skip to main content

Leak in tank?

12 years ago

I have a Kohler toilet which flushes fine,tank fills and bowl fills.Water apparently is leaking from tank into bowl, I did add coloring to water to ck. this. Tank refills and later I can hear the water running as if tank is again filling, turns off again until the tank needs to be "topped off" again. I have cleaned the opening and changed the flapper x 2 but have not solved the problem. Do I need a plumber? Thanks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

brickeyee
12 years ago
Did the water in the bowl change colors from the food coloring test?

the bowl primer tube could be siphoning water, or the actual filler seat could be bad.

Even the gaskets and seals of the flapper seat to the tank could be bad.
knitbug
Original Author
12 years ago
Brickeyee, Yes, the bowl water did become colored.Bowl primer and filler seat are not words I know about so I guess you are saying I do need a plumber.
Related Discussions
Repair for leaking gas tank
Q
Comments (9)
I'm a little hesitant to give this advice but here goes.... Your tank is most likely Polyethylene, which is a thermoplastic that can be repaired by melting and fusing the tank at the seam. The easiest way to do this is with an electric soldering iorn (used to solder electical connections). Use a cheap iorn with a flat tip. REMOVE AND FLUSH THE TANK WITH WATER BEFORE REPAIRING. ALLOW TO DRY COMPLETELY. Once the iorn heats up, "drag" the tip over the seam, melting the plastic as you go. A couple of passes will result in the seam being fused together. Keep an eye on what you are doing so you don't melt completely through the tank.
...See More
Leaking gas tank
Q
Comments (6)
JB Weld Black will Bond to either PP or PE Man Made Plastics . As I indicated JB Weld when applied Properly would be an Adequate Choice . The secret is within proper plastic preparation . For the chemical action to work within Bonding pre cleaning and etching must 1st be introduced. Any Ketone or Alkyl Acetate Solution will suffice. In more stringent usages Mild Concentrations of Sulphuric or Chromic Acid Solution are used then the surface is Neutralized with Mineral Water and dried. Much easier and just as efficient is the use of a Oxidizing Oxyacetylene Torch Flame . The Plastic section is heated carefully until glossy then let to air cool slowly . Rinse with Mineral Water Pat Dry . So you see why I recommended the replacement of the plastic part if at all possible . There are some Hot Glue systems that also work well on Plastic but would be suspect on your application due to ambient vibration and Fuel Chemical attack over the yrs . Again the Ball in in your Court , a little JB added to the internal threads may well seal ok . External Leakage will require the etching method of some sort for a permanent Bond .
...See More
Leaking gas tank on LTZ1000 Craftsman lawn tractor
Q
Comments (4)
Sometimes a "recall" isn't really a federally mandated recall at all. Some recalls really amount to the OEM getting hit with a bunch of failures during the warranty period of the machine (read that as "premature failure) where the OEM has to belly up to the bar and pay for those failures. Once the OEM has enough proof of defective whateveritis they bought from the lowest bidding vendor for those whatevertheyare, the OEM will call the vendor to the office and demand the supplier of the thingiestheyare to stand behind their defective product. Often, the vendor and the OEM will agree on coverage of a specific "lot number or production run" of the components and handle the problem by either contacting the consumers who bought products with the affected component to offer a replacement even if the part has not failed yet. Or they may say that if the part has failed, it will be replaced. If your tractor fuel tank had begun leaking 8 years ago, you would have stood a better chance of getting a free tank replacement. Realistically speaking, a plastic fuel tank that begins leaking 9 years after DOM would/could arguably have failed due to reasons other than "defective workmanship or materials", at least that's what the lawyers would say.
...See More
Leak Tank.
Q
Comments (3)
G.E. Silicone I (not II) is aquarium safe. It used to be marked aquarium safe a while back,but has since been removed due to a contract with one of the name brands that is sold in Pet Stores for 5 times more. It is also marked "Windows and Doors ,100% Silicone, Clear. Sold at Home Depot. Empty the tank and thouroughly dry it. Scarape and remove all old caulk (since it leaked, might as well address all joints if one was deffective). Use good quality blue painters tape for clean edges. After it has cured, Fill it and check for leaks. If you can leave it filled as long as possible to help leach out silicates. 2 weeks would be good. It still will leach out silicates for a while , just not as much after the 2 weeks period. I will try to find a link later for better directions but thats it in a nutshell.
...See More
brickeyee
12 years ago
The 'bowl primer' is the small tube from the tank fill valve that is routed to the tank overflow to make sure the bowl has enough water to fill the trap.

If the end of the tube is below the water level in the tank it can siphon water from the tank.

The 'filler seat' is the surface the flapper closes on to seal.

If it is rough or damaged the flapper cannot seal.
lazypup
12 years ago
If the fill valve seat was leaking the flow would be constant and the water level in the tank would be above the top of the standpipe regardless of where the float is set.

If the flush valve tank gasket was leaking the leak would be on the outside of the bowl and making the floor wet.

PPL have repeatedly said it could be the trap primer line syphoning water, but that is also nonesense. First off, the trap primer line is attached to the fill valve, which is required to be a minimum of 1" above the top of the standpipe and per code ALL FILL VALVES must be designed to meet a very strict anti-syphoning specification. in a nutshell, if the fill valve is installed correctly syphoning is physically impossible.

If the water from the tank is leaking into the bowl there are three distinct problems that should be checked.

1. Lift the flapper and examine the flapper seat on the flush valve (the flat surface that the flapper sits on, surrounding the hole were the water goes down to the bowl), Gently run your finger nail along the top of that surface and feel for pits or mineral scale buildup on that surface. If it feels rough or gritty you can sometimes correct the problem by buffing that surface with fine emery paper to remove the mineral scale.

2. Check the flapper and make sure you have the correct one to fit your water closet. Years ago they were all one standard size but with the advent of water saver toilets they now make about a half dozen different flappers.

3. Make sure the flapper is mounted correctly. Most flappers have two tabs with holes that fit over little arms projecting out from the standpipe. Make sure the flapper tabs are completely on the arms and the flapper is free to move up and down. If either one of those tabs are only partially on the arm it will not rotate correctly, generally leaving one side of the flapper slightly elevated above the seat or out of alignment so the flapper cannot seal correctly.

4. Check the flapper chain. If the chain is installed correctly, when the flush handle is in the at rest position the chain should rise up to the flush handle with nor more than two chain links of slack. If the chain is too long the excess chain gets pulled into the flush valve during a flush and it then prevents the flapper from closing down on the seat correctly.

5. If the afore mentioned methods do not resolve the problem, then the problem is most likely a crack in the side wall of the standpipe or a crack where the standpipe attaches to the flush valve body in the bottom of the tank. The solution here is to replace the flush valve, but not to worry, replacement flush valves are cheap and easy to install.
knitbug
Original Author
12 years ago
Lazypup, thanks so much, I will ck. the 5 situations and hopefully fix the problem. If none help I will have to call the professional as a last resort. Thanks again.

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN Room of the Day: Renovation Retains a 1920s Bath’s Vintage Charm

By Becky Harris

A ceiling leak spurs this family to stop patching and go for the gut

GREEN BUILDING How to Harvest Rainwater for Your Garden

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Conserve a vital resource and save money by collecting stormwater for irrigation in a barrel or tank

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Switch to a Tankless Water Heater

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

New project for a new year: Swap your conventional heater for an energy-saving model — and don’t be fooled by misinformation

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Easy Ways to Manage Stormwater for Lower Bills and a Healthier Earth

By Billy Goodnick Garden Design

Send cleaner runoff into local waterways and spend less on yard irrigation with these simple landscaping approaches

MOVING Home-Buying Checklist: 20 Things to Consider Beyond the Inspection

By Laura Gaskill

Quality of life is just as important as construction quality. Learn what to look for at open houses to ensure comfort in your new home

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Stunning Rooftop Deck Tops a Totally Remodeled Home

By Mitchell Parker

An overhaul of this Berkeley home includes new landscaping, a sunny home office, 2 bedrooms and a rooftop entertainment space

REMODELING GUIDES Know Your House: The Steps in Finishing a Basement

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Learn what it takes to finish a basement before you consider converting it into a playroom, office, guest room or gym

BATHROOM DESIGN How to Install a Toilet in an Hour

By Innovative Design Build

Putting a new commode in a bathroom or powder room yourself saves plumber fees, and it's less scary than you might expect

REMODELING GUIDES The Hidden Problems in Old Houses

By Matt Clawson

Before snatching up an old home, get to know what you’re in for by understanding the potential horrors that lurk below the surface

GREAT HOME PROJECTS 25 Great Home Projects and What They Cost

By Mitchell Parker

Get the closet of your dreams, add a secret doorway and more. Learn the ins and outs of projects that will make your home better

Sponsored

39 Reviews

Ohio's Kitchen Design Showroom |11x Best of Houzz 2014 - 2022

More Discussions

Plumbing question

1

bathroom remodel

5

Why don't more people have Farmhouse sinks in the Bathrooms?

41

Check valve required for hot water recirculation pump & water softener

1

wall mount faucet for this freestanding tub

0