For many people, a plumbing call is the only solution if there is a toilet leak or any other breakdown. Unwillingness to aggravate the situation and the lack of relevant experience leads to the fact that the family budget has to be spent on solving an elementary problem. In order not to resort to the services of specialists and make an independent connection of the toilet, it is enough to have at the disposal the most common tools and understand the design of the plumbing device.
Main details
The internal elements of the drain tank are called valves, it is necessary to regulate the flow of water. At first glance at the internal structure, it might seem that there are only two primitive details - a drain and a float mechanism, but in reality these are complex devices consisting of many elements.
The supply valve includes a housing equipped with a membrane providing fluid intake, and a float, which is supplemented by a lever system for communication with the membrane. The adjusting screw is used to change the volume of water supplied to the toilet bowl. When it rotates, the position of the float changes and, as a result, the amount of liquid. The need for regulation of this device arises in case of excessive flow of water or, conversely, insufficient flushing.
Types of connection to the sewer
The outlet is a drain hole connected to the sewer. The implementation of the plumbing fixture is possible in three variations, they all differ in different installation methods and characteristic properties.
The oblique outlet is located at an angle of 45 degrees.
The vertical version goes exactly to the floor. Such equipment is common in individual construction, the main advantage is the ability to install in any part of the room.
The horizontal outlet of the toilet is located in the back of the bowl and has the opposite direction. Models of this type can only be installed close to the wall.
Drain design
Some plumbing fixtures use a rather complicated drain mechanism. As for the standard option, it consists of three structural elements: the drain button, valve and shell. It has a relatively simple principle of operation: the button controls a movable valve located in a plastic housing, the connection between the two elements is provided by a lever system. There is also no likelihood of a tank overflow, for this an overflow is used, which redirects excess water to the toilet itself. This device looks like a plastic small tube, characterized by adjustment by lowering and lifting, it is located in the central part of the drain device.
When there is a need for repair
Leaking a toilet bowl or lack of water occurs most often due to a breakdown of the main elements - the body, the mechanism for draining or float. The latter is capable of delivering such difficulties as insufficient interruption of water supply and its absence in the tank. In these situations, it is worth paying attention to two elements - this is the float part itself and the valve to shut off the feed. The design of the float may be different, the most widespread options in the form of an inverted glass and parts having an internal hollow cavity. The latter is distinguished by the need for frequent replacement, since when water enters the interior, it ceases to function. Another device ceases to work only in the case of adhesion of contaminants, this problem is eliminated by regular flushing.
Breakages in the shut-off valve are connected to water holes that can become clogged over time, or to the membrane. It is necessary to analyze the design of the float, which includes unscrewing the cap that protects the internal parts, removing the membrane and cleaning the internal ducts. Further, the membrane returns to its original place and is fixed with a cap. It is worth noting that the leakage of the toilet is often caused by the membrane, since it quickly fails, so when performing repairs it is best to replace it.
Fluid level change
Float adjustment does not require special knowledge. It is enough to draw water into the tank and note the liquid level, it should not exceed the side openings. In the absence of holes, you can focus on the drain mechanism, it should partially be in the water. Due to the possibility of overflow regulation, it should not be taken into account. If you lower the float, then the water level will decrease, when it is raised, the opposite effect occurs. The design is equipped with various devices for moving, depending on the model, it can be a rail or a screw.
The main problem in the drainage mechanism is the leakage of the toilet bowl, in which case water continuously flows into the bowl itself. There are two reasons for this. If the overflow device is incorrectly adjusted, in particular, if the location of its overflow pipe is too low, an excessive intake of water occurs. In this case, it is necessary to raise the tube and pay attention to the changes that have taken place, if everything remains as before, the tube rises even higher, when you stop spontaneous water leakage, nothing needs to be done. If there is a risk of liquid overflowing through openings on the sides of the tank or its upper part, it is necessary to change the location of the float.
Gaskets
When leaking the connecting elements of the tank, it is necessary to replace the old gaskets and seals necessary for connecting the two parts. Also, the toilet pipe may become unusable over time, to prevent unpleasant situations such as flooding of neighbors, you need to immediately call a specialist.
Malfunctions in the design of the valve and, as a consequence, leakage of the toilet bowl are possible if dirt gets under it or the rubber element dries. To resolve the problem, it is necessary to disassemble the mechanism, while removing the tank itself is not required. It is enough to divide the drain device into two components to provide free access to the water outlet and the valve. First of all, it is necessary to clean all the elements from accumulated debris and check the operation after reverse installation. If nothing has changed, the membrane must be replaced with a new one.
What you need to know
The toilet tank is characterized by a rather simple device, because of which its repair does not cause any special difficulties. It is worth noting that the breakdown of one part of the shutoff valves is often followed by others, so it will become more rational to replace all components. It is necessary to understand the existing valve mechanism, it can have a different design, the main difference is in the option of supplying water: the connection of the hose is possible in the lower, side or upper part.
How to eliminate a leak in the toilet
In order to replace valves, tools are needed that can be found in every home. These are pliers and wrenches.
First, the valve closes and the button for draining is removed by removing clips or unscrewing. Separates the upper part of the tank.
The inlet hose is disconnected by unscrewing the existing fasteners. In order to dismantle the top element of the drain column, it must be rotated 90 degrees.
Next, the mounting bolts are removed and the tank is laid aside. The remaining column parts are removed after loosening the nuts holding the valve.
After mounting the shutoff valves, all parts are assembled back.
If suitable new spare parts are available, any failed parts can be replaced. The task is complicated by the fact that the components of devices manufactured earlier are not suitable for most modern tanks. Therefore, in some cases, you have to purchase a new tank. It is worth noting that the toilet can have both an integral design and consist of the main individual elements.
Integrity violation
If even small cracks appear on the surface, the tank must also be replaced, since the destruction cannot be eliminated by repair work. You can delay the acquisition by sealing the crack with a silicone compound with preliminary drying. The nature of the damage and shortcomings directly affects the algorithm of repair work and the necessary costs. Replacing the internal components is not able to solve all the problems. In the absence of suitable elements or damage to the body, you must purchase the tank itself or the entire toilet, in this case, a plumber will be required to carry out the work.