A common toilet problem is that the toilet tank doesn’t fill properly. This makes it impossible for it to work correctly, and if you find yourself having to flush multiple times to clear the bowl, it could be that there isn’t enough water in the tank each time. The good news is that it’s an easy toilet repair that you can do yourself if you’re remotely handy with equipment. If not, calling a plumber out will be fairly quick and shouldn’t cost you a lot of money. Here are three reasons why this might happen:
Reason #1 – Float Ball Too Low
The first – and most common – reason, why the toilet tank doesn’t fill, is that the float ball in the tank is too low. The float ball mechanism has been used in toilets for decades and consists of a hollow ball that floats on top of the water. When the tank is full enough, the ball stops the inflow of water by moving the float arm to block the entry point. If the ball is set at a lower angle than it should be, it will stop the water inflow before the tank is completely full. The only toilet repair that is needed in this case is to adjust the float level by bending the float arm upwards gently, so more water can enter the tank. If the ball is holding too much water, it could weigh it down and cause it to lie lower than it should. In this case, your toilet repair might involve replacing the ball entirely.
Reason #2: Faulty Trip Assembly
The toilet tank has a trip assembly, also known as a trip lever or ballcock assembly, which is the part of the flush handle that is inside the tank. This can be awkwardly positioned and block itself when the tank lid is on, which will prevent it from completing the cycle when you flush – resulting in less space for water to flow into the tank. If you remove the lid and it works properly, toilet repair might be unnecessary – you might just need to make a minor adjustment to the flush handle. If the trip assembly is bent, stretched, or worn out it can also cause toilet problems, in which case you may need to replace it.
Reason #3: Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure can cause a variety of toilet problems, including the tank not filling properly, simply because the water flow isn’t strong enough to get to where you want it to be. This can occur as a result of broken or leaking water supply pipes, which are found in older homes, or in properties located outside the urban areas where the water supply has to travel further before entering the home. In these cases, toilet repair is not needed, but you may want to have a thorough plumbing inspection done to see if you can identify the problem.
If you find that the problem is caused by something other than these simple issues, contact your local plumber to do an inspection and advise you on the best way to resolve it.
