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 New Jersey home inspection NJ home inspectors perform Certified New Jersey home inspections in NJ.TANK BALL / FLAPPER VALVE WORN (replace): The tank ball is a "valve" which keeps the water in the tank. Having to "flick" or "jiggle" the handle after each flush to stop the water from running can be a tank ball problem. It usually means that the tank ball or "flapper valve" is not seating properly and allows water to escape through the bottom opening of the tank and into the bowl. If the tank has a rubber ball which is pulled up by lift rods, the most likely cause of trouble is lift rod alignment. The guide may have shifted slightly to one side or the other, and as a result the ball does not fall squarely over the center of its seat. In other cases it may not fall at all and just get hung up over the seat until you jiggle the handle a few times. Sometimes the ball is worn out and will not seal. Usually the guide alignment problem can be corrected by realigning the guide slightly so the ball drops onto the center of the seat without binding. To move the guide, loosen the setscrew which locks it onto the overflow tube, adjust it and retighten the screw. Sometimes the problem is due to lift rods which are slightly bent and stick as they try to slide up and down the guide. You can straighten the rods easily, either with your hands or with a pair of pliers. Sticking can also be caused by an accumulation of slime or hard water deposits. Clean them off with fine steel wool while you are at it. If the ball falls into the center of its seat and water still keeps running out of the tank, check for dirt, rust or other sediments which may be on the tank ball seat and preventing a watertight seal. If the seat seems clean, then chances are the ball itself is cracked or worn out and must be replaced with a new one. Just unscrew the old one from the lift rod and screw a new one on. Instead of lift rods and a tank ball, most of the newer flush tanks have a chain connected to a flapper-type valve which fits over the seat instead of a tank ball and is hinged so that when the trip lever is raised, the chain lifts the flapper off its seat and allows the water to rush out and down into the bowl. The flapper valve stays in the up (open) position because it floats, but when the tank is almost empty the flapper automatically drops back down over its seat to close the opening again. The rising water holds the valve down and seals the opening at the bottom until the next time the water closet is flushed. When this type fails, and the problem is not a chain hang-up, replacement is called for. All replacement parts are available at Plumbing Supply and Building Supply Outlets. Contact a Plumbing Contractor for assistance if necessary. Some cracks can be repaired with epoxy-resin materials. The crack must be totally dry before attempting repairs. Materials should be available at most Hardware Stores or Building Supply Outlets. A broken or missing tank lid can easily be replaced if one can be found. Usually the lids are so varied in size and shape that finding one which is an exact fit is next to impossible. Retrofit lids are available which are constructed of plastic and are designed similar to a shelf Should you need further assistance you may decide to contact a Handyman Service or a Plumbing Contractor.
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This file was last updated on Wednesday, 27-Feb-2008 10:32:01 EST * Copyright © 2008 All rights reserved by: Accurate Inspections, Inc. A New Jersey home inspection firm providing New Jersey Certified Home Inspections in NJ, by New Jersey Licensed home inspectors. Inspector of record Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector License GI 0121. |
