Inside Scoop on How to Fix Toilet Ghost Flushing From the Experts at Schauer's Hardware

The root cause of phantom flushing could be easy to perceive, and prevention is a genuine maintenance issue. Water is casually draining from the tank, frequently through a decaying flapper, and from lowering the float. When the float reaches its vital height, it switches on the water. To prevent this from happening, you will need to make sure all the tank seals are whole.

To check the toilet flapper you can do a Food Dye Test:

Grab these items:

• Food Dye
• Toilet flapper
• Screwdriver

 

Put some drops of food dye in the back tank of the toilet and refrain from flushing for about half an hour. If the toilet bowl water turns the same color as the dye, it could mean the flapper is leaking. Don’t jump to too many conclusions yet, check the length of the flapper to the flush handle. It might be that you just need to lengthen the chain by one or two links. Repeat the dye test after you lengthen the chain. If the chain is too short, it prevents the flapper from seating in the siphon hole and might cause the type of leak that produces phantom flushing.

Flapper Might Need Replaced

If the dye still shows in the bowl turn off the water supply and hold down the flush handle to empty the tank. Remove the flapper from the chain that connects it to the flush handle and unhook its two ears from the overflow tube. Visit Schauer's Hardware and ask the plumbing supply and toilet parts experts. You should be able to buy an identical flapper replacement. There are many types of flappers, and all will not fit your toilet.

After purchasing the new flapper, hook the ears to the overflow tube and connect the flush handle chain. Be sure to allow plenty of for the flapper to seat fully. Turn on the water, fill the tank and try a few test flushes. When you are satisfied the flapper is working properly, repeat the dye test again.

See there! You are done you repaired your toilet!

Still see food dye?

Check for other hints of leakage from the tank if the bowl of water is still showing dye. scan the floor for small specks of water and feel the underside of the tank with your hands, notably at the points where the bolts attach the tank to the bowl. Tighten the tank bolts with a screwdriver if you notice water around them or on the floor.

 

Insider Clue – If you have an older toilet, the flexible tube connecting the fill valve to the overflow tune could need water siphoned out of the tank because it is spanning too far down the overflow tube. Cut the tube and clip it to the top of the overflow tube that is extending no more than an inch inside it.

Water pooling under the tank may be a sign of a hairline crack in the tank. You will notice the water beading around it on the outside of the tank. If there is one, it is usually easier to purchase a new toilet then trying to fix it. Stop by Schauer's Hardware in Forest Park so we can help you with some or all of your plumbing questions.