Repairing a toilet

Adjusting or repairing a toilet may seem complicated at first but, on closer examination, you may find you can do a lot on your own. And you can get most of the parts you need at your local home renovation centre. For major work, get in touch with your plumber.
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Common problems
1. Solve other toilet problems yourself
2. Adjust the flush handle
3. Adjust the tank ball
4. Adjust the float ball and accessories
5. Repair the Ballcock supply valve

Common problems

Common toilet problems include constant running of water in the tank and difficulties in flushing (either partial or total). In both cases, you can solve the problem by adjusting the flushing mechanism, the float ball and its accessories or the ballcock supply valve located inside the tank.

1. Solve other toilet problems yourself

Here are a few tips:
  • Inadequate insulating of the tank interior causes sweating. Insulation kits are available at your renovation centre.

  • You may unplug toilets using the traditional rubber plunger, or a plumber's snake. The plumber's snake should solve a recurring blockage problem caused by an object jammed in the toilet's drainpipe.

  • To save as much as one litre of water every time you flush the toilet, put a brick at the bottom of the toilet tank.

2. Adjust the flush handle

A flush handle that is adjusted too high prevents the trip lever from dropping low enough to allow the tank ball to close properly. Results: continuously running water, disturbing noise, and unacceptable waste of water over time.

A low adjustment of the flush handle will inhibit free running of the water and reduce flushing capacity.

3. Adjust the tank ball

You can adjust the tank ball by shortening or lengthening the lift chain. Hooking the chain to the appropriate hole on the trip lever does this.

You can also adjust the trip lever itself by unscrewing the flush handle, tightening it while making sure it does not lift the tank ball off its valve seat shaft, and screwing it back in position.

4. Adjust the float ball and accessories

Continuous running of water can also be caused by a ball-cock supply valve that does not close properly or by a washer that is out of place or damaged.

To increase pressure on the ball-cock supply valve, lower the float ball by unscrewing it. This will change the float ball angle. You can use your hands or pliers to bend the float ball shaft, depending on the type of toilet.

As it rises to the surface, water will generate greater pressure on the trip lever and shut the ball-cock supply valve. The conical washer must always be in place and in good condition.

5. Repair the Ballcock supply valve

If the problem persists, replace the rubber seal ring located inside the ball-cock supply valve.

Before proceeding, shut off the water line normally located under the tank, behind the toilet bowl.

Remove the internal valve to replace one of the two seal rings either near the lower joint or over the piston near the float ball lever.

After checking the condition of the seal rings, put the ball-cock supply valve back in place and open the water supply line.
These are very simple ways of getting rid of your frustrating toilet problems.
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