The mood of the owners and the thickness of their wallets depend on how well the home plumbing works. If a faucet is leaking in the house, or water is constantly flowing in the toilet, the situation clearly requires qualified intervention. Probably, a more rational solution would be not to pay huge bills on the meter, enriching the local water utility, but to try to figure out why the water is leaking in the toilet and decide how to fix the leak. At the same time, there may not be so many fatal causes of the malfunction that you panic and call a plumber.
What could be causing the leak?
There can be only four main faults that cause water to leak from the tank into the toilet:
- Malfunction of the shut-off system of the main valve, which holds the required volume inside the tank;
- A crack in the plastic or brass fittings connecting the tank and the toilet;
- Failure of the float system;
- Abnormal operation of the shut-off valve that regulates the flow of water from the water supply to the tank.
For your information! In addition to the options listed, another reason why water leaks into the toilet may be a crack in the plastic or ceramic wall of the tank.
This is the most unpleasant and difficult case to diagnose, since repairs will usually require replacing the tank; sealing and sealing the crack is almost impossible. But such cases occur, as a rule, once in a million; in addition, in such conditions, water flows from the tank into the toilet and onto the toilet floor.
In 99 cases out of 100, the location and problem due to which the toilet tank is leaking can be quickly established experimentally; for this, you do not need to disassemble the structure, as plumbers on duty like to do, in order to show how to fix the toilet. It is enough to remove the top cover and carefully inspect the lifting mechanism of the main valve, float and shut-off valves. After you observe the operation of all the parts, fill the water three or four times and flush it into the toilet, it will become clear what to do, why the tank is leaking, and how to repair it.
Do-it-yourself diagnostics and repairs
Oddly enough, but according to statistics, the main reason why a toilet usually begins to leak is not the breakdown of any specific part, for example, the valve locking needle, but the usual jamming of the lifting mechanism of the main valve.
Lifting mechanism stuck
The complexity of this malfunction lies in the fact that when the lever or flush button is pressed, in 5 cases the system works normally, and in one case the main bulb or poppet valve, blocking the toilet window, freezes. After the main charge is flushed, some of the water continues to flow out of the tank in a thin stream until the float closes the valve, or the drain system is used again and the main valve bulb snaps into place. The valve is located at the bottom of the mechanism, and you can assess how complete the closure is only by pressing the guide rod with the bulb all the way with your hand. If after pressing the water does not leak, then the source of the problem has been identified.
The cause of this malfunction is usually:
- High salt content in water. The plaque deposited on plastic parts can cement any, even expensive, imported mechanism;
- Factory defect or extreme wear of the mechanism;
- Incorrect adjustment or assembly of drain fittings.
Advice! To check the correctness of the diagnosis, you can press the button ten to twenty times and observe the operation of the mechanism; if in at least one case the valve is frozen, it means that water is leaking due to it.
Fixing the problem is very simple - you need to remove plaque from most of the parts and observe the operation of the toilet flush for 24 hours. If water is leaking, then you need to look at the valves and the float that activates them.
Often, the lift can freeze due to the poor quality of the mechanism itself. For example, the presence of burrs or casting flash leads to a barely noticeable jamming of the rod with a gap of a fraction of a millimeter, through which water leaks in a volume of up to 30 liters per hour.
Inspecting the valve and float of the drain system
The second most common reason why water often leaks in the toilet tank is a malfunction of the shut-off valve. Why water leaks when the main valve is closed can be understood from the video
When the container is filled with water, the float raises the needle drive lever, and the latter closes the inlet hole inside the valve. If the float has lost its buoyancy, then it is impossible to close the entrance, and then water flows into the toilet in a thick, steady stream, without reducing power for many hours. If you remove the lid, you can see that the container is filled almost to the brim, the float has sunk, and the excess overflows through the hole in the central drain pipe. To repair, you just need to replace the float with a new one.
It's worse if the float floats, the needle lever is raised, and the inlet is not blocked. In this case, you will need to inspect the valve body; perhaps the plastic is cracked and water is leaking through the crack. Sometimes the locking needle or the shaft on which the lever rotates becomes deformed, rusts and fails. In this case, as with the lifting mechanism freezing, water may leak from the tank in a thin, barely noticeable stream. To check the operation of the valve, it is enough to drain the main mass and lift the valve lever by hand to the operating position.
If water leaks through the joints or seal, then you can simply repack the valve at the mounting location. To do this, the housing is screwed off by hand or with a wrench from the inlet fitting, blown out, cleaned of dirt, and after winding the threads with a sealing tape-fuel, carefully screwed back until it stops.
In older models, the valve was cast from brass or plumbing bronze; the service life of such a device was calculated to be 10-15 years, but in reality they served for 30 years. Such a valve needs to be repaired and put in place; water leaks through such constipations once every hundred years. In all other cases, the shut-off valve must be replaced.
To avoid getting into a situation where a toilet that is leaking water will add up to three months' worth of water in a couple of days, experienced craftsmen always advise paying attention to periods when the water in the house is turned off. Especially if the riser pipes are old and rusty, or the neighbors are doing renovations on the floor below.
In such a situation, rust and scale easily come off the walls of water pipes and clog both the shut-off and drain valves. At first, water begins to ooze out in tiny portions, but after a week it flows in a steady stream.
Main locking element of the tank
The main valve, also called a bulb, is designed to discharge water into the toilet in one burst. In older designs, the body was made in the form of a thin-walled rubber hemisphere, softly and tightly fitting to the seat. Even if the base was slightly deformed during operation, the thin-walled pear could adapt to the changed profile. In such a system, water leaks only if large pieces of scale, dirt, or limescale get under the valve.
In modern designs, the main valve is made in the form of a round rubber plate. Often during assembly it is necessary to trim and clean the surface of the new valve to ensure the best possible seal. Over time, the rubber ages, and as a result, water leaks from the tank more and more every day. Therefore, in order to prevent a situation where water begins to leak on an almost new tank, craftsmen install a valve made of special white rubber that does not age in water.
Checking the operation of the main valve is quite simple; you need to turn off the water and fill the tank to the required level. A column of water presses the rubber valve to the seat and prevents water flow from leaking. If water does appear, the rod can be lightly pressed with your hand. If water continues to leak under such conditions, it means that it is necessary to change the valve rubber or check the condition of the seat on which the shut-off element rests.
In rare cases, it does happen when the seat ring loses its seal due to a crack or seal failure. For example, you can inadvertently lean on the tank with force, and a day later you find that water is leaking in the toilet, although everything was fine before. In this case, you will need to dismantle the drain mechanism, unscrew the valve support ring and replace it with a new one.
Conclusion
Sometimes know-it-all plumbers resort to an old trick. Instead of replacing the valve rubber, they put a pair of old automotive roller bearings on the stem. The weight of such a load allows you to increase the pressure on the valve, and water stops leaking. Usually the repair ends there. A year later it turns out that water is leaking as before. After inspecting the tank, it turns out that the bottom is covered with a thick layer of rust from rotten bearings. Therefore, such options can only be recommended as a necessary measure for a short period of time.
Proper operation of plumbing means budget savings and a good mood. However, it is not always possible to avoid a toilet leaking after flushing. Unnecessarily leaking water from the tank causes excess water consumption. You can deal with the breakdown yourself, without resorting to the help of a plumber, if you know the algorithm for identifying the problem and how to fix it. The toilet is leaking, if you flush it, what should you do in this case?
Why does the toilet tank leak when I flush?
Why is water running in the toilet and how to fix and repair it? Leaking water from the toilet indicates that the plumbing fixture tank is faulty. The following facts speak about this:
- There is a constant sound of water entering the toilet bowl between flushes.
- A rusty coating appears.
- Condensation collects on cold water pipes.
- The numbers on the cold water meter exceed normal values.
Initially, correct installation of plumbing equipment will help to avoid such inconveniences.
Breakdowns that occur in the future can be easily corrected on your own by familiarizing yourself with the causes and methods of repair.
How does a toilet work?
Before determining the cause of the breakdown, why water is slowly dripping, you should remember the principles of operation of the toilet flush device.
How does a toilet work? Water flows from the water pipe into the flush tank. Recruitment in progress The reservoir fills, raising the float. Having reached a certain volume, the water closes the drain valve and further filling stops. When flushing, press the button (lever, pull the chain), the valve opens, water rushes into the toilet bowl. Next, the filling process should be repeated, however, the toilet tank leaks, preventing the water from reaching the shut-off valve or, conversely, overflows the float.
Causes of failure when the tank leaks water and leaks
Before you fix a problem, you should find out its possible causes. So, we can highlight the main ones.
Incorrect installation and can it be fixed?
Typically, new plumbing fixtures that are not installed to code will leak within the first 6 months of installation.
You can find out and eliminate the cause of the malfunction yourself by disassembling and inspecting the tank for visible cracks, defects and checking the shut-off valve.
Water flows after drawing and filling - a malfunction of the drainage device
After a long period of use, the fittings wear out, causing breakdowns. Also, problems may arise much earlier if low-quality materials for the tank fittings were used in the plumbing.
To identify the problem, you need to close the water supply connected to the tank and observe the leakage. If water leaks when the water supply is turned off, the drain valve is broken. This can be due to blockages, salt build-up from water, or normal wear and tear. You can get rid of damage by giving the tank a “general” cleaning to get rid of plaque and random debris.
If the water remains in the tank and does not flow into the bowl, then the cause is an incorrectly adjusted float, or a clog in the automatic water supply system. In this case, you should try to adjust the water supply pressure.
We identify and correct the breakdown that causes water to constantly flow from the toilet tank
Tank leak can happen in different ways, so you first need to decide how the water flows:
- Leaking through the overflow.
- The leak occurs before the overflow begins.
- Leaks between bowl and tank.
- Along with the drain.
- The water leaves through the overflow.
The toilet tank overflows and excess water spills over the overflow. This problem occurs for several reasons.
Mechanical damage to the flush valve body (button), due to which water leaks
Breakage occurs only with plastic fittings. Deformation or weak, not tight seal of the gasket.
Worn pin holding the automatic drain lever. Float lever displacement.
Before starting repairs, prepare the necessary tools: gloves, wire cutters, pliers and new parts to replace the old ones. Don't forget to turn off the water supply.
Displacement of the lever after flushing the toilet - how to repair
The lever shifts when you flush– The most common cause of toilet leaks. To get rid of the problem, it is enough to return the lever to its original position: below the pipe connection, strictly horizontally.
To eliminate other leaks through the overflow:
- Remove the reservoir cap.
- Try adjusting the float by raising it a few millimeters.
- If the leakage has stopped, then you need to replace the float axis, or bend it (metal axis).
- Turn the float lever slightly to shut off the water earlier.
- The leak continues when the float is raised - attention should be paid to the valve.
- The pin in its composition may wear out, then it should be replaced with a new one or, as an alternative, use copper wire. In the place where the pin is attached there must be a tight connection and no holes.
The solution is to replace the mechanism. Constant leakage when the valve gasket is tightly pressed leads to the cost of a new device.
Current and faulty plumbing is a source of eternal headache, however, in most cases, fixing the problem is much easier than we think. If your toilet constantly flows, this is a reason to take urgent action. High humidity, unpleasant background noise, problems with neighbors - this is a non-exhaustive list of problems that you may encounter. What are the utility bills alone?
Think about it: in a day, a leaking toilet can result in about 200 liters of water spilling out, for which you will have to pay. So what should you do if the toilet is leaking?
There can be two ways out: the first is to call a specialist and rely on his professionalism, and the second is to roll up your sleeves and tackle this issue yourself. If you prefer the second option, then below you will find detailed instructions, as well as a list of recommendations and tips that will help you. Don’t forget that the cost of a good plumber’s services today is almost equal to the price of the plumbing itself.
How to fix a leak in a toilet - step-by-step instructions
So, the toilet is leaking - what to do? You need to start by turning off the water. You should not neglect this point in order to avoid additional problems. Remember: water flows into the toilet flush mechanism under pressure and if something suddenly goes wrong, an impromptu fountain may appear in your toilet. Next, you need to find out which part is malfunctioning and, depending on the need, stock up on some working materials.
You may need the following spare materials:
- construction sealant;
- knife and sandpaper;
- tow, twine or burlap;
- you will need a new analogue of some part if it turns out to be broken.
In addition to materials, you may need construction tools - pliers, screwdriver, hammer.
The most difficult thing is, perhaps, identifying the essence of the problem. The mechanism by which the toilet and flush system works is not that complicated, but it consists of a number of parts, the operation of which you will need to take a close look at.
Reason 1. The reason why the toilet is leaking may be the fact that it is not screwed to the floor (or wall) well enough. In this case, you just need to check the fasteners, tighten them if necessary or replace them with new ones. Be careful, as the toilet is seated on tiles, and if you pull too hard, the tiles may crack.- Reason 2. If the first point does not apply to you, it makes sense to look inside the tank. The cause of the leak may be hidden there. Remove the cover very carefully. This part is relatively fragile and can be easily broken or damaged. And since toilets tend to vary greatly in shape and design, finding a new lid can be challenging. An accidentally broken lid can be a reason to buy a new tank or even toilet, so be careful.
- Reason 3. If water flows from the toilet tank, the cause of this is most often a bulb that does not fit tightly to the drainage point. Over time, this part can become deformed, as a result of which a free space appears in the place of a loose fit, from which water flows. The most obvious way to solve this problem is to simply buy a new pear.
- Reason 4. If you do not have the opportunity or desire to buy a new pear, you can always continue to use the old one. Of course, it will have to be repaired a little to do this. To return the pear to its original shape, stuff it with some material, such as twine, tow or burlap.
- Reason 5. Even if the bulb fits tightly enough to the drain and has the correct shape, the problem that causes water to flow in the toilet may remain. Perhaps the whole point is that the pear is underweight. In this case, you need to weigh it down. This can be done this way: take a fairly large nut and place it on the rod. Ready!
- Reason 6: If you are dealing with old plumbing, rust may be the cause of the leak. It can accumulate in the drainage area and interfere with the tight fit of the pear. If this is the case, remove the bulb and use sandpaper to thoroughly clean the saddle. If the situation is really bad and the layer of accumulated rust is too large, use a knife. Chunks of rust or other debris may also accumulate in the drain area, especially if you have old metal pipes in your home. If this is the case, simply unclog the drain.
- Reason 7. It also happens that water constantly flows in the toilet, but the flush tank does not fill. In this case, most likely the problem lies in the fact that the float is skewed. It is easy to determine that the float is skewed - it will lie at the very bottom. Solving this issue is extremely simple: slightly move the mechanism so that it falls into place.
- Reason 8. How to fix a leak in the toilet if you were unable to return the float to its place? Perhaps the reason for the leak lies in the fact that the connection between the lever on the left and the float has been broken. Return the float to its place - this should help eliminate the leak.
- Reason 9. If your toilet tank is clean of rust and debris, the tank filling mechanism works smoothly, and all of the above operations did not help fix the problem, you may need to replace the flush mechanism itself. This is quite simple to do, but it is important to know the following: the drainage system can be designed in two ways - when water is connected to the tank from below or from the side. First, determine what type of connection you are dealing with. Next, pay attention to the two valves involved in the drain mechanism - we are talking about the inlet valve and the outlet valve.
Reason 10. According to statistics, the exhaust valve breaks somewhat more often. If this is the problem, then the intake valve does not need to be changed at all. However, they are only sold as a set, so you will have to buy both. Unscrewing the exhaust valve and putting a new one in its place is not at all difficult: unscrew the connecting bolts (there are two of them), then the valve itself and replace the gasket. Install the new mechanism and check that everything works properly. Check yourself again: did you remember to turn off the water?- Reason 11. How to fix a leak in the toilet if the inlet valve is broken? Let's start with the fact that it will be easy to determine: in this case, the water flows directly onto the floor. Intake valves are also divided into two types according to the type of connection (bottom or side). However, regardless of the type of connection, the principle of operation of the intake valves is the same. This mechanism is based on a float, which rises to the top as it fills with water. It happens that the float clings to something and stops rising. If this is your case, just unhook it. If this is not the case, and there is a need to replace the intake valve with a new one, perform the same operation as with the exhaust valve. Use a wrench to unscrew the old valve and install the new one. Before you do all these operations, remember that you need to turn off the water.
- Reason 12. Do not forget that any work that you carry out in the toilet flush barrel must be carried out with extreme caution. Parts of this system may be fragile or simply worn out and can easily break if handled carelessly.
- Reason 13. How to fix a leak in the toilet if all the above mechanisms are working properly? Another source of the problem may be the connection of the toilet, or rather the corrugation, i.e. the place where the toilet connects to the sewer pipes. It is better not to put off solving this problem until later, as an unpleasant odor may appear or your neighbors’ ceiling may leak. You can try to correct the situation with sealant, but this will not work if the corrugation you have installed is cheap or completely worn out. The only way out of the situation if the corrugation is leaking is to replace it with a new one. You can buy new corrugation at the market or at a specialized plumbing store. There should be no problems with the choice - the diameters of pipes and similar connections have long been standardized and adjusted to each other. You shouldn’t skimp on this part and choose the best reinforced stainless corrugation so that after a while you don’t have to change it too. Reinforced corrugation with a stainless steel coating will, of course, cost more, but it is more reliable and will ultimately serve you much longer than its cheaper counterparts. For the operation of replacing the corrugation, you will also need a special plumbing sealant.
So, remove the old corrugation and properly remove the layer of old sealant. This is necessary so that the new corrugation fits as tightly as possible. Then apply a new coat of construction sealant and place the new corrugation on the sewer pipe. Apply a new layer of sealant over it. It is important to perform all these operations as carefully as possible. Let the construction sealant dry thoroughly (this may take a couple of hours, no more), and then check how the mechanism works. If you carefully studied our instructions and followed our recommendations, you should not have any problems installing the new corrugation.
If the toilet tank starts to leak, it always causes a lot of inconvenience. In addition to the fact that the sound of constantly flowing water is annoying, and stains form on the toilet itself, bills for used water also increase. It is not difficult to figure out why a toilet tank is leaking, and in most cases, anyone, even a completely inexperienced craftsman, can fix it with his own hands: the only exceptions are those plumbing products that have additional functions controlled electronically.
- Construction of standard tanks
- Types of tank malfunctions
- Useful tips
Construction of standard tanks
Any toilet is a product consisting of an interconnected seat and a tank with a built-in mechanism for draining water. It has been noticed that the drain mechanism fails more often than all other parts. To determine what is disrupting the operation of the device and correctly eliminate it, you need to understand the basic design of the water drainage system.
Tank drain device
A typical drainage device is equipped with two mechanical units: one of them accumulates water, and the other drains it. The first of them ensures the retention of water in the tank, the amount of which should subsequently be sufficient for draining. This device is a system of a float and a closing valve. If the tank is empty, the float falls down and moves the system of levers so that they open the valve, and when it begins to fill with water, the float rises and the levers move so that the valve is closed. The device closes completely when the float reaches the highest point.
The second part of the system is responsible for ensuring that at the right moment all accumulated water is drained into the designated place. In different models of plumbing devices you can see a variety of drainage systems, but the principle of operation is almost the same for all. There is a drain hole in the tank, which is closed with a sealed siphon. The siphon in many models resembles the shape of a regular plunger, but does not have a handle, and in the newest devices it is designed in the form of a button, which is considered more aesthetic. This part is connected to the trigger device using a reinforcement lever system.
Many people don’t know what to do if the toilet tank is leaking and the first thing they do is think of calling a plumber so that the problem can be solved as quickly as possible. However, you shouldn’t be too quick to call the service department, since this task is accessible to any home craftsman who knows how to properly use a wrench, and problems that arise in the drain device are in most cases not too serious and can be fixed with your own hands.
However, you should not delay too much with the repair of the drainage device, since this directly affects the final amount of payment for water use (if the apartment has a meter for a cold tap), and the sound of flowing water can irritate the residents of the apartment, especially at night. In recent years, many new plumbing devices have appeared, but the principle of operation of flush tanks has not changed for several decades: water, filling the internal tank, raises the float. A system of seal, float and fittings releases all the accumulated water into the toilet, and then the water begins to accumulate again and, raising the float, closes the system.
Some people, thinking about how to fix a toilet tank if it is leaking, remember that plumbers always have professional tools with them. In fact, to remove such a malfunction, you only need wire cutters, rubber gloves and pliers. Experienced craftsmen also advise you to look in advance at your nearest store for a new plumbing drain assembly.
Types of tank malfunctions
Before starting repairs, you should determine what exactly is causing the leak and requires adjustment. A leak in the drain system can occur for several reasons:
- If water flows into the tank without stopping, this may be caused by a slight misalignment of the lever or damage to the float valve. There are also cases when the valve does not work quite correctly, but remains intact. This problem can be solved quite easily: the float lever should be aligned horizontally, and the faulty valve or float should be replaced with a working one.
In the event that the float can only be replaced later, you simply need to protect it from the water in the tank by wrapping it in a plastic bag or sealing it with heated plastic.
- If water flows from the tank into the toilet all day long, this is most likely caused by a rupture of the membrane located inside the siphon, which just needs to be replaced with a whole one. To do this, a lever attached to the float is attached to the top crossbar, allowing you to unscrew the nut that secures the flush pipe and connects it to the drain system. When the siphon is disconnected, you should remove the damaged membrane and replace it with a similar one that is suitable in size. After this, the fittings are assembled and installed in the reverse order.
- Sometimes it happens that the tank leaks water because the rubber seal has lost its original elasticity. This happens often with rubber “bulbs”: they become similar to the touch of wood and completely lose the elasticity inherent in rubber. In this case, the old constipation simply needs to be replaced with a new one.
The constipation holds water when it fits tightly into its intended recess. If limescale appears on the seat, the base of the lock does not adhere to its walls with the required density and, as a result, the toilet cistern does not hold water. In such a case, the lock must be temporarily removed, and then the surface of the saddle must be cleaned with a stiff brush or sandpaper and returned to its place. Experienced craftsmen also advise tightening all saddle fasteners during this operation.
Tank drain device
- If the nut securing the base at the overflow point is loose, you need to temporarily remove the tank and tighten the nut located in its lower part.
- If the connecting cuff between the toilet and the tank leaks, you can tighten it with a clamp or try to install it back in its intended place. A rotten cuff simply needs to be replaced with a new one.
- Another cause of leakage can be the rubber gasket between the tank and the toilet. These gaskets may rot, or they may simply be installed incorrectly. Plumbers call such gaskets “bitten.”
- If upon inspection it turns out that the gasket is installed normally, the leak may be caused by a crack that has formed in the tank. Repairing a cracked tank is also not at all difficult: you need to remove it, dry it and fill the crack with sealant.
- Sometimes a toilet tank starts to leak when the shutoff valve won't hold water. A valve defect is very easy to detect: if you press the valve with your hand, the water flow should stop. If this does not happen, then the valve gasket needs to be replaced.
- When the button height adjuster moves for some reason, the tank may also leak. A gap through which water flows occurs when the valve is higher than the water drain hole. To fix this problem, you just need to adjust the height of the button.
- The problem of water leakage can also arise in the place where the drain hose is connected to the tank. A cracked nut will need to be replaced, and if it is not damaged, then tighten it well enough.
- Sometimes the operation of the tank is disrupted due to breakage of the reinforcement. To cope with this malfunction, the easiest way is to replace the entire fittings.
Currently, old toilet models are often replaced with modern ones, which have a more aesthetic appearance and are noticeably more convenient to use. For example, one of the advantages of new toilets is the absence of water splashing and splashing during flushing. However, you should understand that new tanks break down just as often as the old ones did. It should be noted that new models of tanks are much easier to repair, and spare parts for them are made of durable plastic and are relatively inexpensive.
When planning to change the plumbing, you should decide on the desired toilet model and pay attention to how the outlet pipe is installed, which can be horizontal or directed to the floor. Most often today we find compact toilets with a flush in a horizontal plane, as well as “monoblocks”, in which the cistern and toilet are one unit.
Before purchasing and installing a new toilet, you should check whether the installation instructions are included in the kit and study them carefully.
It is important to immediately understand the structure of the tank so that later you can clearly understand why the problem might have occurred. Plumbing fixtures with a simpler cistern design usually last much longer and are more reliable.
Most often, spare tank mechanisms are sold as a set, but if necessary, you can purchase individual parts. If a rare and expensive tank is installed in an apartment, then it will be much more profitable to look for individual spare parts, and in simpler models it is often easier to immediately replace the entire tank. Some time ago, it was common to install the toilet seat on a small raised surface made of cement screed or mount it on wooden rails. Nowadays, the toilet is installed after the wall and floor tiles have been laid in the room. Before installing the toilet, the tiles are marked with a felt-tip pen, and then it is fastened using the markings.
Tank drain device
What to do if the toilet tank is leaking
Tank drain device
Replacing fittings in the cistern
Replacing the mechanism in the tank with your own hands
Similar materials
The main elements of the toilet are a seat with a lid, a bowl and a cistern. It is the flush cistern that, when filled with a sufficient amount of water, cleans the toilet bowl. Therefore, when malfunctions occur in the mechanism of its action and any malfunctions appear, this causes significant inconvenience.
- Water fills the toilet tank, entering it through a pipe.
- As a result, the float rises.
- A float, a lever and a seal take part in the drain. When a sufficient amount of water is collected in the cistern, the shut-off valve closes. After this, the water tends to the bottom and the water drains.
An interesting fact is that the very mechanism of the toilet and flush cistern was invented quite a long time ago, and since then it has only been improved, but has not undergone significant changes.
If suddenly there are malfunctions in the operation of the tank, for example, water flows from the tank into the toilet, then this always causes inconvenience and requires finding out the cause of the damage. Most often, if water leaks, the factors that contributed to the leak are not critical; they can always be eliminated and a faulty drain tank can be quickly repaired.
The tank is cracked
In this case, the problem is obvious and, to eliminate it, it is necessary to repair the toilet cistern by sealing the crack using special means. Choose any good sealant and get to work. Sometimes the problem can be solved with the help of high-quality glue, which will firmly seal the edges of the crack, the cistern will again hold water in the cistern itself.
The flush button height adjuster has shifted
It happens that the problem is related to button flushing Then the location of the drain hole becomes lower than the valve, which causes a gap (gap) to appear between them. As a result of this displacement, water flows into the toilet. After you have discovered this problem, simply adjust the height and then you can safely use the button.
Loss of elasticity of the rubber bulb
The service life of such a pear is not too long and, over time, it loses its elasticity and becomes rigid and not at all elastic. As a result, it is no longer in close contact with the seat, resulting in water flowing. In this case, you don’t need to do anything complicated, just replace the old bulb with a new one. The new bulb always floats perfectly and does not cause problems when flushing begins.
Rubber bulb not positioned correctly on exhaust valve seat
Normally, the pear should be on the saddle, but during service, it may begin to become covered with rust, after which shrinkage occurs and constantly water flows. To eliminate the malfunction, you should clean the rubber bulb by first disconnecting it. After the cleaning procedure, the problem will be resolved.
Broken shut-off valve
If, after pressing the valve, water continues to flow, it means that it is broken. Indeed, in normal operation, when you press it, the water stops flowing. After you change the valve gasket, everything will fall into place, and you can continue to safely use the drain button.
Float misalignment
It should be in a horizontal position, adjust it making sure it holds the correct position.
Damage to the siphon membrane
If the membrane is broken, then in this case constantly The toilet tank is leaking. In such a situation, you can only replace this membrane; it is not possible to repair this part if it breaks. Select a new membrane that is suitable in size and place it in the siphon.
The nut is loose
It happens that the nut fastening becomes loose and then the toilet leaks. After Once you remove all the parts that prevent access to it, you can tighten it tighter.
Wear of rubber gaskets
Since during their long service life they are constantly exposed to friction, a problem arises when the toilet leaks. If you have just started using the toilet and have already discovered this problem, it often happens that they were initially installed incorrectly and then you should remove them and reinstall them. This procedure is not difficult to do yourself; keep new rubber gaskets in stock at home.
Cuff malfunction
If the cuff has come off, put it back in place or tighten it with a clamp. If you have already made several attempts, but the old cuff does not fit into place, then you should buy a new one and put it in place of the old one.
The reinforcement fastening is broken
If the fastening does not hold the reinforcement, then in this situation it will be necessary to completely replace the broken reinforcement with a new one.
As can be seen from the above, by correctly identifying the cause of a constant water leak, you can independently eliminate the problem in almost every case. This will require a standard set of tools and a certain skill. By following these recommendations, you can quickly correct the leak that has arisen. However, if you doubt your abilities as a craftsman, then it is better to immediately contact a competent plumber; he will know exactly what needs to be done in each specific situation.
When choosing, give preference to good quality plumbing fixtures that will serve you for a long time. Before purchasing, research information on the Internet, read reviews and recommendations for purchase. Try to handle existing plumbing fixtures with care. When connecting, check the serviceability of all elements. In the future, carefully use the button, ensure the proper operation of the flush tank, and listen to the sound of flushing. If something in the plumbing starts to alarm you or the toilet is already leaking, you should immediately check the serviceability of all elements in order to avoid further problems.