[Twinkie43]

I recently purchased a home and I have some toilet issues. My toilet is double flushing before the flapper in the back goes down so that the tank can fill up. I have had to take the lid off the toilet and push the flapper down myself to stop this from happening. I had a plumber (just out of the phone book as I do not know anyone in my current area) come and look at it today. This plumber says I need an entirely new toilet as urine salt buildup is my problem. I stalled on making that decision today and he gave me a 'cleaning' with a solution in a bottle labeled as lime cleaner. He said it's only a temporary fix. So far its working. I checked out the toilet tonight by lifting the lid off the back and it is stamped in the tank dated 9 23 87 and it's a wellington. Does this urine salt build up seem like a reason to replace a toilet installed in 1987? Thanks!

[ballengerb1]

If a plumber actually said " I need an entirely new toilet as urine salt buildup " then you need a new plumber, this guy is taking you for a fool. Its like telling someone you can replace their muffler bearings for $100. (muffler has no bearing) You need a simple rebuild kit. I'd go with a complete Fluidmaster 400A kit. Thjis will be a new flush valve, flapper and over flow tub and seat, all you need. Now here is also something to consider. That toilet is old and does not meet current standards, it uses twice as much water as the new one. You can install a completely new toilet for about $120 and it includes everything, even a seat with some models. You will save a gallon of water with every flush

[ma0641]

Sounds like you may have the wrong flapper. Some Kohler toilets use a special flapper and a universal flapper doesn't fit. That said, your toilet is 25 years old and you can get a new 5 star rated toilet at HD or Lowe's for <$200 and some water utilities will rebate you $50-100 for replacing.

[hkstroud]

I'm with Bob about the need for a new plumber. Never heard of urine salt build up. Must be something like "worn out head light fluid".

Could you tell exactly what you mean by double flushing. Do you by some chance mean that the bowl flushes, then refills and then flushes or empties again before the tank refills?

[Twinkie43]

Thanks for the replies. It seems like a do need another opinion.

As far as the double flushing...
When I flush it, it does go down the drain, but YES before the tank can refill it flushes again and then the flapper goes down and the tank refills and the water shuts off.

[ballengerb1]

When the water fills the tank how does the level of water compare to the top of the over flow tube?

[hkstroud]

To me that sounds like a blocked vent. However I have no explanation of how using lime away could affect anything, even temporarily.

[mygirlsdad77]

You said the toilet is working correctly since the plumber left, correct? So I wouldn't worry too much about it until it starts acting up again.

Double flushing is caused by the flapper not closing at the correct time. This could be caused by a fualty flapper, incorrect flapper, or incorrect flapper adjustment(on flapper that have adjustment, such as flappers with settings, or flappers with foam floats.) Should really be an easy fix for someone that deals with toilets on a regular basis.

Now, that being said. As mentioned above, new water saving toilets are fairly cheap, and usually easy to replace. This may be your best option if you have any more troubles with the toilet.

Now, as for the urine salt, better know as piss, for anyone that has ever had to remove and clean an actual urninal, they will know that urine does tend to plug things up a bit over long periods, and it can become very hard, pretty much like rock hard salt. However, there are ways of cleaning it out. Usually involves chemicals of some sort, wich can be very dangerous, hence the suggestion of a new toilet. I just used some SANTEEN on my toilet today with a metal coat hanger to clean rim ports and bowl jets. She's flushing turds like a champ again. But, urine or hard water, or whatever is clogging toilets would cause the toilet to not flush completely, meaning you would have to manually flush more than once, or plunge often. Plugging by urine etc will not cuase double flushing, it will only cause zero flushing.

So. As I suggested earlier in this novel, double flushing is caused by flapper closing timeing. Hope this helps. Or not. Most likely you lost interest in reading this long ago anyway, but if your still here, thanks for sticking around. Good luck and take care.