Current Events > Plumbers of CE, I have a toilet problem. Help!

(+) Yeah! (+)

I moved into my house in 2011, and the toilet was already installed when we got in. It worked alright for the most part, but around 2017/2018 it started going to shit.

At first, the lever chain broke. That was an easy replacement, but since it broke in 2017/18 it has broken about 5 more times.

The seal also went on the tank, leaving us with some hefty water bills. I also replaced that around the same time the lever chain broke the first time.

Last week the fucking chain broke again, and last night the seal I used to replace the first one isn't holding water in the tank! The toilet got clogged this morning and the bathroom damn near flooded because of it.

I'm at a loss, I'm sick of replacing the parts to this thing. Should I continue doing it? Or should I just get a new toilet entirely?

I've NEVER had this many problems with a toilet; the toilet in my parent's house runs on rusty ass hard water and no components to my knowledge had to be replaced.

Alright... /blogfaqs

I would just get one of those kits where you replace the entire guts of the tank instead of fucking around with piecemeal replacements

are you buying the same cheap chain or something?

MixedRaceBaby posted...

are you buying the same cheap chain or something?

I mean... it IS a metal chain. I didn't see any that looked like they were better or worse quality.

TheGoldenEel posted...

I would just get one of those kits where you replace the entire guts of the tank instead of fucking around with piecemeal replacements

I've replaced everything at least once; fill valve, tank seal, pretty sure I've even changed the lever. I suppose it is good to have extra parts though, since this piece of shit keeps breaking.

Stewman_Magoo posted...

it has broken about 5 more times.

The fuck? What kind of acidic water you got? Maybe the chain is too tight.

Stewman_Magoo posted...

the seal

You mean the wax ring the toilet seats on? Or the rubber flap in the top tank?

Stewman_Magoo posted...

I mean... it IS a metal chain. I didn't see any that looked like they were better or worse quality.

I've replaced everything at least once; fill valve, tank seal, pretty sure I've even changed the lever. I suppose it is good to have extra parts though, since this piece of shit keeps breaking.

Replace it all at once with something like this

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/3/8/AAW8UqAADWN-.jpg

BeyondWalls posted...

The fuck? What kind of acidic water you got? Maybe the chain is too tight.

This might be possible, I do try to give a bead or two of slack once I got the correct length from the seal to the lever. But sometimes it slips out and slacks too much. Then I make it tighter.

You mean the wax ring the toilet seats on? Or the rubber flap in the top tank?

Rubber flap in the tank. I have to shove it into the hole to get it remotely sealed. Even then it leaks a little bit. I have to turn off my water to the toilet just so I don't see it on my next water bill

If the tank seal keeps failing, the tank is probably loose.
Or, you're dropping chlorine tablets in there and the seal is rotting away.

I will say this, Ive got some bum ass parts at Home Depot. I bought a new bathroom sink drain there and when I got it home it was this cheap plastic crap. I decided to give it a shot, but despite my best efforts, it always leaked some. And that was the only thing on the peg hook at the store, so its not like I picked out the cheap one.

BeyondWalls posted...

I bought a new bathroom sink drain there and when I got it home it was this cheap plastic crap. I decided to give it a shot, but despite my best efforts, it always leaked some.

You gotta go nuts with the plumbers putty. You can't just screw dry plumbing parts together and expect it to be water tight.

Wish I'd known that before I paid a plumber a few hundred dollars to redo a DIY repair that incessantly leaked all over.

Questionmarktarius posted...

If the tank seal keeps failing, the tank is probably loose.
Or, you're dropping chlorine tablets in there and the seal is rotting away.

I'll look into that. Never used chlorine tablets in the tank, there's a flush cleaner attached to the bowl but I don't think that'll affect the tank water.

Stewman_Magoo posted...

I have to shove it into the hole to get it remotely sealed. Even then it leaks a little bit. I have to turn off my water to the toilet just so I don't see it on my next water bill

Yeah. Youre going to have to buy a new toilet. Im right there with you. Parts that fit get harder to find with time. I had to replace the rubber piece that sits between the tank and the bowl and had to just make the piece work even though it didnt quite fit correctly.

BeyondWalls posted...

I had to replace the rubber piece that sits between the tank and the bowl and had to just make the piece work even though it didnt quite fit correctly.

There was probably a quiet transition to metric somewhere along the way.

BeyondWalls posted...

Yeah. Youre going to have to buy a new toilet. Im right there with you. Parts that fit get harder to find with time. I had to replace the rubber piece that sits between the tank and the bowl and had to just make the piece work even though it didnt quite fit correctly.

The worst part about it is it's like a proprietary piece. I remember finding the right seal was a huge pain in the ass.

Questionmarktarius posted...

You gotta go nuts with the plumbers putty. You can't just screw dry plumbing parts together and expect it to be water tight.

Wish I'd known that before I paid a plumber a few hundred dollars to redo a DIY repair that incessantly leaked all over.

This came with a rubber gasket that supposedly didnt require putty. Which I got it home, I was like, fuck cause I bought the putty. Funny thing is, I think its leaking a tiny amount at the ball connector for the pop up drain. And this stupid thing has some magnetic connected pop up drain that pulls out so you can clean it. And it never sits right in the sink. Its always crooked looking when I put the thing back in the drain. And this is the only piece of shit Home Depot had.

Im redoing my bathroom this summer so the little piece of crap can just drip under there. Its hardly noticeable but its annoying as fuck.

BeyondWalls posted...

Funny thing is, I think its leaking a tiny amount at the ball connector for the pop up drain.

Slather some putty around the gasket where the lever sticks out the drain line. That's the step I missed.

So I took the rubber stop off and there was a bit of a bend in it (probably from jamming it into the hole) but I turned the stopper around and reatta hed it and now it's holding water. Hoping this will hold for a bit

Honestly I recommend a new toilet that way it has a new wax ring and everything. If possible get it professionally installed so you can blame them if it goes wrong again.

Sadly low flow toilets kind of suck, but that is what they make these days.

Complete toilets at HD/Lowes here are about $120 ish. I would replace the whole thing at this point.

As far as the flapper not staying seated properly. Could it possibly be too much water pressure when filling that is keeping the flapper somewhat elevated? If so trying sliding a galvanized or zinc half inch nut down the chain the extra weight will help keep the flapper seated, possibly.

Thank God changing the guts in a toilet is one of the easiest DIY jobs.

I upgraded our toilets with newer fill valves and haven't had any trouble. I used on one of those Fluidmaster kits that was posted earlier.

However.... I do have a toilet that moves on the floor... It's not seated tightly and it rotates. I looked at the bolts and it looks like the flange is rusted and corroded. Is that a hard fix?

The toilet still works but I worry about it sometimes.

You can find flange repair kits in most hardware stores. I have used them like a giant washer instead of replacing the whole flange.

I slide the floor bolt through the repair flange and take an extra washer and nut and tightened it to the repair flange first, slide it under the existing flange on both sides if need be and the bolts now tightend to something will not move when you tighten the toilet to the bolts.

kelemvor posted...

Thank God changing the guts in a toilet is one of the easiest DIY jobs.

I upgraded our toilets with newer fill valves and haven't had any trouble. I used on one of those Fluidmaster kits that was posted earlier.

However.... I do have a toilet that moves on the floor... It's not seated tightly and it rotates. I looked at the bolts and it looks like the flange is rusted and corroded. Is that a hard fix?

The toilet still works but I worry about it sometimes.

What kind of floor is under it?

If wood it could be leaking without you knowing causing damage.

Rotating could easily compromise the wax seal allowing water and other things to escape when you flush.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/8/0/AAPKRIAADWQM.jpg
Like this

Junk it and get a talavera toilet

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/0/1/AAe3REAADWQh.jpg

They start at about $800 but we'll worth it

doesntcare posted...

You can find flange repair kits in most hardware stores. I have used them like a giant washer instead of replacing the whole flange.

I slide the floor bolt through the repair flange and take an extra washer and nut and tightened it to the repair flange first, slide it under the existing flange on both sides if need be and the bolts now tightend to something will not move when you tighten the toilet to the bolts.

Thanks, sounds easy enough.