[Scotty2103]

Hello, I work for a small business here in my city, that usually only requires one person in the office at most times of the day... I've just noticed that there is no water in the tank on the back of the toilet. I've tried messing around with the float, and the lever, and the valve on the back pipe. Nothing. I thought maybe it'd be because of frozen pipes, but the water from the sink is running just fine.

[ballengerb1]

Is there a valve on the water line coming out of the wall below the tank? Running water at the sink does not insure your supply is not frozen, is that an outside wall?

[Scotty2103]

I'm not entirely sure if it's an outside wall. The office is kind of located on the left wing on an apartment building. Think of the building looking like one of those Tetris blocks where there's like a gap in the middle, the apartment part is the top middle and two office spaces for the sides. I can't entirely look outside either as I'm not permitted to leave the office while working.

[ballengerb1]

How about the valve I asked about?

[Scotty2103]

Work is keeping me a little preoccupied... I did however see that there is a little valve sticking out from a small silver pipe coming from the floor. I can't exactly get to tge back of the toilet to check if there's a valve at the back.

[Scotty2103]

Sorry for the double post here, but I should have explained a little better, it's a small bathroom and there is a shelf right above the toilet and I'm a pretty tall/big man so I can't exactly cram my head to the back of the toilet to see the pipes. I'm currently in the process of filling a bucket with warm water and I was going to attempt to fill the tank and flush. Should I try or will it mess something up?

[talaniman]

Using a bucket of water is fine until you find, and fix your problem, but I would apply the water to the bowl directly to flush.

[Scotty2103]

Yeah I figured as much, but I was just searching the web like most people do first before hand, and I saw someone had suggested to put water in the back on the tank just to test if it is a refill problem or not.

[ballengerb1]

You can flush the toilet with a single bucket of water. However, from what you say, you are tall space is tight and you may not be able to do the next step, be sure to tell the next shift about the issue if it does not get resolved. If you have a proper wrench close that little valve and unscrew the cap nut that connects the valve with the toilet fill tube. Once the fill line is disconnected you can briefly, partially open that valve. If you get water then your pipe is not frozen.

[Scotty2103]

Yeah I gave the manager a call, he'll call me back if he sees it. If not, I have an employee communication book to write stuff down in for the next shift. According to one of my other co-workers he thinks the pipes are indeed frozen. He's been working here longer than I, so I trust his judgement. I just needed the toilet flushed from the previous uses before this happened. It is about -20 C/-4 F. Luckily I can hold it lol. Thanks for the swift replies everyone.

[hkstroud]

You can flush the toilet by simply pouring a bucket of water in the bowl. You don't have to put it in the tank and then push the flush handle.

Pour about 2 gallons rather quickly.

[afaroo]

Lets wait for the manager what will be his respond to you if I am in your case will call a plumber just now, Thanks.

John