| > | | | | Now for the tank. Inside the tank is a filler pipe in the |
| | | | center. Fitted on that pipe is a rubber flapper that |
| Don’t be afraid of trying to fix your leaky | | | | covers the drain hole. There are a few different |
| toilet. Achieve the satisfaction of doing it yourself. | | | | flappers but basically they do the same job. The |
| Toilets. We simply can’t do without them. One | | | | flapper is attached to the flush handle with a chain. |
| of the necessary evils of our lives is that apparatus in | | | | Turn the handle, the chain lifts the flapper, it raises up |
| the bathroom that sooner than later will start to | | | | allowing water to flush the toilet. The flapper can be |
| develop problems. | | | | easily replaced because it has two ears that fit over |
| So when problems crop up, what are you going to | | | | two fingers on either side of the ring that is fitted to |
| do? | | | | the filler pipe. |
| You have two choices. One, hit the yellow pages and | | | | The float system on the left of the tank is there for |
| find a plumber. Two, tackle the job yourself. HintÂ… | | | | the job of filling the tank with water and stopping |
| the first choice will cost you dearly. However, there | | | | the water when the tank is filled. To replace the float |
| may be repairs that should be left to the experts | | | | system, turn the water off with the shut-off located |
| simply because they involve heavy lifting. | | | | under and behind the toilet bowl first. Drain the tank |
| Toilets are not high tech machines. | | | | as much as possible and then dry up the rest of the |
| Toilets have very few parts. There is the bowl and | | | | water with a sponge or rag until there is none left in |
| the tank, that sits on the back of the bowl. First | | | | the tank. With a wrench, back off the nut under the |
| let’s take a look at the bowl. | | | | float system where it is connecting the small pipe |
| The bowl sits directly on the floor. On the bottom of | | | | connecting the tank to the water supply shut-off. |
| the bowl there is a drain hole. That hole sits right | | | | The small pipe should be now free from the float |
| inside the drain pipe on the floor. The drain pipe has a | | | | system. Now there is only one more nut fastening |
| brass ring surrounding the lip. The ring has two flat | | | | the float system to the tank. Back that one off. You |
| head brass bolts that fit into slots in the ring and | | | | need to get your head down so you can see the nut |
| stick upright waiting for the bowl to be placed over | | | | under the tank. |
| the drain pipe. The slots allow for the bowl to be | | | | You should follow the directions that accompany the |
| positioned over the bolts upright. To seal the pipe | | | | float system for the placement of the two rubber |
| and the hole there is a wax ring that is in the shape | | | | washers and adjusting the height of the float. Now |
| of a large donut. The toilet bowl is set on its back or | | | | you should attach the filler tube to the float system, |
| side, the seal is pressed around the drain hole with | | | | fit the filler tube clip onto the filler pipe and trim the |
| your fingers and it is ready to go. All that needs to | | | | filler tubing and fit it onto the clip. |
| be done is to place the bowl over the drain hole, line | | | | Now you should turn on the water but only a little. |
| up the bolts, press down the bowl, place the | | | | Check for leaks. Tighten things up so that all fittings |
| washers and nuts on the bolts and lightly tighten | | | | are dry. Now fill the tank, check by flushing and see |
| them down. | | | | that the flapper does its job. Place the tank cover on |
| The tank sits on the tank. A rubber seal sits in the | | | | top of the tank and flush it again a couple of times. |
| joint. Two bolts with fiber washers hold the tank and | | | | You now have completed your first toilet repair job. |
| bowl together. | | | | Congratulations. |