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The water flushes just fine in our toilet… but the water refilling the tank takes forever coming in! I want to hang out a sign “please wait at least 20mins. between flushing” Is this fixable by a homeowner or do we call the plumber??
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* and ask the same question, providing the detail I just suggested.
Depending upon the type, it's not unusual for the ballcock in the tank to get an obstruction, just as can happen with a faucet. More detail may help your answer, such as type of toilet, is it the original ballcock, when did symptoms start, how old, etc. Another option is to go to
*I'm not a plumber, but if the water flows pretty well from the rest of your outlets in the same house, I would suspect something is clogging your supply to the tank. Do you get a lot of lime buildup? Or it could be something blocking the flow within the valve inside the tank.I'd start there. Replace this unit and try it out. If that doesn't do it, keep moving upstream.You should be able to fix the valve without a plumber. After that, if you don't have plumbing skills, you could make a big mess. But you'll never learn stuff like this unless you try.Good luck.
*The incoming water valve is open all the way, correct? Have you tried cycling the valve, fully closed, then fully open? Has the water flow always been slow, or is is a recent occurance? If recent, did it slow over a period of time, or overnight?
*just agreeing with everybody:first make sure the stop valve under your toilet is fully open. If so, close it and replace the ballcock valve. Get a "fluidmaster" valve from any plumbing or hardware store and follow the directions.If that doesn't fix it, replace the stop valve you just closed.If that doesn't work, call a plumber.
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Hi M! Will check on valve first. We live in an area where we get heavy sediment in the well water (red clay.) This was not a problem when we first got the house (that was quite some time ago.) It's been a slow buildup and I'm thinking maybe the line is clogged?? Is there a snake made for small lines??
Kate
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Call Al Gore, he'll get right on it. Joe H
*Red clay...arghh!The easiest place to start is to replace the valve assembly inside the toilet tank as others have mentioned. Easy to do, just get a quality valve and follow the manufacturer's directions. If flow is still slow, move upstream as MD mentioned and replace the inlet/stop valve that controls water flow to the toilet tank, as well as the tubing that runs from the valve to the toilet tank. You could remove the tube and try to "snake" the line clean with coathanger wire, etc, but if it is fouled the sediment may score the valve when it is opened and closed, or you may damage it while "snaking". If so, it'll never work the same again. Replacement valves are also inexpensive and easy to replace.It may be useful to, while you're in the "fix-it" mode, to install a very basic whole house water filter. Basic, yet reasonably effective models are inexpensive, easy to install, and do a good job at shielding the rest of your house. Just don't forget to change the cartridges!The prodict links are not an endorsement of a specific product, but hopefully they'll give you an idea as to the plumbing parts that we're writing about.
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Well since I can't get plumbers in my area to return phone calls do you think for a small donation Al might try it?
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Kate,
What area are you in?
Rich Beckman
*When you flush, also check that the float travels all the way down. Some can stick, not allowing the fill valve to completely open.I hate tempermental toilets...
*Kate,We had the same symptom shortly after moving into our newly built house quite a few years ago. The solution for our particular problem hasn't been specifically covered by previous tips in this thread. I closed the wall valve and took apart the pieces that connected it to the toilet. There was an in-line filter screen, and I forget now where in the linkage it was, that had clogged with grit that had been left in the pipes during construction. Grit cleared, problem solved and not to return. Got a new house?Best of luck with your toilet,Dave
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Dave: this is not a new house... a Lindal Cedar kit house. Nice wood with some screwy initial building problems. (Like for awhile that seepage thru the basement floor turned out to be the septic lines!) Will try the cleanout at the incoming line; as I have cleaned with a toothbrush (not mine!) everything else in the tank and the ball rises/lowers just fine and nothing in the tank sticks...so it's not there.
Thanks for the tip. Kate
*Rich: We're in the Catskills! And we're weekenders! Plumbers up there apparently don't like working on weekends so nobody even bothers to return a phone call. HOWEVER!! we called back in a Gen.Contractor (that we previously used on our addition a few years back) and although he's busy, he's very accomodating. He took one look and said PIPE CORROSION! and will be replacing the faulty pipe and also one of the valves mentioned in a previous reply to me.We also gave him work replacing a bathroom vanity top/faucet,and a kitchen faucet and are in discussion concerning another big Add-on.OIL HEATING! So all those plumbers that didn't feel it worth their while to pick up a phone lost out big-time!
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The water flushes just fine in our toilet... but the water refilling the tank takes forever coming in! I want to hang out a sign "please wait at least 20mins. between flushing" Is this fixable by a homeowner or do we call the plumber??
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Kate--you can expect that there is corrosion breaking off from the rest of your piping system which may slowly clog your new ballcock. There is an aftermarket filter for a couple of $ that fits between the ballcock and the supply line which will avoid this. Do not ever put one of those Clorine tablets in the tank. It will eat up the ballcock after a couple years, which will then break and flood your vacation house while you are gone.