toilet leaking into overflow pipe

bridgeboy · 02-21-2010, 03:33 PM

Hi all,
Most of the time it seems, my toilet (see attached pic) drips from the black tube that is held down into the overflow pipe in the center. So I can hear and see a drip, that results in extra little smooth flows in the toilet bowl. Sometimes it runs very hard. I can temporarily remedy it by holding up the float bulb but it comes back. I can permanently adjust the float bulb height by using the plastic screws on the ballcock assembly top, but nothing seems to work.

I have already checked for *external* leakage and there is none.

Please let me know if I can troubleshoot further. This is an American Standard toilet in a new old house I bought but I'm house-poor so want to try to fix this myself without calling a plumber.

More pics forthcoming on request.

Thanks so much, I'm a newbie to this forum and plumbing.

Thanks,
Dan

**Reedwalker** · 02-21-2010, 04:46 PM

Start by replacing the ballcock and flapper.

Buy a Fluidmaster Fill Valve from Lowe's and grap a flapper while you're there. Follow the directions on the box. It's fairly simple.

Good Luck!

bridgeboy · 02-21-2010, 05:14 PM

Wow, thanks!

So it's this:
Fluidmaster | Products | Fill Valves - Anti-Siphon Fill Valve (400A)

and any old flapper like:
Fluidmaster | Products| Flush - Bull's Eye Flapper (503)

?

Thanks,
Dan

P.S. Wow!

**Chris** · 02-22-2010, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bridgeboy

Wow, thanks!

So it's this:
Fluidmaster | Products | Fill Valves - Anti-Siphon Fill Valve (400A)

and any old flapper like:
Fluidmaster | Products| Flush - Bull's Eye Flapper (503)

?

Thanks,
Dan

P.S. Wow!

Those will work fine.

bridgeboy · 02-22-2010, 04:54 PM

Hi,
OK, and is there a difference in quality between the cheap flapper type I already have (rubber flap) and the more heavy-duty looking one like:

Fluidmaster | Products| Flush - Bull's Eye Super Flapper (501) ?

Thanks,
Dan

**Reedwalker** · 02-23-2010, 12:25 PM

I've never used those "fancy" flappers before. That doesn't necessarily mean anything.

**majakdragon** · 02-23-2010, 03:09 PM

The Fluidmaster 400 fill-valves are great. Save the instructions since they also have info for future needs such as if there is a problem and it needs flushed out. Fancy, does not mean it will work any better than plain and simple.

bridgeboy · 02-24-2010, 11:04 PM

Hi all,
I got the new Fluidmaster 400A fill valve and a flapper as advised, and my first adventure is the supply line. It is PEX, and I don't know which of the 4 categories the instructions mention it might be:

1. metal/copper flared tubing (use new cone washer, new coupling nut)
2. metal flanged tubing (reuse existing washer and coupling nut)
3. metal spiral tubing (use existing cone washer but new coupline nut)
4. vinyl/braided connector (captive cone washers already included)

On my actual one (see photos), the nut can slide up and down when not attached, but can't be removed, since the cone type thing at the top seems part of the whole line.

So I guess it's just 4 - reuse the existing line. But I could get the nut off if I unscrewed the line from the supply water metal fixture where the cut-off valve is. Should I try to do that and put in the new one or is the captive cone meant to stay with that nut?

Thanks,
Dan

**phishfood** · 02-24-2010, 11:16 PM

Just reuse the supply line with cone that is there. Easy pleasy.

**havasu** · 02-25-2010, 12:02 AM

As Phishfood said, just use what you have as the cheapest possible solution. In my opinion, that supply line looks quite a few years old, and is going to be your weak link. For a few dollars, I would upgrade to flexible stainless steel. This plastic pipe has a short life expectancy, and can cause thousands of dollars in damage if it bursts. At Lake Havasu, the repair cost for a burst supply line averages $45,000 - $75,000 in the area where I have my summer home. Thank God for insurance!

02-23-2010, 03:09 PM	#7
majakdragon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 182	The Fluidmaster 400 fill-valves are great. Save the instructions since they also have info for future needs such as if there is a problem and it needs flushed out. Fancy, does not mean it will work any better than plain and simple. __________________ If you have never made a mistake, you probably haven't done much.

02-24-2010, 11:04 PM	#8
bridgeboy Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 12	Hi all, I got the new Fluidmaster 400A fill valve and a flapper as advised, and my first adventure is the supply line. It is PEX, and I don't know which of the 4 categories the instructions mention it might be: 1. metal/copper flared tubing (use new cone washer, new coupling nut) 2. metal flanged tubing (reuse existing washer and coupling nut) 3. metal spiral tubing (use existing cone washer but new coupline nut) 4. vinyl/braided connector (captive cone washers already included) On my actual one (see photos), the nut can slide up and down when not attached, but can't be removed, since the cone type thing at the top seems part of the whole line. So I guess it's just 4 - reuse the existing line. But I could get the nut off if I unscrewed the line from the supply water metal fixture where the cut-off valve is. Should I try to do that and put in the new one or is the captive cone meant to stay with that nut? Thanks, Dan Attached Thumbnails

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02-21-2010, 04:46 PM	#2
Reedwalker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 156	Start by replacing the ballcock and flapper. Buy a Fluidmaster Fill Valve from Lowe's and grap a flapper while you're there. Follow the directions on the box. It's fairly simple. Good Luck!

02-21-2010, 05:14 PM	#3
bridgeboy Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 12	Wow, thanks! So it's this: Fluidmaster \| Products \| Fill Valves - Anti-Siphon Fill Valve (400A) and any old flapper like: Fluidmaster \| Products\| Flush - Bull's Eye Flapper (503) ? Thanks, Dan P.S. Wow!

02-22-2010, 04:54 PM	#5
bridgeboy Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 12	Hi, OK, and is there a difference in quality between the cheap flapper type I already have (rubber flap) and the more heavy-duty looking one like: Fluidmaster \| Products\| Flush - Bull's Eye Super Flapper (501) ? Thanks, Dan

02-23-2010, 12:25 PM	#6
Reedwalker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 156	I've never used those "fancy" flappers before. That doesn't necessarily mean anything.

02-24-2010, 11:16 PM	#9
phishfood Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 406	Just reuse the supply line with cone that is there. Easy pleasy.

02-25-2010, 12:02 AM	#10
havasu On permanent vacation.... Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: So. Cal & Lake Havasu Posts: 821	As Phishfood said, just use what you have as the cheapest possible solution. In my opinion, that supply line looks quite a few years old, and is going to be your weak link. For a few dollars, I would upgrade to flexible stainless steel. This plastic pipe has a short life expectancy, and can cause thousands of dollars in damage if it bursts. At Lake Havasu, the repair cost for a burst supply line averages $45,000 - $75,000 in the area where I have my summer home. Thank God for insurance!