What Causes A Toilet Float To Stick?

When things in your toilet aren’t working as they should, you might experience a degree of stress trying to figure out how to make them work. Several issues may prevent your toilet from functioning correctly, and a stuck float can be one of them. When a toilet float stops working as it should, large amounts of water could go to waste, and you might end up paying unnecessary water bills.  

Where is the Toilet Float Located?

The toilet float is located inside your toilet tank. To see it, lift the tank lid. You’ve probably encountered a water float if you’ve had to deal with issues in your toilet. It’s a device that lets the water fill into the toilet tank and prevents it from overflowing. The toilet float is also called a ballcock or a float valve. 

Old-style toilet floats had a plastic ball with a metal rod attached to them. If you live in a very old house, yours might be made of copper or brass. You may even come across vintage floats made of hand-blown glass. Nowadays, the flushing mechanism works with the help of a round cylinder or a float cup that uses a vertical arm to ride up and down.

How Does the Toilet Float Work?

The term ballcock comes from its original spherical appearance. It has a valve connected to a water supply. A lever attached to the float allows the intake to open and close, and the float rises as the water increases in the tank. Once the float gets to a pre-set level, a mechanism makes the lever slow the valve down, and the water supply switches off. 

If the water in the toilet runs unexpectedly or turns off, there could be issues connected to the float. Bloat floats may develop cracks with frequent use and fill up with water. The ball float gets heavy when it fills up and will ride lower than it should. This can cause a toilet to run.  

Do All Toilets Have a Toilet Float?

Whether you’ve never checked, or it’s been years since you lifted the lid of a toilet tank, you might not know what goes on in there. There are different toilet floats, and some don’t look like the traditional ones, which might confuse you. Modern toilets have other flushing systems with varying designs of toilet fill valves or smaller tanks.

How Can You Tell When a Toilet Float Valve is Stuck?

The toilet float fill valve is a mechanism that lets water get into the tank so subsequent flushes can be successful. When used regularly, fill valves can break down. Here’s how to tell that you’ve got a stuck float valve. 

Your Toilet is Always Running

This is the most common sign that you’ve got a broken float valve. But, other reasons could make your toilet run. Always make sure you check inside the tank so you can ascertain where the issue is. The toilet float could have been set incorrectly if water is running over the fill valve and getting into the overflow hole.

To fix this, all you need to do is bend the floats arm downwards so the float can trip the water shut off when it’s at a lower level. If this process works, the valve is OK. The next thing you should do is check the chain that connects the flapper and a handle.

Sometimes, the chain may become twisted or bent and won’t come down far enough to let the flapper seal as it should. This means that the water runs out of the tank as soon as it gets in and eventually runs. If the flapper is the wrong size or doesn’t sit well on the drainage hole, the fill valve will continue to fill up the tank. 

Ensure the drainage hold is sealed by holding the flapper down. Check if the water gets to the proper height. If the tank continues filling when the float gets to the shut-off point, it’s spoilt.

Flush is Weak, or the Toilet Won’t Flush.

When there’s no flush or the flush is weak when the toilet handle is depressed, this means that the tank isn’t getting enough water. A weak flush may be caused by a shut-off that’s too low. You can fix this by bending the float arm upwards to see if the fill valve causes the issue. When there’s no flush at all, the fill valve may be blocked or broken and isn’t sending water into the tank.

The Tank is Takes Too Long to Refill

If the toilet tank takes too long to fill once you’ve flushed, the water may have difficulties going through the fill valve. Check whether you can remove any blockages in the valve before you replace the entire thing.

How Do You Adjust a Toilet Float Valve?

Toilet parts such as the float valves come in two different types.

  • An arm and a float that’s connected to it
  • A floating cylinder moving up and down

Adjusting the float valve is a common repair in the household because these parts are responsible for the water that gets into your tank and how much is released each time you flush. They get used pretty often, so you might have to make minor adjustments once in a while. Here’s how you can do this:

Remove the tank lid: some float valves have a lever with the float attached to the valve top. As you flush, the float pushes its arm downwards and alerts the fill valve to allow water to come up till it’s at the right level. To fix this kind of toilet valve, lift the lid and put it in a safe area. Then, find the fill valve on the left of your tank.

Find the adjustment screw: you need a flat-head screwdriver to adjust the toilet float. Place it into the adjustment screw on the fill valve.

Adjust the adjustment screw: moving in a clockwise direction, turn the screw and raise the float from the end of the arm. This will increase the amount of water needed to shut the valve off. You can also turn the screw anticlockwise to lower its arm and reduce the amount of water required to shut the valve.

Refill: flush the toilet and allow it to refill. This helps to test the water level. Put the tank lid back and repeat the steps you’ve done above until you achieve the right level of water.

How to Adjust Cylinder Float Valves

This is the other type of toilet fill valve. You will find such parts in modern toilets. Here’s how to adjust them:

Removing the toilet tank lid: put the toilet lid on a safe surface. Identify the fill valve on the left of your tank.

Pinch and slide the valve cylinder: locate the float clip on the side of the cylinder and pinch it. Slide it upwards to increase the water needed to shut off the float fill valve. You can also slide it downwards to reduce the amount of water. Use pliers if you want an easier way to squeeze the clip.

Refill: flush your toilet and allow it to refill so you can test the level of water. Put back the lid. If you haven’t achieved the correct water level, repeat the above steps.

Let White’s Plumbing Handle It

If you are still having issues troubleshooting your plumbing, it may be time to let the pros help. White’s Plumbing can fix any plumbing issues that you may have with your toilet or other appliances. Don’t hesitate to contact White’s Plumbing today to have your plumbing issues fixed.

Why Does My Toilet Tank Wobble?

If you’re a homeowner, there are some certainties in life you’ve got to deal with. One of them being that you’re most likely to encounter toilet issues. Toilet issues are pretty common in many homes. This article will cover why your toilet wobbles, what you can do to stop it, and much more, so dig in!

What Makes My Toilet Tank Wobble?

Here are some possible reasons why your toilet tank is wobbling. Please remember that we aren’t talking about the toilet seat or the handle but specifically the tank.

Loose Bolts

Depending on the kind of toilet you have, you might see a valve connected to it. You will find this valve between the toilet tank and the wall. It can turn off the water that gets to your toilet. Turn the valve till you think it’s right. 

Turning it will cut off the supply of water to the tank so you can drain it. Check inside your tank for any loose bolts that attach the toilet bowl to the tank. If you find any loose ones, tighten them up. Make sure they aren’t too tight, or they might cause the tank to crack. 

A Loose Gasket

The gasket is a hole in your toilet tank that connects to the toilet bowl. It is a rubber ring that seals the tank and prevents any water from leaking.

A Cracked Tank

You can get cracks in your tank if the bolts are too tight. A cracked tank may leak a lot, and depending on the extent of the cracking, you might have to either buy a new tank or fix the crack with patching.

Is Your Toilet Tank Supposed to Wobble?

No, your toilet isn’t meant to wobble. It’s supposed to be sturdy and hold your weight comfortably. If your toilet is wobbly, you can check if some of the issues we’ve mentioned above might be the cause. If they are, you can try to DIY and if not, make sure you call on a professional plumber to fix it. 

A wobbly toilet might have leaks, and water damage can be costly to repair. The sooner you get it fixed, the better for your pocket and your valuables.

How Tight Should the Toilet Tank Be?

Porcelain toilets are pretty brittle. So, ensure you should tighten toilet tank bolts very carefully. The best way to ensure you’re tightening the tank bolt nuts is to hand-tighten them, then make a quarter-inch turn on each nut using a wrench. 

Once you’ve tightened the nuts, ensure the tank isn’t leaking or wobbling. If it isn’t sealing water or seems a little loose, tighten the bolts gradually. All the bolts should be equally tightened so that there isn’t any stress that could cause cracks on your toilet. Observe the tank for 24 hours and if it’s still leaking, tighten the bolts carefully until it doesn’t leak anymore.

Over-tightening the toilet tank bolts can cause cracks in the tank because of the brittle nature of porcelain. Porcelain can’t flex, nor can it bend, so if you crack the tank, you will have to replace it or fill up the broken part depending on the extent of the crack. Remember to work slowly and use a small wrench when tightening the bolts. 

Can You Tighten a Toilet Tank?

Yes, you can DIY a toilet tank tightening. You only need an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver. It might seem intimidating, but you shouldn’t be daunted by the thought of fixing your toilet tank. As long as you follow the advice we’ve given you above on over-tightening the tank, you should be OK. Here are some tips for how to tighten your toilet tank.

Using Rubber Washers

You can find toilet tank bolt kits in hardware stores or online. Most of them include rubber washers. If you can, get a few extras to ensure you have more. You will need a rubber washer in between a metal or plastic washer that’s pressed against a porcelain toilet tank when you tighten the bolt.

  • Place the rubber washer against the toilet tank bottom. It should come between the metal flat washer and the bolt.
  • Place a rubber washer outside the toilet tank against the porcelain. It should be followed by the metal washer and then held in place by the nut.

This system allows you to have a rubber washer inside the toilet tank and the bottom of the flange where the tank and bowl connect. Rubber washers flex slightly once you begin tightening and absorb any strain that could cause cracking. 

Hand-tightening and Quarter-Turn

Once you’ve put the washers in place, it’s time to thread the nuts into the bolts. First, use your fingers to turn the nuts and tighten them. Do the same with all the bolts. You might have to do this twice or thrice, depending on the toilet model you have.

  • Use your hands to thread the nuts onto the bolts
  • Use your fingers to tighten all the nuts and bolts
  • Once the nuts are tight enough, use a wrench to make quarter turns on each of them gently
  • You can achieve a quarter turn on each nut by turning it to 90° using the wrench. 

Can You Over-Tighten a Toilet Tank?

Yes, you can easily over-tighten a toilet tank if you aren’t careful. Most of the time, you will only need to use your fingers to tighten the nuts and maybe one quarter-turn. Remember that you shouldn’t put too much strain on your toilet tank.

The bolts between the toilet tank and the toilet bowl are only there to ensure the rubber seal between these two parts is leak-proof. Keep in mind that:

  • You don’t have to tighten the tank bolts too much. They aren’t made to bear too much strain.
  • The bolts are there to create a seal where the toilet bowl and tank meet.

Keep in mind that your bolts should be tight enough to do the job without causing strain to the toilet tank and the ceramic toilet base.

Have White’s Plumbing Solve The Issue

If you are still having trouble with your toilet tank wobbling, maybe you should consider contacting professionals. We can solve all of your plumbing issues here at White’s Plumbing. We are here to serve the Triangle area in North Carolina. Don’t hesitate to call today!

What Makes a Toilet Handle Hard to Flush?

Is your toilet handle a little hard to flush? Don’t worry if it won’t flush at all or it’s getting harder to do it. There are many reasons for a toilet handle getting too hard to flush. But, there’s no need to get alarmed.

There are things you can do to ensure you get it back to excellent working condition without high plumbing costs and repairs- even though a professional plumber is the best person to rely on. 

Let’s learn.

Why Does the Toilet Handle Get Stiff?

There are many reasons why your toilet handle is so stiff. But, you will find all the reasons inside your tank because that’s what your toilet handle is connected to. To check what’s going on with your toilet handle, lift the lid of your toilet tank.

The Chain is Snagging

The chain connected to the ball could be snagging against something inside your tank. If it’s stuck, the handle will be harder to push.

The Chain is The Wrong Length

The seal or flapper of your toilet should be able to rise to about 90°. If the chain is too long, the flapper won’t rise or will only rise a little bit. 

Worn-out Flapper

Flappers get stuck when they’re worn out. If it’s hard to pull, make sure you replace it.

The Handle Itself

If you’ve checked the inside of your tank and everything seems to be ok, take a look at the handle. It could be cracked, or the nuts that hold it in place inside the tank could be loose.

Where is The Handle Attached to the Toilet Tank?

So, where does your toilet handle disappear inside the tank? Well, it’s attached to an arm inside your tank. A chain connects this arm to a toilet flapper or flush valve inside your toilet tank. The toilet handle is attached to the outside of the toilet tank.

You can find it in the right-hand corner. When you put some pressure on the toilet handle or push it down, the trip lever rises. The chain connected to the trip lever or arm will lift the flush ball, and water flows into the ball from the tank. 

How Do You Flush the Toilet if the Handle is Broken?

If you are in a bind and the plumber is not coming by until later, you can still flush your toilet if your handle is missing or broken. All you need to do is lift the flapper to release water into the bowl to flush the toilet. You have to remove the toilet lid to lift the flapper. Next, you need to tug on the chain that connects the handle lever and the top of the flapper. If this chain is disconnected or broken, all you need to do is flip the flapper using your hand.

Here are some steps to guide you through:

  1. Take off the toilet tank lid and set it aside safely
  2. Find the flapper at the bottom of your tank
  3. Check if the chain connecting the flapper and handle lever is intact. If it is, gently pull it to lift the flapper and flush your toilet.
  4. If the chain isn’t intact, put your hand into the water and lift the flapper. 

If you’ve got no running water, you can still flush your toilet by pouring water directly into the toilet bowl. It’s not the most sanitary method, but it’s handy when you have no choice.

  • Get a 5-gallon bucket of water and fill it up to ¾
  • Pour the water into the toilet bowl as quickly as you can but make sure you don’t splash any water or overfill the toilet bowl.

Pouring water directly into the toilet bowl will provide sufficient pressure to let the water get pulled down by gravity. You can also use this method to pour water into the toilet tank when there’s no running water. 

  1. Take off the toilet lid and place it on a safe surface
  2. Fill a bucket of water
  3. Pour the water to within an inch of the top of the tank
  4. Pull the flapper and flush

How to Tighten a Loose Toilet Handle?

If your toilet handle is loose, you might find it hard to flush. Here’s how to tighten it:

Put down the toilet seat cover: this prevents small parts or tools from falling in while you’re working.

Take off the toilet cover: the toilet cover might be heavy so consider using two hands when removing it. Ensure you place it on a flat, safe surface.

Shut off the water supply: the shut-off valve is usually located near the base of your toilet at the back.

Empty the tank: press the tank lever, so you have easy access to the inside of the handle.

Find the nut:  the toilet nut handle is inside the porcelain wall next to the handle. Your nut is probably the course of your loose handle.

Tighten the handle nut: use pliers or an adjustable wrench and rotate the nut clockwise to ensure it fits snugly. Don’t over-tighten it, or the porcelain tank could crack.

Test the toilet handle: depress the handle to test whether it feels better. If it doesn’t, or it creaks, you might have to replace it.

Turn the water supply valve back on: turn on the valve to refill your tank.

How to Replace My Hard to Flush Handle

If your toilet handle is cracked and making it hard for you to flush, you need to replace it. Here’s how:

Choose the hardware you need to replace your handle with. You can get a universal toilet handle but confirm with a plumber or the hardware store that you don’t need a specific variety.

  • Put down the toilet seat cover, remove the toilet tank lid and empty the tank. Check previous steps for instructions on how to empty the tank.
  • Unclasp the chain clip that connects to the lever. It looks like a small chain attached to the inside part of your toilet handle.
  • Unscrew the mounting nut using pliers or a wrench.
  • Take out the old handle and once its chain and nut are out, pull it out.
  • Unscrew the mounting nut you see on the new handle. Make sure it doesn’t get too loose.
  • Put the new lever into your toilet tank and ensure it matches the position the old one was in.
  • Use the new mounting nut to secure the new handle from the inside of your tank.
  • Put the chain through one of the lever holes and make sure you have the correct length.
  • Turn the shut-off valve back on and test your new handle.