Question:
> However, for the last two nights now, I’ve heard it fill *one* time. So, >it appears that it’s starting again.
You probably have a leak between the the flapper and the seat. You can generally renew the seat with sandpaper if it is plastic or just replace the seat. To replace the seat you need to remove the tank, in which case you need to replace the rubber washers where the tank is secured.
Response:
> You probably have a leak between the the flapper and the seat. >You can generally renew the seat with sandpaper if it is plastic or >just replace the seat. To replace the seat you need to remove the tank, >in which case you need to replace the rubber washers where the tank >is secured.
Thank you, Ronald. It is solved, I think… :-) I got mail from someone who said the exact same thing had happened to him, and it was the "new" flapper. It appears it may have been the same with me. I bought a new (again!) and slightly different flapper, and I haven’t heard any sign of leaking… YET! :-O Barry — Barry L. Bond, Software Engineer | Motorola 72235,1530 (CIS) <- personal | Work: (407) 823-7022
Response:
Greetings! I have a toilet (Briggs) in a bathroom that started leaking just over a month ago. At first, I would hear it fill only once a night or so. But, within about a week, the leak increased quite a bit, and it would fill several times a night. I determined the leak was into the bowl, but not outside the toilet (there was no water on the floor or anywhere outside the toilet). I have a few home repair books, so I referenced them. I have absolutely *NO KNACK* for many home repair tasks (though that doesn’t prevent me from trying to fix it myself! 
), so I read the books on the topic. A couple different books suggested replacing the flapper. So, I bought a new flapper and put it in. The toilet leaked FASTER now! It would fill about once an hour! One book mentioned rubbing petroleum jelly on the flapper and any other rubber around it. So, I took the original flapper (I had this house built and moved in September, 1994, so I’ve been here 3 1/2 years), and put petroleum jelly on it. (I used the original flapper because it leaked less than the new one.) I also rubbed petroleum jelly on the rubber around where the flapper rested when in the down position. (By the way, I also looked carefully and didn’t see any problem in any of the parts, as much as I know what to look for…) That fixed it! Until two days ago, so for about a month, I had never heard it fill! However, for the last two nights now, I’ve heard it fill *one* time. So, it appears that it’s starting again. My books don’t offer any other fix! Does anyone here have any ideas on what else I should try? Thank you very much! Barry — Barry L. Bond, Software Engineer | Motorola 72235,1530 (CIS) <- personal | Work: (407) 823-7022
Response:
> The old flapper may be slightly deformed and need to be replaced even >though you went back to it. Also, run your finger nail around the seat >and be sure there are no knicks or crude on the edges. If there is any >crude deposited, see if you can carefully scrape it off. –Phil
Thank you, Phil! Well, I had actually checked for debris along the edge of the flapper when I had it out, and didn’t find any. The "rather new" state of my house (3.5 years) helps to justify not finding any yet… I had also checked the rubber rim that went around the circular pipe against which the flapper rested when in the down position. I didn’t find any debris or anything improper (so far as I know what to look for) here, either. And, I had used the old one because it was, so far as I know, still "young" enough that I didn’t feel it was time to need replacing, and it leaked much less than the newer one! (The newer one leaked much faster, causing the bowl to fill about once an hour instead of up to 2 or 3 times per day/night.) Should I try the newer one again, and apply petroleam jelly to it before I put it in? Do plumbers do something to these parts (such as flappers) before they install them? Barry — Barry L. Bond, Software Engineer | Motorola 72235,1530 (CIS) <- personal | Work: (407) 823-7022
Response:
>leaked much less than the newer one! (The newer one leaked much faster, >causing the bowl to fill about once an hour instead of up to 2 or 3 times >per day/night.)
I had the same experience recently… The new flapper I put in had a crack in the top, along a seam, that leaked badly. Tossed it and bought ANOTHER new one… I bought the best quality (with no gimmicks like adjustable air, etc) flapper I could find, and have been happy every since. (Don’t remember brand right now, but it was white, and I think made of vinyl…) sdb — Do NOT send me unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE)! Watch out for munged e-mail address. User should be sylvan and host is cyberhighway.net.
Response:
What is the level of the water inside the tank? If the level is too high, water will run down the overflow tube into the bowl. The regulator may be responding to changes in water pressure during the night, when the house is quiet, and you are most likely to hear it. FWIW. Larry Davick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Greetings! > I have a toilet (Briggs) in a bathroom that started leaking just over a > month ago. At first, I would hear it fill only once a night or so. But, > within about a week, the leak increased quite a bit, and it would fill > several times a night. > I determined the leak was into the bowl, but not outside the toilet > (there was no water on the floor or anywhere outside the toilet). > I have a few home repair books, so I referenced them. I have absolutely > *NO KNACK* for many home repair tasks (though that doesn’t prevent me from > trying to fix it myself! ), so I read the books on the topic. A couple > different books suggested replacing the flapper. > So, I bought a new flapper and put it in. The toilet leaked FASTER now! > It would fill about once an hour! > One book mentioned rubbing petroleum jelly on the flapper and any other > rubber around it. So, I took the original flapper (I had this house built > and moved in September, 1994, so I’ve been here 3 1/2 years), and put > petroleum jelly on it. (I used the original flapper because it leaked less > than the new one.) I also rubbed petroleum jelly on the rubber around > where the flapper rested when in the down position. (By the way, I also > looked carefully and didn’t see any problem in any of the parts, as much as > I know what to look for…) > That fixed it! Until two days ago, so for about a month, I had never > heard it fill! > However, for the last two nights now, I’ve heard it fill *one* time. So, > it appears that it’s starting again. > My books don’t offer any other fix! Does anyone here have any ideas on > what else I should try? > Thank you very much! > Barry > — > Barry L. Bond, Software Engineer | Motorola > 72235,1530 (CIS) <- personal | Work: (407) 823-7022
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Greetings! > I have a toilet (Briggs) in a bathroom that started leaking just over a > month ago. At first, I would hear it fill only once a night or so. But, > within about a week, the leak increased quite a bit, and it would fill > several times a night. > I determined the leak was into the bowl, but not outside the toilet > (there was no water on the floor or anywhere outside the toilet). > I have a few home repair books, so I referenced them. I have absolutely > *NO KNACK* for many home repair tasks (though that doesn’t prevent me from > trying to fix it myself! ), so I read the books on the topic. A couple > different books suggested replacing the flapper. > So, I bought a new flapper and put it in. The toilet leaked FASTER now! > It would fill about once an hour! > One book mentioned rubbing petroleum jelly on the flapper and any other > rubber around it. So, I took the original flapper (I had this house built > and moved in September, 1994, so I’ve been here 3 1/2 years), and put > petroleum jelly on it. (I used the original flapper because it leaked less > than the new one.) I also rubbed petroleum jelly on the rubber around > where the flapper rested when in the down position. (By the way, I also > looked carefully and didn’t see any problem in any of the parts, as much as > I know what to look for…) > That fixed it! Until two days ago, so for about a month, I had never > heard it fill! > However, for the last two nights now, I’ve heard it fill *one* time. So, > it appears that it’s starting again. > My books don’t offer any other fix! Does anyone here have any ideas on > what else I should try?
The old flapper may be slightly deformed and need to be replaced even though you went back to it. Also, run your finger nail around the seat and be sure there are no knicks or crude on the edges. If there is any crude deposited, see if you can carefully scrape it off. –Phil — Phil Munro Dept of Electrical Engineering Youngstown, Ohio 44555
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