bubbawny
Member
Hi All:
So for the past many years, our two toilets (main bath, 2nd half bath) have had water levels that are very low. TBH, I've done most of the basic toilet repairs myself. Not a plumber. Barely a handyman. But i'm not incapable either.
I finally got around to trying to work on this. TBH, let's just say after "business" happens in the bowl, sometimes b/c there's too little water, getting the stuff to flush can be difficult, depending upon how much "business" has been conducted.
(trying to be PC here!)
So here's what I've done so far. First, I've watched a ton of youtube vids. First, the water is maybe 3-4" up from the bottom of the tank drain. When flushing, the water empties into the bowl and rinses down, no problems. The water level starts rising back up above the LOW point, maybe by an inch. I can hear the water refill tube working.
One of the vids on YT suggested using a screwdriver to turn it so that the water level in the tank rises about an inch shy of the overflow tube. I did make that change by tightening the screw on the water adjustment rod. After this change, on both toilets, the bowl flushes and the refill tube pumps water into the bowl for longer time now. I can see and hear the water running. The water comes in to the bowl for almost a minute, but the water level recedes and never really reaches a high point that I see in other homes toilet bowls. When the refill tube stops, the water level slowly flows down and I can hear a high pitched tinkle until it reaches the low point and just stops.
Next, another YT vid said to make sure that the water isn't beign blocked coming out of the source in the tank. So I took off the top cap assembly and, using a glass, made sure that it wasn't clogged by flushing a couple times. Water pressure is great and clear. No debris.
Another YT vid said to make sure the air vents to the bowls are clear of debris and to run a hose down them. I just did that. No debris, water flows and appears completely unimpeded while running water from the roof drain pipes. (TBH, I was afraid to do this b/c I was afraid that water would spill or flood out. But nothing happened. The water from the hose just went down the drain pipe no problems.)
Another YT vid said that there maybe a crack in the bowl drain (trap) that connects to the floor or the wax rings are bad and in need of replacement.. I find it odd that BOTH of my toilets have a low water point and that both would be cracked or need new wax rings. I have not yet done this.
Also, I watched a vid on the flapper valve area, the washer and screw cap holding the fill valve assembly/flapper in place. There appears to be a good seal. I have replaced the flapper in both bowls previously. I don't know how long ago. Maybe they need to be replaced. But when I flush, I can press on the flapper valve with my hand and hold it in place. There's no indicator that it's NOT sealing, and the underside of the tank to bowl washer appears in tact, no leaking at all.
Same with the ballcock shank washer and bolts. They are not moving or leaking.
Also, if I pour a gallon of water into the bowl itself, it rises and then just starts flushing out. Even if I do that test slowly, the water level really never rises, but simply just exits. It never even comes more than an inch up.
Now, last piece of information. My wife has MS and poor leg strength. when she lowers her self on to the toilets she does "plunk" a little bit as her knees get to the 90 degree mark and plops the rest of the way on to the toilet. So I do wonder if somehow the wax rings need to be replaced and if that could be the source of the issue of a lack of a seal. Or if there truly is some kind of crack underneath. But that would involve taking off the toilet fully, replacing the wax rings and flange. That's within my skill potential. Not averse to doing that.
But before I rip apart the tank, I guess I wanted to ask what you folks think i should do.
TBH, I'm unemployed. I'd like to get a new set of toilet bowls with higher seating so that my wife (70 yrs) doesn't have to lower herself down as far. But extra tall toilets are $500+, and this guy doesn't have a lot of $$ right now.
Before I forget, I inspected from the basement. There's no indication of wetness or leak on the floor, whether viewed from the bathroom floors, or from between the joists. Not even damp. Perfectly dry.
Really need some advice on what to do next. I feel like I've done the obvious stuff. I get the basic idea of how the fill valve and the adjustment screw control how MUCH water gets back into the bowl after a flush. But what I do NOT get is what controls the trigger point height that seems to cause water to exit the bowl, nor do I understand why it's trickling out. Nothing I've done can prevent it from trickling out. It always goes back to that low water level about 3" up from the bottom of the drain. It barely is enough water to do your business into. The top of the water level measures about 4" x 6" at best. A pretty small area and when "business" is being done, that "business" often gets stuck to the sides of the interior of the bowl.
What would you folks recommend I do next?
So for the past many years, our two toilets (main bath, 2nd half bath) have had water levels that are very low. TBH, I've done most of the basic toilet repairs myself. Not a plumber. Barely a handyman. But i'm not incapable either.
I finally got around to trying to work on this. TBH, let's just say after "business" happens in the bowl, sometimes b/c there's too little water, getting the stuff to flush can be difficult, depending upon how much "business" has been conducted.
(trying to be PC here!)
So here's what I've done so far. First, I've watched a ton of youtube vids. First, the water is maybe 3-4" up from the bottom of the tank drain. When flushing, the water empties into the bowl and rinses down, no problems. The water level starts rising back up above the LOW point, maybe by an inch. I can hear the water refill tube working.
One of the vids on YT suggested using a screwdriver to turn it so that the water level in the tank rises about an inch shy of the overflow tube. I did make that change by tightening the screw on the water adjustment rod. After this change, on both toilets, the bowl flushes and the refill tube pumps water into the bowl for longer time now. I can see and hear the water running. The water comes in to the bowl for almost a minute, but the water level recedes and never really reaches a high point that I see in other homes toilet bowls. When the refill tube stops, the water level slowly flows down and I can hear a high pitched tinkle until it reaches the low point and just stops.
Next, another YT vid said to make sure that the water isn't beign blocked coming out of the source in the tank. So I took off the top cap assembly and, using a glass, made sure that it wasn't clogged by flushing a couple times. Water pressure is great and clear. No debris.
Another YT vid said to make sure the air vents to the bowls are clear of debris and to run a hose down them. I just did that. No debris, water flows and appears completely unimpeded while running water from the roof drain pipes. (TBH, I was afraid to do this b/c I was afraid that water would spill or flood out. But nothing happened. The water from the hose just went down the drain pipe no problems.)
Another YT vid said that there maybe a crack in the bowl drain (trap) that connects to the floor or the wax rings are bad and in need of replacement.. I find it odd that BOTH of my toilets have a low water point and that both would be cracked or need new wax rings. I have not yet done this.
Also, I watched a vid on the flapper valve area, the washer and screw cap holding the fill valve assembly/flapper in place. There appears to be a good seal. I have replaced the flapper in both bowls previously. I don't know how long ago. Maybe they need to be replaced. But when I flush, I can press on the flapper valve with my hand and hold it in place. There's no indicator that it's NOT sealing, and the underside of the tank to bowl washer appears in tact, no leaking at all.
Same with the ballcock shank washer and bolts. They are not moving or leaking.
Also, if I pour a gallon of water into the bowl itself, it rises and then just starts flushing out. Even if I do that test slowly, the water level really never rises, but simply just exits. It never even comes more than an inch up.
Now, last piece of information. My wife has MS and poor leg strength. when she lowers her self on to the toilets she does "plunk" a little bit as her knees get to the 90 degree mark and plops the rest of the way on to the toilet. So I do wonder if somehow the wax rings need to be replaced and if that could be the source of the issue of a lack of a seal. Or if there truly is some kind of crack underneath. But that would involve taking off the toilet fully, replacing the wax rings and flange. That's within my skill potential. Not averse to doing that.
But before I rip apart the tank, I guess I wanted to ask what you folks think i should do.
TBH, I'm unemployed. I'd like to get a new set of toilet bowls with higher seating so that my wife (70 yrs) doesn't have to lower herself down as far. But extra tall toilets are $500+, and this guy doesn't have a lot of $$ right now.
Before I forget, I inspected from the basement. There's no indication of wetness or leak on the floor, whether viewed from the bathroom floors, or from between the joists. Not even damp. Perfectly dry.
Really need some advice on what to do next. I feel like I've done the obvious stuff. I get the basic idea of how the fill valve and the adjustment screw control how MUCH water gets back into the bowl after a flush. But what I do NOT get is what controls the trigger point height that seems to cause water to exit the bowl, nor do I understand why it's trickling out. Nothing I've done can prevent it from trickling out. It always goes back to that low water level about 3" up from the bottom of the drain. It barely is enough water to do your business into. The top of the water level measures about 4" x 6" at best. A pretty small area and when "business" is being done, that "business" often gets stuck to the sides of the interior of the bowl.
What would you folks recommend I do next?
