The water level in my toilet bowl drops after a while. how do I stop it dropping? no visable cracks or leaks.?
I've opened up the manhole and everything seems to drain properly. The level drops by about 30mm and then stays at that level as if some of it is being aborbed!! HELP PLEASE.
Answers:
what clay said.
You have a leak. Check the rubber cover that releases the water to the toilet. It is the most likely culprit.
in most toilets theres a one way diaphram in the tubeing leading out of your home, that could possibly be stuck up, but just enough that water is slowly seaping through the diaphram.
If the water is dropping from the bowl part, (bottom), then I would check the vent leading to the roof.
Some critter, or maybe a ball has gotten lodge in the top and is producing a siphoning action when ever you run any water from a different source. (This should be happening in all your traps, and not just from the toilet).
If this is the case, or, you may have an obstruction deeper in the pipe itself, take some 3/4 pvc pipe (long enough to reach the bottom of the house, remember, each "story" will account for ten feet, so for a 2 story house, get three sections because you have to go beneath the ground too) Now, glue screw ends, both male and female ends to each piece so you can screw them together. Now, tie a rope to the first piece and insert it in the vent on the roof, then, (making sure you have enough rope to do this all the way down), screw the next piece on and continue to insert it until you hit bottom or hit the obstruction. (have some one monitor the clean out in the basement and give a hollar when you pass it, so you know its clear.
Now, if its leaking from the tank, then its your flapper that is not sealed tightly against the rim. I suggest that you take some sand paper, or steel wool and lift up the flapper and go around the edge of the porcelin, or gasket and take off the mineral deposit that has build up, so that the flapper will seat properly and seal right.
Jesse
Jesse told you right, after cleaning the porcelain with sandpaper go ahead and change the flapper valve it is only like $3.
sounds like the gasket might have a crack
check the gasket around the flush valve
Jesse is right about the vent blockage and pretty much everything else he says. I would add that green or black algae can affect the flapper seal as well as mineral deposits. But you don't have a leaky flapper because the tank would "cycle" or keep trying to fill at weird times. The bowl level dropping only has two possibilities, syphoning from a vent obstruction (most likely) to a crack in the bowl (possibly from being frozen if this is a summer home - least likely). In the event it was a cracked bowl, the crack would be located where the level stops dropping, but you would be able to see it upon close inspection, and water would likely be on the floor too, but not necessarily.
better check for leaks the water has to go some were unless its do to evaporation is your house very hot .. sorry not much help .
I WOULD REPLACE THE WAX SEAL, AND ITS VERY POSSIBLE YOU HAVE A TOILET THAT IS A WATER SAVER. TO HELP WITH THE WATER BILL..
your rubber flap that opens when you flush has hardened by the water. too much chlorine is a bad thing. check the mounting bols in the bottom of you water basin and if they are corroded and the rubber gaskets are damaged replace them.rub your fingers lightly on the gaskets and if your fingers turn black then you better replace. also dont use a chlorine based drop in in your water basin. it has really too much chlorine to be any use except destroy the rubber parts in a toliet.
the angle of your u bend may be fitted wrong
wow.I can not believe how many people did not listen to what you said.Especially the guy who claims to be a plumber.I also do not buy the vent answer either.i believ it to be in the sewer line itself.It's possible another drain in your house is causing the drop.I really wouldn't worry about it,especially if you're sure the wax ring is ok.
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Answers:
what clay said.
You have a leak. Check the rubber cover that releases the water to the toilet. It is the most likely culprit.
in most toilets theres a one way diaphram in the tubeing leading out of your home, that could possibly be stuck up, but just enough that water is slowly seaping through the diaphram.
If the water is dropping from the bowl part, (bottom), then I would check the vent leading to the roof.
Some critter, or maybe a ball has gotten lodge in the top and is producing a siphoning action when ever you run any water from a different source. (This should be happening in all your traps, and not just from the toilet).
If this is the case, or, you may have an obstruction deeper in the pipe itself, take some 3/4 pvc pipe (long enough to reach the bottom of the house, remember, each "story" will account for ten feet, so for a 2 story house, get three sections because you have to go beneath the ground too) Now, glue screw ends, both male and female ends to each piece so you can screw them together. Now, tie a rope to the first piece and insert it in the vent on the roof, then, (making sure you have enough rope to do this all the way down), screw the next piece on and continue to insert it until you hit bottom or hit the obstruction. (have some one monitor the clean out in the basement and give a hollar when you pass it, so you know its clear.
Now, if its leaking from the tank, then its your flapper that is not sealed tightly against the rim. I suggest that you take some sand paper, or steel wool and lift up the flapper and go around the edge of the porcelin, or gasket and take off the mineral deposit that has build up, so that the flapper will seat properly and seal right.
Jesse
Jesse told you right, after cleaning the porcelain with sandpaper go ahead and change the flapper valve it is only like $3.
sounds like the gasket might have a crack
check the gasket around the flush valve
Jesse is right about the vent blockage and pretty much everything else he says. I would add that green or black algae can affect the flapper seal as well as mineral deposits. But you don't have a leaky flapper because the tank would "cycle" or keep trying to fill at weird times. The bowl level dropping only has two possibilities, syphoning from a vent obstruction (most likely) to a crack in the bowl (possibly from being frozen if this is a summer home - least likely). In the event it was a cracked bowl, the crack would be located where the level stops dropping, but you would be able to see it upon close inspection, and water would likely be on the floor too, but not necessarily.
better check for leaks the water has to go some were unless its do to evaporation is your house very hot .. sorry not much help .
I WOULD REPLACE THE WAX SEAL, AND ITS VERY POSSIBLE YOU HAVE A TOILET THAT IS A WATER SAVER. TO HELP WITH THE WATER BILL..
your rubber flap that opens when you flush has hardened by the water. too much chlorine is a bad thing. check the mounting bols in the bottom of you water basin and if they are corroded and the rubber gaskets are damaged replace them.rub your fingers lightly on the gaskets and if your fingers turn black then you better replace. also dont use a chlorine based drop in in your water basin. it has really too much chlorine to be any use except destroy the rubber parts in a toliet.
the angle of your u bend may be fitted wrong
wow.I can not believe how many people did not listen to what you said.Especially the guy who claims to be a plumber.I also do not buy the vent answer either.i believ it to be in the sewer line itself.It's possible another drain in your house is causing the drop.I really wouldn't worry about it,especially if you're sure the wax ring is ok.
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