People who know about plumbing

[BigToque]

My problem is that whenever I want to flush the toilet I have to hold the handle down until it finishes flushing. This takes anywhere from 15-20 seconds each time.

How do I go about fixing this?

 

[Geekbabe]

you need to go out and buy new kitchen curtains, expensive ones 🙂

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
you need to go out and buy new kitchen curtains, expensive ones 🙂

😕

 

[tbike06]

you have to adjust the little chain inside the toilet tank.

 

[BigToque]

Originally posted by: tbike06
you have to adjust the little chain inside the toilet tank.

I just looked at it and the problem is that the little flap that covers the hole closes right after I flush. Therefore I have to hold it up until it's finished flushing.

After adjusting the chain by one notch, it still drops right away AND the flap is sitting just high enough off the bottom of the tank that it doesn't stop filling the tank.

 

[jupiter57]

You are having problems with what is called a "Flapper", a black rubber gasket with a "bulb" on the bottom of it.
It's designed so that when you push the handle, it pulls up the flapper, the hollow "bulb" on it holds it up while the tank is releasing the water.
When the water level in the tank falls low enough, the flapper falls back in place.
The chain tbike speaks of comes from the handle down to the flapper.
If adjusting it doesn't help, you need a new flapper.

(Note: This Flapper is used on most modern day toilets, if it is an older toilet, it may have a variant of this, sometimes a plastic "tank" that slides up and down the standpipe)

 

[Zee]

he's referring to the ufo shaped thing in the tank. replace it, there's probably a hole

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
you need to go out and buy new kitchen curtains, expensive ones 🙂

Yep, works every time. 😕

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
you need to go out and buy new kitchen curtains, expensive ones 🙂

You missed. Red's over there ===>

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: jupiter57
You are having problems with what is called a "Flapper", a black rubber gasket with a "bulb" on the bottom of it.
It's designed so that when you push the handle, it pulls up the flapper, the hollow "bulb" on it holds it up while the tank is releasing the water.
When the water level in the tank falls low enough, the flapper falls back in place.
The chain tbike speaks of comes from the handle down to the flapper.
If adjusting it doesn't help, you need a new flapper.

(Note: This Flapper is used on most modern day toilets, if it is an older toilet, it may have a variant of this, sometimes a plastic "tank" that slides up and down the standpipe)

if his water level isnt high enough to start with, cant that also cause a problem? a low water level wont give the flapper enough time to stay afloat so the flush can complete. i had to fix a toilet here when i moved in, someone hadnt done it right, and the arm didnt allow a high enough water level into the tank.

i borrowed my dads heat gun (since this was some evil, plastic bastard) and bent it to drop the bulb, so the level could come up a bit.

 

[jupiter57]

Originally posted by: xSauronx

if his water level isnt high enough to start with, cant that also cause a problem? a low water level wont give the flapper enough time to stay afloat so the flush can complete. i had to fix a toilet here when i moved in, someone hadnt done it right, and the arm didnt allow a high enough water level into the tank.

i borrowed my dads heat gun (since this was some evil, plastic bastard) and bent it to drop the bulb, so the level could come up a bit.
[/quote]

Exactly right!
I hadn't thought of that.
Duh.

I'll probably think of something else after work and some rest!