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| Simple toilet problems and their solutions
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Problem
Toilet Bowl Overflows:
Symptoms:
- toilet
won't drain properly
- toilet
overflows
- toilet
does not appear to flush
- toilet
flushes only partially
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| Solution:
Simple Clogs:
Use a plunger with a flange. The flange fits into the
opening at the bottom of the bowl and exerts more pressure
than the old style plunger. Place the plunger in the
bowl and completely cover the drain opening. Plunge
rapidly for several seconds. Most simple clogs can be
cleared with several pumps. |
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Major
Clogs:
A closet auger is a drain clearing tool specially
designed for unclogging major clogs in toilets. A
closet auger is a long piece of coiled metal that
are extended 4-5 feet into your toilet drain through
the toilet bowl. Crank the auger in one direction
until is becomes tight then crank in the other direction.
Repeat this until the auger is in as far as it will
go. Crank the auger to clear the obstruction.Most
clogs clear with one or two uses. Do not use other
types of drain snakes with a toilet as they can damage
the toilet.
Contact
a proffesional if the problem persists.
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Problem
Running Toilet:
Symptoms:
- water
runs continuously inside the toilet
- water
leaking inside the tank
- the
toilet handle needs jiggling to stop the water from running
or to flush the toilet
- water
continue to tricke down the inside of the bowl long after
the toilet is flushed
- water
periodically runs and shuts itself of during the day without
the toilet being flushed
Solution:
Connections:
Check if the connections between the handle, trip lever and
chain are all working.
Handles:
1. If a handle are loose, tighten the locknut
and reflush. If the handle sticks, loosen the locknut on the
inside of the tank and flush the toilet again.
2. Jiggle the toilet handle. If this stops
the running water, adjust the lift chain inside the tank.
The chain "may" be wrapped around the lift arm and
you may need to move the position of the chain on the arm.
Chain:
Tangles in the chain can cause the toilet to run or not flush
at all.
Flapper
valve:
Sometimes the flapper valve is the culprit and doesn't seal
the tank properly. Turn off the shut-off valve below the tank
and flush the toilet to "empty" it. Remove the flapper
and replace it with a new one. If the flapper valve seat is
cracked, you'll have to replace the whole unit, which you
can find at a hardware store. If
the flapper valve and seat seem to be in good working order
and your toilet is still running, the ball-cock assembly may
need replacing.
Ball-cock
assembly:
First empty the tank and then replace using a ball-cock assembly
kit. Be sure to follow the kit's instructions carefully.
Problem
Toilet Does Not Flush Properly
Symptoms
- Toilet
doesn't appear to exchange any water
- Toilet
takes more than 90-seconds to refill the water bowl
- Debris
remains in the toilet bowl after you flushed
Solution:
If your toilet seems to flush, but doesn't remove everything
from its bowl, you most likely have a water level problem.
Remove the toilet tank lid and 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.

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