The design of the toilet flush tank is not a very complicated device. To repair it, you can, of course, turn to specialists. But it’s better and cheaper if you have the skills to work with the tool, do the repair yourself. It will not be difficult.
The device and principles of operation of the drain tank
The flush mechanism of the toilet bowl is divided according to the type of water discharge. There are models in which when you raise the lever or press the button, all the water is lowered into the toilet bowl, flushing into the sewer. In more modern models, the economy is thought out. That is, there are two buttons - when you press one, the tank is completely empty, when you press the other, part of the water comes down.
Despite this, the interior of the drain tank of any type is almost the same.
The siphon for the drain tank consists of several levers, a bulb, a float, valves, buttons and gaskets. The toilet works according to the principle of a hydraulic shutter.
Water, filling the tank, pushes the float, and it gives a "signal" to the shut-off valve to block the flow of water. When the user presses the button, the drain valve opens and water flows down. So there is a drain.
The drain tank does not hold water. What to do? Focus on the four main elements of the drain system: valve, overflow, drain lever and tap.
A float valve (or valve) is a part connected by a fitting to the inlet hose. A locking unit is mounted on it, which is controlled by a float. If the tank is empty, then the float attracts the bottom of the float valve closure, and the fitting opens. The float pops up when the tank is full and closes the fitting.
The release valve is a special hatch fixed to the hinge. He closes the drain hole. When the hatch is closed, the float valve opens and the tank begins to fill. When it is open, the water drains into the toilet.
Overflow - a hollow column directly connected to the toilet hole. The main function of this element is to protect the drain tank from overflow.
The drain lever is the system that controls the water drain valve. Its main element is a holder with a rocker arm, which at one end is attached to the valve (hatch). The user presses on the button, which presses on the loose end of the beam, opening the hatch. When the button is released, the beam and hatch return to their place.
The drain tank with a lower water supply has a slightly different structure, but the elements requiring replacement or repair are the same as on the drain tank with a lateral water supply.
Preparatory work
For repairs in the drain tank, pliers, work gloves (preferably rubber), wire cutters and spare parts may be needed.
Before repair work, you must turn off the tap at the entrance to the tank.
On most modern toilets, a flush button is mounted in the lid. Naturally, before you remove the cover, you need to disconnect the button and the decorative ring. After disconnecting the push-button mechanism, the ring is removed (easily pry off with any sharp object). If the tank is fixed with fasteners, they are dismantled.
In the case of a two-button flush system - the buttons are pressed alternately and scroll until disconnected.
It should be noted that the tank cap is not considered a spare part and is not sold separately. Therefore, it must be handled with extreme caution.
The drain tank is flowing: possible causes
Quite often, it happens that the water in the tank does not hold and constantly flows into the toilet. This happens most often due to poor-quality siphon or other fittings, depressurization of the plastic parts of the siphon or loss of elasticity of the pear. There may be several main reasons. Here is some of them:
- the petal or pear is not tight;
- the ball valve of the tank is not adjusted;
- the connection of the ball valve and hose is not tight;
- not tight connection of the toilet seat and the tank.
So, the drain tank does not hold water, what should I do? Let's try to figure it out.
You need to start with a visual inspection of the fittings and siphon for chips, cracks and other noticeable damage.
Damaged membrane
Most often, water leaks in the toilet due to a malfunction of the membrane. It is not subject to repair. Therefore, it must be replaced.
For this purpose, having removed the tank cover, you need to place the crossbar on its walls and fix the float lever on it. Next, lock nuts that connect the tank to the flush pipe are dismantled. Then it becomes possible to disconnect the siphon from the float lever and replace the membrane.
Pear lost elasticity
If the drain tank does not hold water, what should I do? Be sure to check the elasticity of the pear. The manufacturer warns that its work is short-lived, since rubber cannot maintain elasticity for a long time. After a while, it becomes stiff and does not hold tight connection with the saddle, as a result of which water begins to seep. The solution to the problem is to replace with a new one.
If the deformation of the pear is negligible, you can use the advice of specialists. Temporarily (before replacing) make it heavier by fitting several stainless nuts onto the axle holding it.
The saddle should hold the pear tightly. But during operation, plaque may form on it or corrosion appears, and the pear no longer fits snugly. As a result, water finds a way out.
You can fix it as follows. Remove the bulb and thoroughly clean the seat. You can use fine sandpaper. When assembling, special attention should be paid to fasteners and nuts.
The reason is the unsuitability of the bolts holding the seat
If for this reason the drain tank does not hold water, repairs are carried out as follows. First, water is completely removed. Then, between the flexible hose and the float valve, the union nut is unscrewed, and bolts fastening the toilet bowl to the tank are dismantled behind it. Then, slightly bending the tank, the corrugation connecting it to the toilet is released.
Now the bolts are dismantled: both are required, even if one has become unusable. In their place, new ones are installed (brass or stainless). You need to tighten it gently, without making special efforts and avoiding shifts and distortions. Now you can assemble the structure and use.
Shut-off valve malfunctioning
Detect this breakdown is not difficult. The valve must be pressed by hand. Ideally, the water should stop leaking. If it continues to leak, then the valve is faulty. The solution is to replace the valve.
You can do it yourself as follows.
Empty the tank. Carefully remove the cover by first removing the button. Then move the float lever together with the float (if they are not a one-piece construction). Now you can collapse the hose adapter and disconnect the water supply and the external fitting.
Then the nut inside the tank loosens, pressing the valve (valve). Then an external nut is twisted, which fixes the valve body inside the tank. Now a broken part is easily dismantled and a replacement is placed (first, an internal nut must be screwed onto its fitting). Tighten the outer nut, pressing the countersunk. Then connect the water hose and let the water run.
What else to look for if the drain tank does not hold water? Perhaps the reason is the rejection of the height adjustment button. A shift of the valve relative to the drain hole results in a stable water leak. To solve this problem, you must adjust the valve height in accordance with the instructions that came with the siphon.
If the problem persists, you will have to completely replace this part of the drain mechanism.
The tank is continuously picking up water
The malfunction is that the float lever has shifted or skewed. The fix is quite simple: lower it below the incoming water pipe (at least 2.5 cm). And thoroughly fix all the fasteners.
If the float in the drain tank is on a plastic lever, then adjust it by tightening or loosening the screw. Or, in some models, the adjustment takes place using a plastic ratchet.
If its adjustment did not solve the problem, you need to inspect the stud that holds the lever of the float. Perhaps she broke. In this case, it can be replaced by a piece of wire (preferably copper, steel will rust) of identical thickness.
The hole in the plastic valve into which the stud enters is also subject to wear. In the process, it, for example, can become oval. This damage cannot be repaired. Plumbers are advised to remove the valve to present in the store and buy an identical one.
The drain tank may not hold water due to the float. How to repair his? If it is heavier due to the accumulated water in it, you need to drain it, dry it and seal the cracks or cracks that have appeared with a sealant. After repair, the part is put in place. This is a workaround. Ideally, you need to replace the float.
Trigger problems
The most common malfunction in the trigger is an unregulated overflow. In the case when its tube is set low, and the float allows you to draw water above this level, you can fix the problem by simply adjusting the fill level of the tank.
So, the drain tank does not hold water. What to do? The scheme is simple. It is necessary to raise the overflow tube (it easily extends upwards). Further, two scenarios are possible.
First. If the water stops flowing and leaves through the overflow pipe, then we raise the pipe and the problem is solved. And the second one. If the overflow tube is at the maximum level (which threatens with an overflow of water), then lower the float slightly.