Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Brand new Gerber toilet! Flapper sticks in up position
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hackwriter
05-13-07, 04:52 AM
I am cursed.
I recently had the toilet in my upstairs bathroom replaced because I was having to have the old one repaired every year. This ended up turning into "project creep" involving a new Gerber toilet, a lovely new vanity, replacement of a basement galvanized pipe, and almost $2000 spent between the vanity (which was almost $600 but it is truly gorgeous), the toilet, and the plumbing. Turns out that there wa no flooriing under the old vanity, so now I need flooring for another $600.
Now the flapper on the new toilet is sticking in the up position so we have to jiggle the handle every time!! The handle seems to be a cheap plastic thing; not sure if that is the problem. But this is a new toilet with a new flapper!!
I suspect it just needs adjusting, but I am always leery of doing that for fear of getting it wrong. Can anyone tell me what to do? I can't take yet another day off work waiting for a plumber.
I recently had the toilet in my upstairs bathroom replaced because I was having to have the old one repaired every year. This ended up turning into "project creep" involving a new Gerber toilet, a lovely new vanity, replacement of a basement galvanized pipe, and almost $2000 spent between the vanity (which was almost $600 but it is truly gorgeous), the toilet, and the plumbing. Turns out that there wa no flooriing under the old vanity, so now I need flooring for another $600.
Now the flapper on the new toilet is sticking in the up position so we have to jiggle the handle every time!! The handle seems to be a cheap plastic thing; not sure if that is the problem. But this is a new toilet with a new flapper!!
I suspect it just needs adjusting, but I am always leery of doing that for fear of getting it wrong. Can anyone tell me what to do? I can't take yet another day off work waiting for a plumber.
CSG
05-13-07, 11:02 AM
Check the water level in the tank. There should be a line on the flush valve (the tube with the flapper attached to it). Make sure the water level is as close to this line as you can get it. You can adjust the float (attached to the tube on the rear left corner of tank) to make the water level go up or down.
Also, make sure the chain connecting the flapper to the handle is not too tight. May try loosening it a link or 2. You also don't want it too loose.
Last thing you can check is the handle itself. Remove the tank as you flush the toilet. Look to see that the handle isn't sticking itself holding the flapper up.
Post back with your results on what you see.
Also, make sure the chain connecting the flapper to the handle is not too tight. May try loosening it a link or 2. You also don't want it too loose.
Last thing you can check is the handle itself. Remove the tank as you flush the toilet. Look to see that the handle isn't sticking itself holding the flapper up.
Post back with your results on what you see.
hackwriter
09-05-07, 01:32 PM
Would you believe it took me this long to check? The problem was intermittent, and seemed to be worse in humid weather.
Today I took the tank lid off and flushed a couple of times. It seemed that the flapper was getting caught on the hook on the arm that attaches to the handle. I saw that the handle was loose, I tightened it -- end of problem.
=pats self on back, then remembers to thank CSG in Naples, Florida. :)
Today I took the tank lid off and flushed a couple of times. It seemed that the flapper was getting caught on the hook on the arm that attaches to the handle. I saw that the handle was loose, I tightened it -- end of problem.
=pats self on back, then remembers to thank CSG in Naples, Florida. :)
hackwriter
06-06-09, 10:28 AM
Bumping this back to the top with a DIFFERENT problem with the same Gerber toilet. We have now had it for 2 years, and I'm finding that it takes a lot longer to fill. I suspect a problem with the fill valve. The problem is, the inside of this toilet (it's a low-flow) looks different from any toilet I've ever seen. I changed the Fluidmaster on my old American Standard toilet in the downstairs bathroom in 1997 and it's worked like a charm ever since. But this Gerber beast scares me.
Our old toilet had the same problem where we had to change the valve every few years. We have VERY hard water, which I suspect is the problem, but then why does the downstairs toilet work great all the time?
So my question is this: Is this a repair I can do myself? On a scale of 1 to 10 of handy-ness I am about a 3. Do I have to get OEM parts? And could the hard water be the culprit?
Our old toilet had the same problem where we had to change the valve every few years. We have VERY hard water, which I suspect is the problem, but then why does the downstairs toilet work great all the time?
So my question is this: Is this a repair I can do myself? On a scale of 1 to 10 of handy-ness I am about a 3. Do I have to get OEM parts? And could the hard water be the culprit?