be ancient, and it's highly likely it simply failed. You're lucky it lasted this long.
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Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 512
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 9:27 pm: |
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Lift the black tube out of the larger tube and I'll bet you hear a low gurgle sound.
That sound is the vacuum breaking.
That black tube has to be mounted on a clip above the water level in the tank or it will constantly siphon the water from the tank into the bowl via the large tube causing the running bowl sound.
Definitely a DIY job.
Master Plvmber |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 388
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 10:43 pm: |
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wnb, because this was done by plumbers, if replacement is the only solution they're doing it. The unit is circa 2001 - not old.
Master Plvmber, I see the black tube, and the clip. If I hold the tube into the air, the water will continue to fill the tank and continue to overflow through the overflow pipe.
The problem is it never shuts off. Does anyone know what shuts off the tank filling on this type of unit?
Help! |
upondaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 617
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 11:04 pm: |
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First off, if you haven't already, turn off the water at the shutoff under the tank.
If it isn't the flapper then it's probably the fill valve. It's gonna take you longer to drive out and pick up the part than it will to replace even if you live next to a hardware store. The thing I don't understand is why you have to assess blame on the plumber. Do you think he intentionally sabotaged your crapper? |
The Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 1678
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:04 am: |
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sabotage! crapper! i love this thread! |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 389
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:07 am: |
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If I used a toilet and it was running afterwards, I'd feel some pressure to try to make it stop, say at a friend's house.
Now change it to I'm a plumber doing a job as some guy's house, and I use a toilet that we're not working on, and it starts running. I feel no need to do anything. Nor do I tell the homeowner. I hand the guy a bill get in my truck and drive away.
Now imagine you're the real me. I can't reach anyone for help with my f-ing running toilet all weekend long. I'm here on MOL trying everything you nice people suggest, and nothing's working. What I really need is a f-ing plumber in my house, which I did have today, and THAT'S who used the toilet last! Why is everyone so defensive about the plumber? I have a plumbing problem because of the plumbers who used my toilet. I'm trying to fix it myself, but I think it's reasonable to be irked as I write out the check for two weeks of work, that I'm doing plumbing myself on the last day.
So then does everyone agree I should just replace the whole stupid thing?
J.B. |
Master Plvmber
Citizen
Username: Master_plvmber
Post Number: 513
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 6:39 am: |
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Jersey boy, is the water entering the tube from the bottom (seen as you look down into it) or is it flowing over the top.
If it comes from the bottom, it's a faulty tank flap.
If it comes over the top, it's the fill valve.
(the thing with the rod and float ball attached)
Master Plvmber |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 390
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 7:29 am: |
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Master,
It is coming over the top. So yes, it is is the fill valve. This has been my diagnosis since the beginning. However, this type of toilet doesn't have the rod and float ball!
It has a square thing that looks like an aquarium filter. I can't figure out how the thing detects tank fullness and shuts off, because right now that isn't happening.
If it's a gonner, I'll replace it. I've done this before. I was hoping there might be some kind of "jiggle" option.
Sorry everyone, about the rant last night. I hope I explained my frustrations clearly. |
jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 391
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 8:07 am: |
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Also, because of the repairs done on the upstairs bathroom, the plumbers had to shut off the water and turn it back on. I've realized this because of the air and sputtering from faucets since.
Any chance an air pocket or something like that is messing with the fill valve? |
Dennis J O'Neill
Citizen
Username: Plungy
Post Number: 9
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 10:02 am: |
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What happens sometimes is that, during the renovation or repair, in turning the water on and off, little particles of pipe scale (rust) are loosened and travel down the lines. These particles can become lodged in your toilet fill valves, faucets ect. causing mischief. If you just dropped a big chunk of change on your plumber for this reno he should have no qualms about fixing it for you gratis or parts only. We would.
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jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 392
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 4:23 pm: |
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Thank you Dennis.
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jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 395
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 9:36 pm: |
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FOLLOW UP:
Plumber came today to do some finish work. I left a note that the toilet had been running and so I shut off the water supply.
It now works perfectly with no parts replaced. He told my wife it just needed to be "adjusted."
BTW, the hose that was filling the tank is now running directly into what I was calling the "overflow." The water runs into this central tube and then the tank is filling from below? Anyway, it gets to a point on the thing that looks like an aquarium filter and shuts off.
No mention of a charge for this.
Thanks everyone.
J.B. |
Fabulouswalls
Citizen
Username: Fabulouswalls
Post Number: 48
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 7:49 pm: |
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jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 403
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 - 10:08 pm: |
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I took a crap in the same toilet and now it's clogged. Plumber -- not responsible.
J.B. |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 1007
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 11:37 am: |
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TMI
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