I've been having some problems with my toilet, which was installed about 9 months ago. The toilet parts were included in the installation, I'm on municipal water, and I don't use any additives in the toilet. We moved into this house built in the 50s, remodeled in the 70s, and we're still figuring things out since the plumbing system has a mix of copper, PVC, and galvanized pipes.
Lately, the toilet has been running randomly, and I suspect it's the flapper since I noticed some water seeping. Although cleaning the rim helped a bit, it's still not right. Is it normal to have to replace a flapper after just 9 months? The flapper is unusual; it lifts straight up instead of being hinged, and I'm struggling to find the right search term to look for a replacement.
Additionally, my fill valve is really slow. The water is flowing down the little rubber hose into the tube as it should, but it fills the tank very slowly and is noisy—almost like there's air in the line. Should I replace both the flapper and the fill valve despite them being so new? What can I do to make them last longer? Also, is there a way to check the water pressure, since I've read that too much pressure can cause issues? Any other troubleshooting tips would be welcome!
3 Answers
Yeah, it's unusual for those parts to fail after just 9 months, but replacing them is pretty simple and inexpensive. If you're comfortable doing it, give it a shot and see if that helps!
You might be dealing with a finicky flapper type, so I'd recommend sticking with the manufacturer's brand. Aftermarket options often leak, which could explain the issues you're having. It’s worth checking that out first!
It sounds like you have a Mansfield flush valve. Check it out online and see if it matches what you have. For the gaskets, it can be hit or miss—some break down quickly while others last a long time. I'd recommend getting a couple of gaskets; they're cheap and easy to replace without tools!
True, I've had better luck with the red gaskets compared to the black ones. They tend to hold up longer!