Toilet Won't Flush

The flush tank is exactly what the name implies: a tank to flush water. Don't be concerned about putting your hands into the tank water to make repairs. However, there may be some mineral deposits in the tank, so when the repair work is finished, you should be sure to wash your hands.

Water goes into the tank via the diaphragm-type ballcock assembly. This unit has a water valve that is opened and closed by a float arm-or by water pressure on some of the new water saving ballcocks that are now available.

When you flush the toilet, the handle, handle lift arm, and lift wire, raise the tank ball or flapper. The water flows out of this opening into the toilet bowl and flushes it. The float ball rides the water level down in the tank and turns on the water valve in the ballcock.

After the flush, the weight of the tank ball or flapper drops it back into the bowl opening, sealing the opening. The tank fills with fresh water. When the water reaches a predetermined height, the float then shuts off the water valve in the ballcock assembly.

You can solve almost any problem that your toilet tank develops. The symptoms are noted here, along with repair procedures.

TANK IS FULL OF WATER BUT TANK WON'T FLUSH:
Lift the top and check the handle lift arm, the lift wire (sometimes a chain), and the tank ball. Is the assembly connected throughout? Reach down in the tank and lift up on the tank ball or flapper. The toilet should flush. If not, the blockage is in the opening between the bottom of the tank and the bowl, or it is in the curved connection between the tank and the bowl.

First, unbend a wire coat hanger, lift the tank ball or flapper, in the bottom of the tank, and try running the wire down through the passage between the bottom of the tank and the opening into the toilet bowl. You may be able to dislodge any blockage at this point. If not, read on:

1. Turn off the water supply to the tank. A shutoff valve usually is under the tank at about 4" above the floor. It looks like a faucet. If not, turn off the water at the main water service entrance to the house.
2. Bail out all water possible from the tank. You can pour it into the toilet.
3. Disconnect the water supply line to the ballcock by unscrewing a nut holding the water supply line and ballcock at the bottom (outside) of the tank. You will need an adjustable wrench to turn the nut and pliers to hold the ballcock from turning. Put a bucket under the connection to catch the remaining water in the flush tank.
4. Remove the tank bolts that hold the tank to the back of the toilet bowl. Be careful. Too much force on the wrench can crack the china parts. Once cracked, the parts must be replaced; they are worthless.
5. Lift off the tank and check the passage between the bottom of the tank and the top of the toilet let. Remove any debris. Then reassemble the toilet in reverse order as described above.
   If the handle/tank ball linkage is the problem of no flush, you can quickly find it by simply tracing the parts from the handle to the tank ball.

The most common troubles are:

• A broken chain between the lift wire and lift arm.
• A corroded handle that won't raise the lift arm. Change the arm with an adjustable wrench. A corroded and broken lift wire from the tank ball the armor chain. Install a new wire; it screws into the top of the tank ball.
• A misaligned guide through which the lift wire is threaded. Loosen the guide clamp with a screwdriver and turn it with your fingers back into alignment.