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Question for you plumbers.
cbxjeff
Member Posts: 17,598 ✭✭✭✭
Yeah, I know I ask a lot of questions anymore. I think I've forgotten half of everything I new 20 years ago. Today I'm asking about toilets. I have one that I swear held more water in the bowl after the cycle was completed. I always thought that this level was set by the internal trap design in the casting itself. I can tell though by the waterline mark on the bowl that it used to be higher. I hadn't used this toilet in 20 years but it seems to work fine except for this water level. Any ideas guys? Please be kind. It's not polite to make fun of the elderly.
It's too late for me, save yourself.
Comments
Just a long shot. Check your vent pipe.
The float in the tank controls the bowl level. Once the tank fills(float up) it closes the port to the bowl and no more water flows into the bowl.
You can bend the arm on the float to set the tank level, and there should be screws to set the bowl level.(screws in float arm near the plastic tube).
Unless you have the new fangled designs, which I assume you don't because of the 20 year remark.
Have you replaced or adjusted anything in the tank?
I haven't adjusted anything. It's just hasn't been used in 20 years. I thought the amount of water in the holding tank just set the water used during the flush cycle but the remaining bowl water level was part of the trap design. I can see if for some reason the speed of the water discharge during flushing was abnormally high there could be a bit of siphon action to lower the remaining bowl water level. Nothing is easy anymore.
Thanks guys
Misaligned or crud-covered flapper.
Neal
The amount of water in the holding tank does set the amount of water used during flush.
The float controls that level. But the opposite end of that float has set screws. Those screws adjust the amount of water directed to the bowl while the tank is filling. The outlet for that water could be stopped up with crud and not allowing enough water flow.(so either adjust the screw or take that piece apart and clean it.)
As mentioned before, the float is adjustable and controls the level of the water in the tank. I'd imagine that after sitting for 20 years, there is some corrosion on the parts that aren't allowing them to move as freely as they once did. Don't mess with it, just go down to your local hardware store and buy a rebuild kit. Along with a new float assembly, a new flush valve and seal will make everything work like new. Take a picture, or the old one with you since there are many to choose from. It's also possible that they don't make your version any more. More of a PITA than anything to work on though...
does it still work and flush away everything it should?? if so let it be............
On some valve assemblies, there's a small tube that sends water to the bowl while the tank is filling. On a few valve assemblies I've had, this tube is held in place with a flimsy metal clip. The place where it's supposed to be is on the tank overflow tube. Sometimes that clip gets unhooked and the water doesn't go down the overflow tube to the bowl. That sounds like what you have going on.
After 20 years, that Tidy Bowl man floating around in his rowboat must have done himself in.
Memories of my oldest son who is now 48 years old singing the Tidy Bowl Man song when he was just a little squirt! I think the wife has him recorded somewhere.
All good advise above and I would definitely change out your toilets innards. Those large capacity tanks on the older toilets are GREAT!!
Replace it Jeff and you will be ok if you get the higher seat one not the standard low one. Will save water and works very nice. American Standard I think is the brand.
Tank water level has nothing to do with level of water in bowl.
Trap height in back of bowl sets that water level.
Try Google, you will see the adjustment screws in the holding tank. It may also show you how to disassemble and clean that water valve.
Water level is SET by the water valve in the holding tank. If you have it set too high, then it will simply drain into the sewage until it empties to the trap height. You can SET it below trap height(which is your problem) but not above because of physics. 😁
This.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Incorrect! That only sets the MAXIMUM water height that can be had in the bowl. If the fill valve is set too low, or the small plastic fill tube is clogged, then the bowl level will be BELOW the trap level.
Now just why would one want to lower the water level in the bowl lower than the trap?
What Mike said......
At the end of a flush the bowl level will be low, due to siphoning action of toilet trap height design.
BUT........while the main tank is refilling......a small "makeup water" tube extends from the valve to the overflow stand-pipe, and tops off the water height in the bowl. When the tank float finally shuts off the water valve.......the bowl height should be at, or close to, the level of the trap height.
One caution........make sure that the small makeup water tube does NOT extend too far down the overflow stand-pipe. If it's end is BELOW the full tank water level........it can create a self-siphoning situation.......and waste a lot of water. Been there.......done that. 🙁
Hope this helps.
No idea, that's a diff question for a different day! THAT is the problem that the OP has however!(water in bowl lower than trap).
His house will smell like raw sewage it it is lower than the trap.
hillbille, obviously you have never met my wife. She just looks for something to complain about.
Well, I think I learned something from GB again. As I understand it, the bowl is emptied by the flapper valve opening and the tank is drained. Once the water flow through the flapper becomes low the valve will close. Then the tank begins to fill until the float rises enough to shut off all water flow. But while the tank is filling a small amount of water is bled into the bowl. That rate of flow of the bleed water determines the level of water in the bowl after the cycle is completed. That bleed rate is adjustable to set the bowl water level. There is my problem - sitting for 20 years has upset the bleed flow do to deposits in the valve. Rather than cleaning I'll just buy a replacement entire rebuild kit.
Thanks for all your inputs guys.
Yes
Exactly