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Toilet mechanisms are simple, but they do malfunction—watching a toilet bowl fill past its usual level and overflow onto the floor can be horrifying. An overflow is caused by blockages in the drain, which usually can be cleared out with a plunger or toilet auger.
Some toilets run incessantly; this can be caused by a float arm that doesn't rise high enough, a float ball that has become waterlogged, a tank stopper that doesn't sit in the valve properly, or an inlet valve that doesn't shut off.
Some toilets fill with a noisy high-pitched whine or whistle. This could result from a defective inlet-valve assembly or water restricted by a shutoff valve that has been partly closed.
An inadequate flush can be caused by a broken link between the handle and trip lever or a tank stopper that closes before the tank empties.
Finally, tank sweating in the summer can encourage mildew, and can rot subflooring. Tank water that’s cooler than the ambient air causes moisture to condense and the tank to sweat. Tanks can be easily insulated with a lining of foam rubber or polystyrene.
Detecting a Tank Leak
Can’t tell if your toilet’s tank is sweating or leaking where bolts connect the tank to the bowl? Squeeze a couple drops of food coloring in the tank water, wait about an hour, then dab the tank bolts with a white tissue. If the color shows up on the tissue, the tank is leaking. Otherwise, it’s probably sweating.
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