Running Toilets… A problem that may appear at any time!

Have you been hearing your toilet making sounds and acting as a rogue toilet?

Fsssssssshhhhh!

If your toilet won’t stop filling up or it fills up recurrently without being flushed, don’t worry; there’s a big possibility the problem may be just inside your toilet tank.

Follow these steps to learn how to fix a running toilet. Even if you’re not very “handy” you may be able to fix it. The key is in having the right tools, the right parts, the ability to read, and lots of patience. In the event you feel you need help, you can contact our friendly and professional Benjamin Franklin Plumbers. 

Please follow these 6 easy steps:

1. Remove the Lid on the top of your toilet tank:

This will help you to identify the source of the problem.

To figure out which part of the toilet is leaking see the image below:

A: Handle
B: Rubber flapper: Blocks the tank water from descending into the bowl. It is connected to the toilet flush lever above.
C: Pump which refills the tank after it empties.
D: Float which raises and lowers with the water level to tell the pump when to go and stop.
E: Overflow tube, what sets the high water level in the tank.

2. Turn off the water connecting to the toilet by tightening the silver knob on the   wall behind the toilet:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-fix-a-running-toilet-common-causes-easy-diy-fixes-200209

             

      3.  Check the connection between the handle and the rubber flapper: 

         

    Check the connection between the flush lever and the rubber flapper it's attached to. The chain must be short but if it is extra-long, you just need to move the clip down to replace it for one shorter.

4. Check the rubber flapper:

It could be that the flapper is not seating properly. Over time, the flapper can bend or break at the hinge, and start to leak, to check this, take a close look to the flapper and check if there are any vertical lines of discoloration, if's so, and this should be replaced. To switch it out, simply disconnect the old one from the chain and attach the new one.

Sometimes you can tweak the hinge on the valve to get it to seat properly.

      

If the flapper doesn’t leak and the water still runs, inspect the stopper valve.

https://www.plumbingsupply.com/tototoiletparts-ultramax.html

      

5. Check the Overflow tube: 

If the trouble with the running toilet, pressing down the flapper doesn’t work, the cause might be the overflow tube; which drains excess water when the tank fills too high. If you see that the fill tube is under water, cut it back so that the tube clears the water level.

6. Check the Float Position:

The traditional float is a big ball at the end of a rod that controls the valve that fills the tank after a flush.  if the tank isn’t filling up as much as needed to flush properly, make sure the float isn’t leaking.  If it is, it’ll need replacing.

It may also happen, that the float is bent, the simplest way to  fix this is bending the rod connecting the float to the pump so that the float is lower and it will signal the pump to turn off sooner. If the arm won't bend, then it might be time to call Benjamin Franklin the Plumber.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-fix-a-running-toilet-common-causes-easy-diy-fixes-200209

Next time you hear the sound of a leaky toilet, go in the bathroom and start checking your tank and see if you can identify an easy fix, there is a good chance you can do it on our own, but just in case there is a bigger problem or simply just can’t solve on your own, it may be time to make the call to Benjamin Franklin as soon as possible.

Our experts will help you assess your best options and help you make the right choice. We offer you an in-depth review of products and repair techniques so that you can make informed decisions on your plumbing needs. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, home to the best Treasure Coast and North Palm Beach plumbing services, is ready for any of your plumbing needs!

We hope you enjoy this complimentary #PlumbingTip from your friendly neighborhood plumber.  www.benfranklinplumber.com

Resources: 

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-fix-a-running-toilet-common-causes-easy-diy-fixes-200209

http://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-fix-a-running-toilet/#.VvLfOOIrLmg

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Tips to conserve water

It’s not a secret that our planet is running out of water, consequently it gets more expensive by the day. Most responsible people want to keep and conserve water, but we still need to use it in our daily activities; so here are some tips that you can put in practice to conserve water and save money:

The use of chemicals:

• Don't use too many detergents, bleach or chemicals. This could kill the natural bacteria in your septic system.
• Try to use soaps and detergents that are biodegradable.

Sprinklers:

• When using sprinklers in summer time, buy a spring-loaded timer, that will avoid the excessive water loading of your grass and control it in case you forget to shut it down.

Water pressure:

• When your water pressure is over 60 pounds per square inch, it will damage your plumbing system and will also increase your consumption. If you find out that your water pressure in your street is exceeding 60 pounds, you can install a pressure reducing valve that will limit the water pressure within your home.

Water leaks:

• Check for undetected water leaks reviewing your water meter during a period of time when you are not using water, take notes of the meter reading and check it 8 to 10 hours later. If the meter has moved, it means you should correct the issue.
• The consumption of a leaky toilet in your house is more than 40% of all the usage. Call a plumber for advice, you may have to install a new toilet flapper and fill valve.
• A faucet leaking that drips once per second can actually drop more than 8 gallons per day, which adds to 3,000 gallons per year. Always check your faucet.

Showers:

• When you replace an old shower head you can save up to 7.5 gallons of water per minute without taking away full spray action at low or high water pressures. Also, don’t forget to shut off the shower when you are not using it!

There are many things you can do to conserve water, put in practice these simple actions and you will see that your water bills will reflect your efforts. 

If you need us to check your home in order to detect any situations that could be wasting water, please contact us:

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing - Contact

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