DIY: Fix your Running Toilet

It is really not difficult to perform a do-it-yourself repair on a running toilet. To stop the water from running, we had to remember to jiggle the flush handle. If anyone in my family used the toilet and flushed and walked away without jiggling the handle, the water would run forever. My toilet problem was easy to fix. It was just a kinked chain that connected from the rod to the flapper was kinked. All I had to do for this DIY repair of my running toilet was to unfasten the chain from the rod and unkink it and then hook it back up. The toilet has run perfectly ever since. If I can do a DIY repair of a running toilet, so can you. Not all DIY repair jobs of a running toilet are as easy as mine was, they aren't all that difficult either.

DIY repair of a running toilet: floatation bulb

Your toilet is a marvelous invention; the mechanics of a toilet works on a water siphoning mechanism. There are 3 main parts of the mechanics of a toilet. In essence the toilet works because of the siphon, flush and fill mechanisms.

Not all toilets look the same on the inside, but they all work in a similar way. In order for the toilet to function properly the float mechanism (the round bulb) needs to rest on the waterline. Flotation bulbs are different shapes and in different locations on different makes of toilets. Sometimes the water keeps running because the bulb is not positioned right. On some toilets you may lift the guide rod that the bulb is attached to and the water stops running. All you need to do is bend the rod up slightly to raise the bulb to stop the flow of water. The bulb might sink down into the water, because it has formed a crack where water can get in. If this happens you can go to a hardware store and buy another flotation bulb to replace the one that is malfunctioning.

DIY repair of a running toilet: the flapper (stopper) and valve

If you have checked the chain, and floatation valve, you may have a problem with the stopper and valve seat. The stopper and valve seat are made from rubber. Unfortunately, rubber can get corroded causing the rubber flapper and valve to leak. Sometimes, for a DIY repair of a running toilet, you just need to clean the flapper and valve, by cleaning away any dirt and corrosion. If the chain that is connected to the flapper (stopper) is kinked the flapper will stay open to let the water run continually. You may be able to make adjustments to the flapper so that it fits correctly over the valve opening. If cleaning the stopper and valve seat doesn't work you may have to install another stopper and valve unit. You can purchase a valve unit for under $20 at Home Depot.

DIY repair of a running toilet: replacing the flapper

To do a DIY replacing of the flapper valve, you must shut off the water supply to the toilet. Flush the toilet and hold the handle down, so that the water so that the tank empties out completely. Unhook the chain from the valve stopper and stick your hand inside the toilet tank and pry up the old flapper valve. Next you just need to install the new flapper valve by matching up the holes with the notches on the refill tube. Hook the chain back up to it that is connected to the rod that is connected to the flush handle. Once your DIY repair is completed turn toilet's water supply back on and test to see that your repair job was successful.

Sources:

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/repairtoilet

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/257_toilet-flapper.htm