Repair when Refilling

COMMON PROBLEMS

Testing The Toilet Tank Water For A Leak Into The Toilet Bowl

Leak Detector Tablets or food coloring can be used in a tank to confirm a leak but these tablets do not verify where the leak is occurring. The best troubleshooting procedure for determining the leak point is using this water test.

WATER TEST

  1. With a full tank, turn the water off at the shut of valve. DO NOT flush the toilet.
  2. Make a mark in the tank at the current water level.
  3. Wait 30 minutes. If the water level has dropped make a new mark at the new water level and continue to wait.
  4. Repeat step 3 until the water level no longer changes.

READING THE WATER LEVEL WITH SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

The water level will drop down to the level of the leak and stop.

  1. Water drains to the lip of the flapper –

A) The flapper may be worn.

B) The drain seat that the flapper rests on is damaged.

Recommended Solution A:  Change flapper. To determine whether you need a 2″ or 3″ toilet flapper, please click here: Determine size of flapper

If you need a 2″ toilet flapper, we recommend the 502 toilet flapper

If you need a 3″ toilet flapper, we recommend either the 513A toilet flapper or the 5403 toilet flapper

Recommended Solution B:  Repair flush valve drain

Please watch this video to see how to repair the flush valve drain:

 

2. The water drains to the bottom of the tank – This happens when the gasket that seals the flush valve into the tank is deteriorated and worn.

Recommended Solution: Change flush valve.

  • If a leak occurs at a flush valve gasket in new installation, the lock nut securing the flush valve to the underside maybe leaking. Fluidmaster instructs that the flush valve lock nut should be tightened no more than 1/2 turn beyond hand tight.

3. The water drains down 1/4 to 1/2 inch from your mark and stops.

A) The refill tubing may be positioned incorrectly.

B) The overflow pipe may have a crack.

Solution A: Re-position refill tube so it does not enter into the overflow pipe – if possible attach tubing to a clip to hold refill tube above pipe opening.

Solution B: Change flush valve. We recommend the K-507A-008 toilet flush valve

If you need to replace any of the toilet parts, why not get Fluidmaster’s Everything Kit includes everything you need to fix your toilet in one purchase?

If you are in the U.S. and have a 2″ flush valve toilet, we recommend the 2″ Everything Kit

If you are in the U.S. and have a 3″ flush valve toilet, we recommend the 3″ Everything Kit

If you are in Canada and have a 2″ flush valve toilet, we recommend the 2″ Everything Kit

If you are in Canada and have a 3″ flush valve toilet, we recommend both the 540AKR Flush Valve and the 400H Fill Valve

To download our free guide to fix common toilet problems please click here: Fluidmaster Toilet Repair Guide