Toilet Repair Tips
Since toilets are one of the most used items in our home, toilet problem occurs often. Most toilet problems can be solved with a home toilet repair kit, simple issues like a flush lever replacement and leaky flapper are easy DIY projects.
However, some toilet repairs can be complicated and it’s important to call a plumber! Each Rescue van has an assortment of toilet parts so we can repair your toilet the same day. Here is a list of average toilet parts that we are fully stocked with:
Standard universal flappers
Toto flappers
Kohler flappers
Standard universal fill valves
Toto fill valves
Universal Douglas valves
Tank to bowl bolt kits
Kohler tank to bowl bolt kits
Toilet flange bolts
Toilet wax seals
Assorted Toilet flanges
Here are some of the common failures for toilets.
Toilet Fill Valve
A fill valve is a water-filled vessel that fills the toilet tank after every flush.
If your toilet’s filling system isn’t working, you might see a down arrow on top of your toilet tank or an ‘F’ inside the tank float ball. Or if your tank stops filling, it could be your fill valve assembly failing.
You can inspect the fill valve by removing the tank lid from the toilet tank. The fill valve should be exposed, you can flush the toilet and watch how the water drains and fills the tank.
A defective fill valve will not close all the way, which will allow water to continually flow into the overflow tube and run the toilet.
Replacing a toilet fill valve is an easy fix, you can buy a new fill valve at most hardware stores and easily disconnect the old fill valve.
Continuously Running Toilet
If your toilet runs constantly, you can hear water running long after a flush. Check if the flapper is hanging into the overflow tube inside the tank.
If it’s in good condition and properly sealing the water inlet at the bottom of the tank, then you may have a defective fill valve assembly or float arm.
A running toilet can be fixed with a new fill valve or a replaced float arm.
Broken Wax Ring Seal
A leak from your toilet is always stressful. When checking for a leak it’s important to locate where it is coming from.
If the leak is coming from the toilet’s tank, it could be an issue with the water level. If it is leaking from the toilet base, it might be a broken wax ring seal.
The seal is located on the bottom of a toilet tank and it is responsible for sealing the water from the bowl, so there are no leaks.
A wax ring seal can fail if it’s not installed properly or if it wasn’t designed for your toilet model.
To repair the seal, you have to disconnect the toilet and remove it. A licensed plumber will have the tools and know-how to shut off the toilet’s water supply valve, disconnect the water supply hose and install a new wax ring and make sure it is sealing properly
Damaged Flapper
The flapper is a rubber disk at the bottom of your toilet tank. It’s connected to the flush lever, and it lifts up when your toilet flushes.
It seals off the water supply line so that only clean water goes into your toilet bowl. Flappers can wear out over time or break due to damage. An old flapper doesn’t seal as well and can cause low water flow or slow drain when flushing.
If you suspect you need a new flapper, remove the tank cover and inspect the fill tube and the flapper chain. Push the flush handle to try and flush the toilet, keep an eye on the water pressure and how the water level rises.
If there is too much remaining water, or the water stops before the water line, you should replace the flapper.
