Toilet ?

Dave M · 05-29-2009, 11:29 AM

My daughter rents out a condo. They are having a problem with the toilet taking 4-5 mminutes to fill up. Assuming the shutoff is not fully off
would it be the valve fill assembly thats the problem.

Thanks in advance

Dave M

fatlazyless · 05-29-2009, 12:38 PM

...my advice....replace the tank valve with an 8-dollar Fluidmaster which will replace almost anything as it comes w/ 3 adapters & works real well, and submit a bill for eighty dollars to the landlord subtracted from next month's rent... & how much would a licensed plumber charge.....just ask Joe the Plumber....

....remember him...

ITD · 05-29-2009, 02:00 PM

Dave, I wonder if a piece of crud has found it's way into the valve and or the shut off valve. I would remove the valve pull it apart and look for the problem. If you break it it needed to be replaced anyway. Good luck.

BGB2 · 05-29-2009, 02:54 PM

Before making a repair, I recommend that you confirm the problem isn't somewhere unexpected. To illustrate, if the water is from a well there may be low pressure. Do neighbors have comparable problems? Also, repairs on rented properties can be problematic if the "repair" goes bad. Fixing plumbing problem tend to be either really easy or really difficult.

Good luck.

EZ-Pass · 05-29-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave M

My daughter rents out a condo. They are having a problem with the toilet taking 4-5 mminutes to fill up. Assuming the shutoff is not fully off
would it be the valve fill assembly thats the problem.

Thanks in advance

Dave M

The first thing I would do is to contact the property management people/landlord and let them deal with it. The cost to replace could be expensive if a plumber has to be called in to repair.

Dave M · 05-29-2009, 03:52 PM

My daughter is the property management, I happen to be the one she
calls. I'm not a plumber per se but have done some plumbing,etc. Will not have any problem replacing the valve assy if neccessay. I'll check on the other fixtures in house to see if pressure is good and check out the existing valve assy as ITD suggested.

Thanks Again, this forum is always informative.

Dave M

Mee-n-Mac · 05-29-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave M

My daughter rents out a condo. They are having a problem with the toilet taking 4-5 mminutes to fill up. Assuming the shutoff is not fully off
would it be the valve fill assembly thats the problem.

Thanks in advance

Dave M

Did the toilet always do this or is it a new problem ? Assuming the latter, who last "fixed" the plumbing and what did they do ?

ApS · 05-29-2009, 06:11 PM

The last time I successfully fixed this issue, I turned the shut-off valve fully in—then fully out. It sounded a bit "crunchy" as the valve closed off the water supply, but the water flowed once again.

I don't know what the offending substance was, but it wasn't due to well water—which I've never had. Piped-in water can carry small rust particles which can collect in places such as small valves—a likely problem with Town water.

(This particular shutoff valve is the one located below the tank near the floor. My 53-year old place never had a shut-off valves, and consequently has never had a shut-off valve failure!)

Another valve—made of brass and located inside the tank—has never accounted for slow filling. (But has made for some exciting water displays).

The very last time I used this "quick-fix", the valve itself immediately started leaking.

Even then, if the leak is slow enough, a pan can be placed under that slow leak and the valve can slowly seal itself.

I love water, and even like plumbing.

Rattlesnake Guy · 05-30-2009, 07:27 PM

Sometimes the face of the rubber washer inside the valve can get stuck in the closed position. When you open the valve, the washer stays put and the screw pulls out of the washer. Now the water has to pass through the little hole that the screw would normally occupy if the washer were still on the screw. (It sounded perfectly clear in my head...sadly

)

Dave M · 06-03-2009, 12:32 PM

This was fixed in a minute. The shutoff was almost all the way off. Hardly any water coming from filler tube. The only thing we can think of is the renter turned the shutoff the wrong direction. Wish they were all this easy.
Another question. This appartment has two toilets exactly the same. When checking the operation, the flapper in #1 goes down when its just above the water level when emptying. In #2 the flapper almost goes down immediately. Both are set the same. Both have exactly the same flapper. Both have the same valve assy. Any thoughts?

Dave M

fatlazyless · 06-03-2009, 01:08 PM

Could be one flapper has more flexible rubber due to old age, or something. Go spend 2-bucks in tax free NH at your local independant hardware store and replace the rubber flapper and don't forget to clean the porcelain seat under the flapper!

jmen24 · 06-03-2009, 04:26 PM

FLL, is 100% correct the flapper needs replacement. Exept the seat will be plastic on any toilet valve that has been manufactured since the second world war at least, but it still needs a wipe down with your finger. The rubber in the flapper breaks down and cannot hold air within the pocket (the hollow plug under the flat lid) and it loses its flotation and therefore slaps down. Honestly, due to experience in a past life maintaining apartments, the cheap Yellow Hornet brand flap that is at Aubuchons is the best fit for the fix (as long as it is an American Standard or old Kohler style flap), I have tried all the different models that were available approx. 5 years ago, we had 240 apartments under our ownership and I cannot even remember how many tiolets I had hugged in the time spent there, I shutter to think about it still...

05-29-2009, 02:54 PM	#4
BGB2 Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Water Flow Before making a repair, I recommend that you confirm the problem isn't somewhere unexpected. To illustrate, if the water is from a well there may be low pressure. Do neighbors have comparable problems? Also, repairs on rented properties can be problematic if the "repair" goes bad. Fixing plumbing problem tend to be either really easy or really difficult. Good luck.

05-29-2009, 03:52 PM	#6
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Toilet ? My daughter is the property management, I happen to be the one she calls. I'm not a plumber per se but have done some plumbing,etc. Will not have any problem replacing the valve assy if neccessay. I'll check on the other fixtures in house to see if pressure is good and check out the existing valve assy as ITD suggested. Thanks Again, this forum is always informative. Dave M

05-29-2009, 06:11 PM	#8
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,959 Thanks: 2,234 Thanked 783 Times in 559 Posts	Shut-off Valve Issue [STRIKE]Problem[/STRIKE] The last time I successfully fixed this issue, I turned the shut-off valve fully in—then fully out. It sounded a bit "crunchy" as the valve closed off the water supply, but the water flowed once again. I don't know what the offending substance was, but it wasn't due to well water—which I've never had. Piped-in water can carry small rust particles which can collect in places such as small valves—a likely problem with Town water. (This particular shutoff valve is the one located below the tank near the floor. My 53-year old place never had a shut-off valves, and consequently has never had a shut-off valve failure!) Another valve—made of brass and located inside the tank—has never accounted for slow filling. (But has made for some exciting water displays). The very last time I used this "quick-fix", the valve itself immediately started leaking. Even then, if the leak is slow enough, a pan can be placed under that slow leak and the valve can slowly seal itself. I love water, and even like plumbing. __________________ Is it "Common Sense" isn't.

05-30-2009, 07:27 PM	#9
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	Sometimes the face of the rubber washer inside the valve can get stuck in the closed position. When you open the valve, the washer stays put and the screw pulls out of the washer. Now the water has to pass through the little hole that the screw would normally occupy if the washer were still on the screw. (It sounded perfectly clear in my head...sadly)

06-03-2009, 12:32 PM	#10
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Toilet followup This was fixed in a minute. The shutoff was almost all the way off. Hardly any water coming from filler tube. The only thing we can think of is the renter turned the shutoff the wrong direction. Wish they were all this easy. Another question. This appartment has two toilets exactly the same. When checking the operation, the flapper in #1 goes down when its just above the water level when emptying. In #2 the flapper almost goes down immediately. Both are set the same. Both have exactly the same flapper. Both have the same valve assy. Any thoughts? Dave M

05-29-2009, 11:29 AM	#1
Dave M Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 395 Thanks: 4 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Toilet ? My daughter rents out a condo. They are having a problem with the toilet taking 4-5 mminutes to fill up. Assuming the shutoff is not fully off would it be the valve fill assembly thats the problem. Thanks in advance Dave M

05-29-2009, 12:38 PM	#2
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,818 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 302 Thanked 1,030 Times in 749 Posts	...my advice....replace the tank valve with an 8-dollar Fluidmaster which will replace almost anything as it comes w/ 3 adapters & works real well, and submit a bill for eighty dollars to the landlord subtracted from next month's rent... & how much would a licensed plumber charge.....just ask Joe the Plumber........remember him... __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 05-29-2009 at 04:12 PM.

05-29-2009, 02:00 PM	#3
ITD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 2,937 Thanks: 480 Thanked 695 Times in 390 Posts	Dave, I wonder if a piece of crud has found it's way into the valve and or the shut off valve. I would remove the valve pull it apart and look for the problem. If you break it it needed to be replaced anyway. Good luck.

06-03-2009, 01:08 PM	#11
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,818 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 302 Thanked 1,030 Times in 749 Posts	Could be one flapper has more flexible rubber due to old age, or something. Go spend 2-bucks in tax free NH at your local independant hardware store and replace the rubber flapper and don't forget to clean the porcelain seat under the flapper! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

06-03-2009, 04:26 PM	#12
jmen24 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,139 Thanks: 223 Thanked 319 Times in 181 Posts	FLL, is 100% correct the flapper needs replacement. Exept the seat will be plastic on any toilet valve that has been manufactured since the second world war at least, but it still needs a wipe down with your finger. The rubber in the flapper breaks down and cannot hold air within the pocket (the hollow plug under the flat lid) and it loses its flotation and therefore slaps down. Honestly, due to experience in a past life maintaining apartments, the cheap Yellow Hornet brand flap that is at Aubuchons is the best fit for the fix (as long as it is an American Standard or old Kohler style flap), I have tried all the different models that were available approx. 5 years ago, we had 240 apartments under our ownership and I cannot even remember how many tiolets I had hugged in the time spent there, I shutter to think about it still...