LOS OSOS, CA 93402 2212 9TH STREET UTILITIES DEPARTMENT LOS OSOS COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT Flapper leaks commonly turn on IDENTIFYING and off, so they are not always de- tectable by checking the meter to AND see if it is turning. If you do see your meter moving when no one is R EPAIRING using water or if the toilet seems to flush by itself, the flapper is proba- T OILET LEAKS bly the culprit. To verify the nature of your prob- Toilet leaks are the most common lem, do a dye test. Mix dark food household leak, so the toilet should be coloring (instant coffee, powdered the first fixture to check when your fruit drink mix or the dye tablets water consumption increases. If your provided in the District’s Water meter indicates a leak, by constantly The following information does not Conservation Kits) with the toilet turning (see pamphlet entitled apply to pressure-assist toilets (if tank water. If your flapper is leak- “Reading Your Water Meter”), your you look inside your toilet tank, ing, or if your water level is set too toilet can be isolated by turning off the there is no freestanding water visi- high, you will see the bowl water Stop or Shut-Off Valve at the wall ble). The repair of a pressure-assist begin to discolor within about five beneath the toilet tank. If the valve is mechanism is a task best left to a minutes as the food coloring leaks turned off and your meter stops plumbing professional trained in the into the bowl. If your water level turning, you have found the source of service of these devices. The follow- does not need to be adjusted (see the leak. ing, in order from most common to “Overflow Tube”) you have a leaky least common, are four areas where flapper. gravity-fed toilet leaks occur. To replace a leaky flapper, turn off 1. THE FLAPPER — found in stand- the valve at the wall, flush the toilet, ard gravity-fed toilets, is the round rub- then unhook the old flapper. There ber disk at the bottom of the tank. By is a round outlet at the base of the lifting off the lid, you notice that the tank that the flapper sits against. flush handle connects to the “chain” Run your finger around the top edge of this outlet to feel for nicks, which connects to the flapper. By Information Provided By: pushing the handle down, the chain lifts scratches or other irregularities. A the flapper which releases water to flush rough surface here can cause water THE LOS OSOS to leak past a perfectly good flap- COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT the bowl. Flappers last about 2-5 years Utilities Department before they begin to degrade and allow per. If the surface is damaged then 2212 9th Street, Los Osos, CA 93402 water to leak. This is the most common you will have to unbolt the tank and 805-528-9376 source of toilet leaks and is usually the replace this outlet and flapper. www.losososcsd.org cause of a toilet turning on and off peri- Once replaced, do a dye test again to check for a good seal. odically. 2. FILL VALVE or BALLCOCK — 4. THE FILL TUBE — is not Note the order in which you dis- can waste several hundred gallons of found in all toilets, but is a 1/4” diame- assemble faucets or any plumb- water per day. If poorly adjusted and ter flexible plastic tube. Beginning at BASIC PLUMBING ing fixture or make a sketch of the water level is too high, water will the fill valve/ballcock, it arches across REPAIR TIPS the fixture seep continually into the overflow the tank and inserts into the overflow Know the location of Do home repairs during hours tube. Fill valves/ballcocks also tend tube. Its purpose is to rinse the sides of the master valve to shut when hardware stores are open to wear over time so that they run or the bowl while the tank is filling. A off the water supply to so you can purchase parts and seep regardless of how they are ad- ballcock may develop a leak through the house before attempting any re- tools when necessary. justed. A problem fill valve/ballcock the fill tube that is not easily seen or pairs should be adjusted, rebuilt with new heard. If all efforts fail to find a toilet Keep the old worn parts and seals, or replaced. leak, this may be the culprit. A com- Turn clockwise or “righty-tighty” to take them to the hardware store tighten a fitting and counter- to find the right replacement When adjusting the fill valve/ mon leak is caused by the tip of the fill tube being placed below the water level clockwise “lefty-loosey” to loosen a parts ballcock, do not bend the float arm or fitting any other parts to lower the water lev- of the tank—a siphoning action may When tightening or loosening el as it may cause mechanical prob- occur. To stop the leak, simply lift the Turn off the shutoff valve under the plumbing fittings such as sup- lems. Water levels may be adjusted end of the tube above the water level, or fixture being repaired. If there is no ply tubing, use two wrenches: by turning the adjustment screw on lower the water to the appropriate level. shutoff valve or you are replacing a one to hold the sitting stationary the fill valve/ballcock. TOILET TUNE-UPS malfunctioning shutoff valve, turn while turning the other. This off the house master valve. Some will prevent stress and possible Fluidmaster ballcocks are different. In most instances it is quite simple to homes in Los Osos do not have breaking supply tubing or pipes. Water levels may be raised or lowered tune-up the toilet as the basic parts house master valves, please contact - from the California Urban Water Conserva- by adjusting the float that rides up have not changed much over the years. the Utilities Department for assis- tion Council’s Practical Plumbing Handbook and down beneath the ballcock. Some common causes of a running toi- tance in shutting off water at the www.cuwcc.org Simply pinch the stainless steel clip at let may be: meter. RESOURCES/WEBSITES the side of the float and move it up or Water level in toilet tank is too high down the thin rod that it rides on. Keep towels and buckets handy for Links to water conservation sites can Toilet fill valve is broken spills be found at www.losososutilities.org/ Flush valve flapper is leaking waterconservation/links.html Have the basic tools: regular and 3. THE OVERFLOW TUBE — is Or, if a toilet is not flushing correctly: Phillips-head screwdrivers; channel Flush Performance for over 200 toilets a 3/4” diameter tube that rises verti- Water level in toilet tank is too low lock pliers; adjustable wrench; and www.cuwcc.org/MapTesting.lasso cally from the center of the tank. It Waste line is clogged hex-key wrenches (often included in Flapper replacement information with empties into the bowl and prevents repair kits for ball type faucets) listing of flapper part numbers for water from overflowing your toilet TOILET BOWL CLEANERS many toilet fixture models should something go wrong. High Use penetrating oil such as Liquid www.toiletflapper.org Dropping certain toilet bowl cleaners Wrench to help loosen frozen bolts water levels in the tank can cause wa- into your toilet tank may result in dam- Toilet maintenance and repair infor- and valves (Note: WD-40 spray lub- mation ter to flow down the tube and into the age to the parts within the tank. Some bowl. Water levels should be adjusted ricant will not work as effectively as www.toiletology.com/index.shtml manufacturers may even void the war- penetrating oil) to the appropriate level line, found ei- ranty on your toilet if you use these tab- Trouble-shooting information from the largest maker of toilet repair parts ther on the overflow tube or on the lets. Plug the sink for faucet repairs so inside back of the tank. parts don’t fall down the drain www.fluidmaster.com/dr_flush.html .