I am moving into a new apartment and the toilet isn't working properly- it won't flush unless you take the top off the tank, reach in, and push down on the cylinder that is in there, which causes the tank to refill (I think the problem is that the tank is not refilling after it is flushed?). Then you have to pull up on the rubber ball thing (ballcock?) and hold it there until the toilet flushes (it won't flush if you just hold down the handle).

I have told my landlord about this, and she just keeps saying she will ask her plumber for sugestions. Meanwhile, I am still having to go through this whole routine every time the toilet needs to be flushed. Is there any way I can just fix this myself?

The float should be attached to a little metal rod that controls the valve. You can adjust the position of the float on this rod (and therefore the height of the water when the tank stops filling). There should be a spring clamp you can press to move the float up. It's possible that the springy thing is corroded and no longer holds the rod firmly, in which case it should still be a relatively cheap fix.


I don't know what any of the parts are called, either.

Sounds like a mansfield toilet. Be more aggressive with the landlord or you will have a difficult tenure

You have described a FluidMaster ballcock, that's sadly misadjusted. This is a easy job for the average home owner. Let's address filling the tank and then we'll move on to that rubber ball thingy that we call a flush ball when it's round and a flapper when it's flat.

Pinch the spring and move the float can down to increase the tank level.
It should be at the mark in the tank or 3/8 to 1/2" below the top of the white over flow tube. The linkage between the flush ball and the flush lever should have 1/4" play when the tank is filled and then flush ball seated. Also, check the small tube coming out of the top of the bakkcock and make sure it's connect to and draining into the white overflow tube. For a decent flush they all have to work together. Good luck, Tom