Emily Cameron
Hey Emily, This could be an easy problem you can fix on your own. Disconnect the chain or what ever holds the flapper to the flush handle. Reach inside tank and press firmly on the flapper. Before you diconnect chain from flush arm look to see if the tension is too tight this may be the problem and not allowing the flapper to seat tightly to the flush valve assembly. You will know right away if this is the problem…. simply adjust the length of the chain…. make sure you use the stainless steel hook supplied with new flapper.Now that was the easy part. To check to see if you have solved the problem pour some food colouring into the toilet tank after it is filled with water and everything has settled down. Do not flush toilet but observe the water in the toilet bowl…. if it starts changing colour you know the seal is not a good one…… Show this to your landlord and have him change the flush valve assembly completely…. If this has been leaking for a long time there will be a groove worn in the seat ( called wire draw ) from the water leaking past it over a long period of time…. the only solution to this problem is changing the assembly…. If he has not done one before he will take about an hour to do one and will need a new tank to bowl gasket anyway and a new set of brass tank to bowl nuts/bolts/washers and gasket.I have been a licenced Plumber for over 25 years…… Good Luck: We moved into an apartment which had a rubber toilet flapper with a rubber line : attached to it. On the day we were moving in, my son urinated in the toilet, flushed, and : left to help us move more boxes from our old apartment. When we returned 3-4 hours : later, our entire apartment was flooded with water (water was actually running out the : front door). We turned off the water and called the manager. He came in with a plunger : and plunged the toilet. Immediately the water in the bowl drained out. We looked into : the tank and saw that the rubber line attached to the flapper had folded onto itself and : prevented the flapper from sealing the drain in the bottom of the tank. The rubber : flapper and rubber line appeared old, frayed, and rust-stained. For weeks after we : moved in, the flapper line continued to fold, and we ended up just leaving the tank lid off : and manually replacing the flapper after flushing the toilet. QUESTIONS: Why was the : toilet clogged up, if we had never used it before and my son had only urinated in it (ie, : nothing went into the toilet to clog it)? The apartment had been empty for around three : months – does non-use cause some sort of blockage or air clog or something? Also, : would the toilet have spilled enough water to flood our entire apartment if the flapper : and line had not malfunctioned? Ive had clogged toilets before, and they usually only : overflow one tankful onto the bathroom floor before the flapper seals the drain to the : bowl. Please offer us advice in this matter. P.S. The new flapper that the landlord finally : installed doesnt seal either!) Thanks, Emily Cameron (360) 956-1620
