Ghost Flushing

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RetiredCarGuy

Keeping It Simple Retired Guy
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, New York State
An American Standard one piece toilet is particularly difficult for me to correct. It ghost flushes about every 2 to 3 hours. Sometimes more, sometimes less. A new Fluidmaster Pro45 was installed and also an AS flapper disc.

Any advice from those that may also have encountered this. Thanks!
 
You obviously have a bad seal on the flapper. Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and if this color appears in the bowl a few hours later, you know you don't have a good seal on the flapper. Many times it is just an accumulation of gunk under the flapper that can easily be cleared out using your finger. It also may be a bad adjustment on the chain and/or incorrect flapper.
 
Fluid masters Fill valves will syphon water from tank through the small refill tube if you have it stuck down inside the overflow. Does this toilet have a plastic overflow in the flush valve or is the overflow integrated in the china in the corner of the tank. The Fluidmaster comes with a clip to create and airgap above the water line so it does not syphon water out of the tank.

is the flush valve plastic or brass?
 
Thanks havasu and Mr_David for the quick advice!

It has a china overflow in the LF corner and a plastic flush valve. The overflow tube is inserted at the very top of the overflow. The flapper seat was wiped clean when I popped on the new disc, and the chain seems to have just enough slack.

I just added some of my wife's least favorite food coloring to the tank. Will check it in the morning and report back!

Thanks, you are good guys!
 
Hey Guy, a picture would be worth a 1000 words. Could you post up a pic of your tank for us to look at? We might be missing something.

I'm also wondering if the AS flapper is designed for this specific tank?
 
See the photo of my American Standard one piece, now with red dye (food coloring) added. I'll check it tonight. Thanks for your help!

AS_one_piece.jpg
 
I am suspicious that the overflow tube is pushed down into the overflow too far. As Mr. David mentioned, if the end of the tube is below the waterline in the tank, it will siphon water out of the tank.
 
Thanks havasu, Mr_David and pfishfood,

Your advice has been great! I have implemented all and improved the ghost flush cycle time to about 6 hours. Can I improve on that?

The refill tube is far above the china drain water level. The chain is slack. I am suspect of the flapper valve disc. While it is new and the seat clean, also stated by the plumbing jobber to be correct, I believe it is the cause, or the entire assembly lower seal.

Thanks again for your professional advice.
 
I have had manufacturer's flappers that leaked similar to yours. You might try a similar universal type flapper to see if this seals any better for you.
 
The ghost flushing, on my American Standard one piece toilet, just returned over Christmas! I've been going through the basics, tweaking the level and tube. No luck. The food coloring check shows leakage into the bowl. Over the next week, I'll replace the flapper disc and seal, once again. Will report back when I have a status change.
 
Thanks havasu, Mr_David and pfishfood,

Your advice has been great! I have implemented all and improved the ghost flush cycle time to about 6 hours. Can I improve on that?

The refill tube is far above the china drain water level. The chain is slack. I am suspect of the flapper valve disc. While it is new and the seat clean, also stated by the plumbing jobber to be correct, I believe it is the cause, or the entire assembly lower seal.

Thanks again for your professional advice.


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MOS 43131-E aircraft maint. specialist- B-52 crew chief aircraft 58-217

"Dropping the ace of spades"

SAC_op_776x800.jpg

thGDVHXIFQ.jpg
 
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Run your finger on the seat of the flapper. Many times crud gets stuck under the flapper and it stops the seal from working correctly.
 
It's back. More Ghost Flushing!!! And now an even higher frequency.

I put in a an entire new flapper valve assembly, gasket and even a softer disc... Overflow tube is also set up higher above the water. The lever chain has more than enough extra slack and... It still leaks! How can anything so simple, be this stubborn. I just now added blue dye...

What am I missing? Thanks to all of you in advance (again)!
 
An old and necessary follow-up to this issue and my final solution. Not all new flapper valve discs are usable! Looking closely at the disc profile reveals that some are prone to leak even when new. Also pliable disc material necessary to seal each time. So choose wisely!

Thanks very much to everyone! Happy New Year
 
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There are about three different angles on that assembly. Set your old assembly on a flat surface and then set the new one beside it and make sure the angles are the same. It has to be the correct one to work. If that is a porcilian seat check for any hair line cracks. Good Luck....
 
if that's a one peice toilet it's a shallow tank there are numbers
stamped I to the back of the tank they will get you exact
replacement parts I think american standard had 2 different
size discs for the flapper
 

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