When buying plumbing, we want it to serve for a long time. But operating conditions can sometimes lead to such troubles as water leakage. And most often this happens with the toilet bowl. In addition to increased water bills, the flow of water leads to the formation of rusty spots on the toilet and, over time, the appearance of urinary stone. For rooms, an increased level of humidity can cause the formation of fungus, mold, and this is already a serious danger to human health. So what to do when the toilet bowl leaks? To begin, consider the design scheme of this plumbing.
Toilet bowl device
Any flush toilet bowl consists of the following parts:
- float;
- float needle;
- siphon cover;
- rubber gasket for sealing;
- connecting ring;
- aperture lever;
- ball valve;
- jet adjustment lever;
- metal plate;
- plastic diaphragm;
- adjoining drain pipe;
- water pipe;
- fasteners barrel to the toilet.
It doesn’t matter what year the drain tank is. The principle of operation remains the same.
To understand why the toilet bowl leaks, we will analyze how the types of devices exist and how they function.
Kinds
There are several classifications:
- By the location of the water start mechanism: lateral, upper. It can be buttons, chains, levers. There are models with two buttons that allow you to drain the water in normal and economical mode.
- According to the material of the tank: metal (most often cast iron), plastic, ceramics.
- By the installation method: compact (toilet and cistern are fastened together), self-contained (can be used for retro design, or found in old houses), hidden (the entire installation is hidden in the box, wall-hung toilet).
- Flushing method: direct, reverse.
- The place where the fittings for the drain tank are located. There is an upper and lower location.
Regardless of which type of toilet bowl device and which classification it belongs to, the algorithm of operation remains the same.
Mechanism of action
According to the principle of action, the tank is a complex filling and draining system. Water enters the storage tank through a water pipe. The level defines the float. Having reached the required volume of liquid, the shutoff valves stop the water supply.
The drain system begins to work after mechanical action on the button (lever, chain). At this point, the valve opens and the right amount of water flows into the toilet. And then in a circle the loading system is turned on. How to understand why the toilet bowl leaks? Let's look further.
Visual definition
Repairing the drain tank begins with troubleshooting. This may be the appearance of water near the toilet, poorly functioning drainage system, the constant flow of water. The appearance of puddles near the plumbing indicates that the sealing is broken.
To do this, inspect the place of attachment of the water pipe to the tank. Most often this is the reason. The next step is to check the status of the toilet attachment to the storage tank. Another option is that the rubber gasket is deformed at the place of water supply to the drain and loosely closes the hole. A poorly functioning drainage system indicates a blockage of this mechanism or a problem with the membrane.
The constant flow of water into the toilet can be caused by several reasons. We consider each type of breakdown separately and how to repair the drain tank in a particular case.
Water supply
A common problem with the appearance of puddles near the toilet is the depressurization of the connection between the water pipe and the tank fitting. In modern models, it is precisely plastic components that are found. Therefore, during operation, the thread can wear out and thus seal failure.
This problem is fixed very simply. Shut off the water supply with a shut-off valve. Wind up the hose wound on a thread flax or fumlent. Turn back. If the leak stopped, then the problem is fixed. If not, then repeat the procedure, increasing the layer of sealing material. Another reason may be a crack in the plastic fitting. In this case, it should be replaced with a new one.
Rubber gasket, mount
In both cases, the cover is removed, the fittings for the drain tank are removed. The rubber gasket is checked for deformation. There may be two options:
- Loose fit. Correct the position and reassemble the tank.
- Deformation during operation. To be replaced with a similar product.
The fastening of the tank to the toilet with time may break up, collapse under the influence of rye. Therefore, tightness is lost, or the rubber gaskets wear out. In the first case, tighten the bolts and replace the seals, even if they are not deformed. In the second, change the seals.
Toilet flush valve
In this case, experts recommend purchasing a new one and installing it. If a decision is made to repair an existing one, then it should be disassembled and the clearance between the drain hatch and the pipe should be adjusted. To do this, file the last one. To do this job qualitatively, you need to be patient. Otherwise, the breakdown will not be fixed. Therefore, it is recommended to replace the old toilet flush valve with a new one.
There is another situation. Very often, the cause when the toilet bowl leaks is a crack in the valve body. In such cases, the easiest and most economical way is also to replace the old with the new. For this, the cracked part must be taken with you. Because the modern plumbing market offers a wide range of drain mechanisms.
Sealing cuff between the tank and the toilet shelf
In such cases, the mounting bolts are unscrewed, the tank is removed. The cuff can be plastic, metal, rubber. During operation, it can:
- To move. In this case, it must be corrected.
- Deform. Replace with a new one.
Next, the tank is installed in place. To increase the level of sealing, you can walk along the joint with silicone sealant.
Float
Often there is a situation when the toilet bowl leaks due to an incorrectly adjusted position of the float. There may be several reasons:
- The float lever has moved and clings to something. The way out is to correct, check the serviceability.
- The position of the float is not adjusted. The device is lifted slightly with your hands. The leak is gone - they fix the position. In some devices, this is done by bending the float knitting needle, in modern devices, by threaded regulation.
- The float is not tight. Pour water out of it and place in a bag. This is a temporary solution. For capital - it is necessary to replace with a new one or seal the hole. Fortunately, the range of glue allows this to be done.
Float problems are often the cause when water constantly flows into the toilet from the tank.
As you can see, solving it is quite simple. What to do if manipulations with the float did not produce a positive effect? The cause may be a breakdown of the shut-off valve. In such cases, the design changes completely.
Siphon
Most often, a malfunction of such a plan is due to the deformation of the membrane. The water supply is shut off. The storage tank is emptied, the fittings for the drain tank are removed. Unscrew the siphon nuts, remove the membrane. Visually checked for integrity and deformation.
If necessary, a new one is purchased and a replacement is made. The old product should be taken with you to the store. This will help to choose the right spare part from the abundance of the assortment. A damaged membrane can cause an inoperative drain button (when water begins to flow into the toilet after a few clicks).
Button jamming
With such a breakdown, the drain is fixed in one position. Therefore, a toilet bowl leaks. What to do in this situation? The lid is removed, it is checked due to which the mechanism is jammed. Often the drain mechanism is checked for the following signs:
- Clogged system. It is cleared of plaque.
- Stems jammed. The cause of jamming is identified and eliminated. If necessary, change to a new one.
- The return spring has weakened (the connecting ring on the lever is deformed). To be replaced.
- The traction system has broken or deformed. It can be made from improvised means, for example, wire. But this will be a temporary solution to the problem. Because during subsequent operation, the wire will bend over time and you will have to repeat the procedure again.
Of course, before eliminating the breakdown, you should turn off the water supply system, drain the liquid from the drain tank.
Features of plumbing repairs
As a rule, the device of the drain tank and its installation on the toilet are not particularly difficult. Therefore, you can carry out repairs yourself without difficulty. But you should remember a number of important points:
- Do not overtighten fasteners. Otherwise, the plastic fasteners simply burst. A tug of metal can lead to the fact that the plumbing tile itself will crack.
- If you want to change any part for a new one, you should take the old one with you to the store. This will save you from additional legwork if you purchased the wrong spare part “by eye”.
- The cost of parts for the drain tank is low. But the call locksmith will add a significant amount. Therefore, it is better to repair it with your own hands.
- Timely repairs will avoid problems such as flooding of neighbors.
- Before starting repairs, be sure to shut off the water supply system.
The simplicity of the mechanism will not cause any particular difficulties even for the most inexperienced locksmith.
Therefore, armed with patience and ingenuity, you can eliminate the leakage of the drain tank yourself. Moreover, this does not require a serious tool kit.