Toilet Troubles

pekoe & nigel

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So my toilet has been acting funny for the past little while. It flushes normally, refills with a normal amount of water, but about 1/2 hour later I look in the bowl again and the water has almost all drained away. It's not making any funny sounds, is not continually running and most definitely has not leaked. What's up with that? Should I be concerned? Is there something I can do to fix this?


I'm hoping that, with the diverse amount of knowledge that people seem to have here, someone can help me.
 

starryeyedtiger

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I would call a plumber! The last time i went online looking for toilet advice (i tried bleach, dish soap, boiling water you name it!) it made things worse
 

margecat

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May be a "slow" leak, which can, if the toilet is on the 2nd floor, leak though your ceiling below, and make a huge MESS. I know this from experience. I cam home one day (never suspected anything wrong with the toilet up to that point), saw a puddle on the kitchen floor, and thought, "How the heck did Jasmine and Marge get their water on THIS side of the room???!!?". Then, I heard the drip, and looked up at the ceiling...DH fixed the toilet and the ceiling. You can buy, and easily install, a new ballcock (yes, that REALLY is what it's called!
), if needed, but, if you've no experience with plumbing/toilets, get a plumber in to look at it. Don't let it go on too long, in case it's a leak!
 

margecat

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Caution: Please read our safety information before attempting any testing, maintenance or repairs.


If your toilet bowl is not flushing completely clean, you may need to increase the water fill level in the tank. If you wish to conserve water, you may choose to reduce the water level.

After a flush, the tank begins to refill. It stops automatically when it reaches a preset level. In nearly all cases, a float is lifted by the rising water. When the float gets high enough it closes the water valve.

In order to adjust the water level, you must set the height at which the float shuts off the water valve. There are several styles of floats. In older toilets, the float hangs at the end of an armature, along metal or plastic rod. Where that arm connects to the water valve there is usually a screw. Adjusting that screw will change the level at which the water valve shuts off. If there is no screw or it is already at its maximum, you may be able to bend the metal arm, but you should remove it from the valve or risk damaging the fill valve.

In newer toilets the float is often a collar around the fill valve and rides up and down vertically. The float typically has a spring clip connecting it to a metal rod which connects to the valve shut off control. Squeeze the spring clip to slide the float up or down the metal rod.

Manufacturers have several variations on the fill valve mechanism, but they all include a method for adjusting the water level. Close inspection should...

Darn, I copied and pasted this; now I can't find the rest of the article for you! --MargeCat
 
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