These directions summarize some supplies and steps we have found helpful when working with toilets. This information is offered for use at your own discretion, and it may or may not be applicable to your specific project. Please consult a professional for more detailed advice regarding your project.

 

  • You can generally fix a running toilet by either replacing the ballcock assembly or the flapper. To decrease the amount of water used for flushing, simply adjust the float on your ballcock assembly, rather than putting a brick in the tank
  • If you’re doing extensive work in the tank, consider draining the water first with a wet vac
  • Gaskets, which connect the bowl to the tank and can be found underneath the tank, often get blistery and sometimes leak. At that point, they should be replaced
  • There might be a small float on the chain of your flapper. If it’s up too high on the chain, the flapper will close too soon, and the toilet won’t flush completely
  • It’s important to have the correct tightness of the chain, ie length. There should be enough slack that the flapper can close completely; there should not be so much slack that there is not enough water to flush the toilet properly, or the chain gets caught under the flapper
  • One reason for a toilet running is the flapper not sealing properly on the flush valve To see if this is the problem, put food coloring in the tank, wait 20 minutes, and see if the color appears in the toilet bowl. If this is, in fact, the problem, determine where is the deformity. You may need to replace the flapper
  • One way to determine whether it’s time to replace a flapper is by rubbing it with your fingers. If anything rubs off, it’s time to replace it. As a general rule, red flappers tend to be more durable than black flappers
  • Another reason a toilet can run is because water is flowing into the overflow pipe.  You must either raise the fill tube above the waterline if it’s adjustable (about an inch), or reposition the float ball. To reposition the float ball, bend the arm slightly
  • Even more than other vintage fixtures, antique toilets can be especially hard to rebuild. Consult with a plumber before taking on any projects with antique toilets
  • One aesthetic item that is easy to replace on a toilet is the handle