Toilet water level keeps going down

[Tumbleweed]

Somewhere, somehow the level of water in the tank goes down making the water turn on to fill it up.

Originally when this leak first started I had the old chain and float ball type of inner-workings. While shopping for new parts I noticed a newer type installation that didn't use a float ball as we know it. The ad said it was quieter and would fill faster. They were right. It was easy to install, was quiet as a mouse and filled fast. I really loved it but it didn't fix my problem.

My brother took a look a few months later and insisted I replace all these inner parts AGAIN even though I promised him I just replaced them. So off we go shopping, come back with the same quiet/fast inner-workings and guess what. The leak is not fixed.

It is not leaking outside the toilet, just so you know.

My ideas:

• Go get some food coloring and put a drop in the tank and see what path it takes. It could tell a story of what is happening.
  
• Check that the refill tube is not too far down in the over-flow pipe but my question is, how far is too far?
  
• Try a different flapper
  
• Try one more time to replace the whole inner-workings but use the old fashioned float ball.
  
• Replace the spud (rubber washer) but I don't know how hard it is to replace.
  
• Get a new toilet.
  

Just a note: This is not an old toilet by toilet standards. At most, it may be 8 years old. It was purchased by the previous owner at the same time they put in the pedestal sink. It was not leaking when I first moved in. The bathroom on the main floor has a very old toilet and I used these new inner-workings for it with no problem.

I welcome any tips anyone may have for pin-pointing exactly where my problem may be.

Otherwise, I'll just update this on what I try and the results. Meanwhile, we are trying to remember to shut off the water after using. A pain but who wants a huge water bill? Not me.

[aRMY83]

As you know, there's not much to a toilet and your ideas are the start and end for finding the problem. I hate to keep linking sites to you, but sometime it wakes a person up to "why didn't I think of that" or "darn it, I forgot that one", so here goes:

How to Fix a Running Toilet

My bet would be that the flapper is not seating as should and if that is the case, then try this:

Turn off the water supply valve and flush. Then with a soapy wash cloth, wash bottom of flapper and rubber ring it sets on. Hope this bit of info helps.

p.s. don't forget to turn the water supply valve back on! lol

[Tumbleweed]

No, don't ever apologize for posing links. We all learn that way. I like to have many perspectives on how to go about fixing something.

I will try the soap on the flapper. I ran my finger around the underside and it felt smooth and clean but trying the soap to get it sparkly clean is most certainly worth a try.

I'll read that link tomorrow. I'm too tired tonight.

[misty]

Hey, the food coloring idea WILL tell you if you have a leak. Last quarter my water bill was way higher than normal. I called the water co. & that is one of the leaks they told me to check for & that is exactly what they said to do. Put 5 or 6 drops in the tank & then check the bowl in an hour. If there is any coloring in the bowl, you have a leak.

[Tumbleweed]

Wow, I'm smarter than I thought. I haven't tried this yet but I plan to. There is no doubt a leak but I'm hoping if I just put in one drop of food coloring it will make a path to the leak. Meanwhile, we just turn the water on when we need it on and then shut it off or use the bathroom downstairs. It actually works pretty well. By the time you wash your hands, the tank is filled up and then you can shut it off. (It really fills fast!)

However, this is certainly not the ideal situation for when guests come. I need to get on top of this and get it fixed. I'm glad you posted here because I sort of put that on the back burner.

[skipper386]

A running toilet can be a simple thing to fix, and water savings add up quickly.

here's how to fix it:

Step 1: First check the guide rod or chain on the tank stopper. If the rod is bent or the chain links are twisted, just straighten them.

Step 2: Next check the float mechanism. If lifting the ball up stops the water from running, try to bend the float arm down to get the right buoyancy. If you notice that the ball has water in it, it needs to be replaced. Replace it by unscrewing it from the arm and putting a new one in its place.

Step 3: If the toilet is still running, the valve seat and stopper may have corrosion or build-up preventing the stopper from closing. Lift the stopper up and check for any objects. Gently scour the seat and the rim. If there is a great deal of damage, replace the stopper and valve seat.

Step 4: The flush valve assembly may have to be replaced if the toilet is still running. Take the old parts with you when purchasing new inside gaskets and assemble to ensure a perfect match. If the shaft of the assembly is cracked, the whole shaft and assembly will need to be replaced. Again take the flush valve assembly with you to get a perfect match.

"Teddy said it was a hat, So I put it on. Now dad is saying, "where the heck's the toilet plunger gone?" ~ home maintenance adelaide

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[Tumbleweed]

Hi Skipper,

Welcome!

I sure appreciate the advice. This is great info you provided. I know I will refer to it if I ever go back to the float and chain system. I have the new-fangled system which doesn't include the typical float and chain. It was leaking with the old system, so I replaced it with the new system. Still leaking. Replaced it once more with the new and the same deal. I'm may try one more time putting the old system back in but in truth, I'm leaning toward the drain seal being broken. (Yes, it is still doing it. We just don't use that bathroom and keep the water off.)

I may be replacing everything in that bathroom if I can just get my dear brother to come help me. I can't lift that toilet by myself.

Anyway, I'm very happy to have a new member. With facebook being the "in thing", this site and many others have become "ghost sites". lol

[Tumbleweed]

Many years later I wanted to update this thread. I've lived with the "leak" for all this time but have managed to get it down to a tiny leak that doesn't happen as often thus not running my water bill up. We replaced the flapper with a soft rubber one instead of hard and that helped a lot so I didn't worry about it anymore. The down side is you have to hold the flush handle down until the toilet actually flushes all the way and then let it up.

After replacing every part of the toilet twice I think I came to the conclusion that I may still have a leak but I also know the toilet isn't level. So the water fills after a flush and once the water stops moving around and is calm, because the toilet is tilted, it triggers the fill valve(or the slow leak triggers it) but because it really is full, the water goes into the overflow and then the scenario happens all over again once the water become calm again. The fill valve gets triggered about every minute but it fills for only 1 second, if that. Probably more like a half a second. So maybe 3 drops of water per time. Luckily, water is cheap here and my water bill has never been over $20 per month so not a huge concern.

So I will live with this until I have enough $$ to replace the whole sub-floor so things are level and I'll probably just replace the whole toilet too, just to be safe. Nothing like living with a problem for years. Wish I was rich. lol

[stluee]

Great tips. As much as we could use a newer toilet I don't like the idea of water level regulations either.

[Tumbleweed]

Apr 28, 2018 20:01:28 GMT -6 stluee said:

Great tips. As much as we could use a newer toilet I don't like the idea of water level regulations either.

Hi again, I check this site for spam every so often so sorry I didn't see this until now. I have a bathroom downstairs and it has a really old toilet and sink. They are pink in color so really old but because that toilet has the big tank, I like keeping it. Somewhere on this site, I have or maybe I never re-did the page but I titled it a "Bathroom Make-do" and had pictures of how I decorated it, painted, etc. The bathroom turned out cute even with the pink outdated stuff. Anyway, it's just nice having a really good flushing toilet and I know, that is TMI!!

Nice to see you.