2torial #0734: Learn2 Fix a Running Toilet (Continued)   Fix a slow leak If your toilet doesn't run continuously, yet you can hear it refill every 15 minutes or more, the problem may be with the flush valve seat. If you want to be sure, add several drops of dark-colored food dye to the tank. If there's a leak in the valve seat, the dyed water will seep through the seal and into the toilet bowl, right in front of your suspecting eyes! Aha! An old valve seat won't form a good seal with the stopper or the base of the tank, and will leak water until the entire tank is empty. Fortunately it's easy to buy a replacement which can be cemented directly on top of the old one. Most hardware stores will have a valve seat replacement kit which will fit most models of valve seats. It won't fit all of them, though, and the kit's packaging will often depict what types of valve seats aren't compatible. To avoid a mistaken purchase, take a careful look at the valve seat, noting the size and any distinguishing marks, before leaving for the hardware store. And if nothing else, note what the valve seat is made of: brass or plastic, usually. First, you need to clear out the tank. Turn off the water at the main water valve (located on the wall near the floor), flush the toilet to empty the tank, and remove the stopper, chain, and lift arm, and anything else that might be in the way. Take a clean rag and mop up any puddles of water on the tank floor. Clear and clean: The crucial step with valve seat replacement is thorough preparation of the old seat. If it's brass, scrub it with steel wool or wet/dry sandpaper. If it's plastic, use a non-abrasive nylon ball or sponge. After you've cleaned wipe down the seat again, making sure to remove any grit or moisture that remains. Study and stick: Most seat replacements have a self-adhesive, with a layer of paper backing that's peeled off. Before you peel off the backing, study the illustrations for that particular model of seat replacement, and practice aligning it over the old seat. You're ready to attach the new seat. Remove half of the paper backing (only half!) and, having lined the new seat carefully, press it gently on the old seat. Repeat with the other side: remove the paper and press gently. Once the new seat is on and aligned correctly, press down firmly and evenly for at least a minute. Place, pull, and position: 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. All flushed: Turn the main water valve back on, and you're ready to flush. -end- Learn More! or All steps at once (printable version)