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Lonewolf7 · Jul 15, 2010, 12:39 PM

I'm living in an apartment, so this is kind of urgent because I only have one toilet. I've notice for the past two weeks of living that the water is slow to refill. Like when I flush, it takes ranging from a few seconds to 30 minutes for the tank (I believe, not the bowl) to refill. During this time, if I try to flush it, water just enters into the bowl and nothing happens. Now here's the problem: I just did a... #2. But I didn't realize that the tank hadn't refilled having come back from class. So there's very minimal water in the tank and stuff in the bowl. I don't know if it's a clog or what's happening; my knowledge is limited. Is there anything I can do to flush what's in the bowl down for now?

Stratmando · Jul 15, 2010, 12:43 PM

You can take a bucket of water and pour into bowl and it will flush.
You will have to remove your Tank top(No, not yours) the toilets and see if float is allowing water into the tank, then you need to see the flapper is closing, they are cheap and easy to replace, a 2 minute job.

Lonewolf7 · Jul 15, 2010, 12:44 PM

Oh and I believe the system is Fluidmaster 400..

Lonewolf7 · Jul 15, 2010, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Stratmando

You can take a bucket of water and pour into bowl and it will flush.
You will have to remove your Tank top(No, not yours) the toilets and see if float is allowing water into the tank, then you need to see the flapper is closing, they are cheap and easy to replace, a 2 minute job.

Nothing's flushing after I poured some water into the bowl. There's just absolutely zero water in the tank, now that I looked at it again.

ma0641 · Jul 15, 2010, 01:44 PM

If the tank is empty, you have a clogged wall/floor supply valve, kinked water supply line, stuck inlet valve in the fluidmaster or a very leaky flapper. Very easy fix-for all except maybe the wall valve.

massplumber2008 · Jul 15, 2010, 02:32 PM

Hi all:

First, pour water into the toilet bowl to remove any solids present at this time as Stratmando recommended. You can continue to use a bucket of water to fill the tank for now or just poiur the bucket of water into the bowl when needed.. either way works fine!

Next, if this is an apartment you really need to call the landlord... really his problem. Tell him the fluidmaster 400 fill valve needs to be repaired or replaced. The "range" of fill time you presented strongly suggests this as the culprit!

Any more questions please pop back and let us know... OK?

Please post any reply to the bottom box on the page.

Thanks...

Mark

Lonewolf7 · Jul 19, 2010, 10:18 AM

Hmm it turns out there's some locking feature to prevent leaks? A bit weird imo but my landlord just jiggled it and water started to release.

Lonewolf7 · Jul 19, 2010, 10:18 AM

Hmm it turns out there's some locking feature to prevent leaks? A bit weird imo but my landlord just jiggled it and water started to release.

massplumber2008 · Jul 19, 2010, 10:34 AM

Ahhhh... A LEAK SENTRY fill valve. Yeah, these valves have a little chain and cup on the side of the unit that will engage if there is a leak that causes the unit to stay on longer than usual.

Most likely the unit will shut off again. When/if it does tell the landlord the flapper or flapper assembly will need to be replaced... ;) The unit itself should be fine!

Thanks for the update...

Mark

Stratmando · Jul 19, 2010, 11:11 AM

Wit Absolutely NO water in the tank, and even if the toilet is not hooked up, pouring water in the bowl WILL make it flush.
I even use that method for a stopped up toilet.
I get a drywall bucket of water and pour quickly(Not so fast it splashes all over the place or too much to overfill, and the clog is gone(90% of the time).