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2torial #0734:
Learn2 Fix
a Running Toilet (Continued)
Fix a running toilet
This step freely uses all the terms of toilet technology described
in Step 1. If there's something you don't understand, go back to
Step 1, or check Keywords for a particular term.
So there you are, staring at the toilet you've
just flushed. You watch the water flush out the
bowl, and now the toilet is refilling the tank, and
now...it won't stop refilling. The toilet is
running, it's wasting water--what to do?
Don't panic. Take off the lid of the tank and
see what's happening. Chances are, the stopper
isn't sitting squarely on the flush valve seat--the
chain is probably caught under the side of the
stopper. You can fix the situation by pulling the
chain out from the stopper; if you've ever been
told to "jiggle the handle" of a running toilet,
this is exactly what you're doing. A more permanent
solution is to shorten the length of the chain so
that there isn't excessive slack to interfere with
the action of the stopper.
- Loosen: Use a pair of small pair of
pliers to loosen the link of top of the stopper
that attaches the stopper to the chain.
- Pull and link: Then place the stopper
squarely on the valve seat, and pull the chain
taut to the stopper. Choose a link that will
keep the chain fairly taut (leave a little
slack, though), and attach the chain to the link
on the stopper. Make sure the handle (on the
outside) is up and the lift arm is down; this
will put them in the correct position to pull up
the chain and stopper.
No chain in your toilet? Then your toilet
uses a lift wire.
- Check the wire: Look down the length
of the lift wire--if it's bent, it may be
throwing the stopper off center.
- Remove it and try it push the bend out of
it. If that's too hard or it's bent past the
point of repair, you can purchase a new one at
hardware store for a few dollars.
Still running? Like the rest of us,
stoppers get old and run-down and don't work as
well.
- Retired stoppers: If the toilet
doesn't respond to the measures above, the
stopper may need to be replaced. A stopper
that's soft or distorted, or has pockmarks or
small splits near the edge, is ripe for
retirement.
- Replacement time: Remove the old
stopper from the chain or lift wire and bring it
down to the local hardware store. (Some brands
of toilets won't accept the one-size-fits-all
type of stopper, so be sure to bring the old
stopper with you.) It won't cost you more than a
few dollars and five minutes of work.
- Alignment: As you re-attach the chain
to the link on the stopper, make sure the handle
(on the outside) is up and the lift arm is down.
This will put them in the correct position to
pull up the chain and stopper.
 Step
3
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