You remember my last toilet problem. The toilet in the master bath had a slow leak that I didn't notice, that eventually managed to seep all the way down to my kitchen ceiling. Resulting in me having to do water mitigation, and then deciding I might as well remodel the entire bathroom.
Actually there was another toilet problem since then that I don't think I posted about. The toilet in the powder room on the first floor was leaking into the basement whenever it was flushed. My plumber theorized that reseating the toilet with a new seal might take care of it, and it did (and I bought a new toilet as long as I was at it).
So I have been dreading toilet #3 having a problem ever since I moved into this house. Why, you may ask? The previous homeowner remodeled that bathroom and had the brilliant design idea of installing a Corian countertop all the way across one side of the room, including over the top of the toilet:
I knew if I ever had a toilet issue it was going to be a challenge. For the first eight years that I lived here, I almost never used that toilet so there was no wear and tear. But with another person in the house, it's been getting more use. Especially with HWD's daughter staying here some of the time, the second bathroom has become "her" bathroom. Last week the toilet started running continuously. The stopgap solution has been to use the shutoff valve at the back of the toilet to make it stop.
But that means whenever Daughter wants to use it, after flushing she has to open the valve long enough for the toilet tank to refill, then close it again. I don't think she's going to have the patience for that very long.
Just now I got around to taking a picture and emailed my plumber to ask if they thought they could work with it. There's a QR code inside the tank that leads to the Kohler website, which recommends cleaning or replacing the fill valve, which seems to be the red thing sticking up - so maybe they'll be able to fix it? We'll see.
I have to admit, I did have some visions of using this as an impetus to re-do the bathroom. 😂 1. I hate the floor tile that former owner picked out. 2. I would replace the one piece sink/counter with one that doesn't go over the toilet. And probably remove the giant mirror that goes all the way across and put a towel rack/shelf above the toilet (currently the only towel rack is inside the shower, which is inconvenient for drying one's hands after washing them).
I would apologize for a boring post, except every time I post about a home improvement issue people seem to LOVE to weigh in!
Hey @staci_19702 , I finally replaced the under cabinet lights in the kitchen. A kinky acquaintance is a retired electrician. We went shopping at Menards, then he spent an afternoon working on the under cabinet lights, fixing an outdoor outlet that was fried, and replacing some basement light fixtures with LED ones and installing a dimmer switch. I paid him cash. It was well worth it.
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The tank problem is an easy fix IF you could actually see in the tank. I'd be taking a hack saw to that blankety-blank shelf!
It might come to that.
@CarpeJamie the toilet fix, maybe. Removing part of a "stone" countertop, I don't think so. But the plumber's service rep thought they'd be able to manage it and I have an appointment. We'll see!
Plumbing is my LEAST favorite home repair. Access might be a bit tricky, but I think even I could replace the guts of the toilet, after the requisite amount of curse words.
I possibly could, but I have to admit I've lost my confidence after I messed up my last toilet repair (trying to replace a broken flush lever).
As Stevie griffin said “ the toilet has made slaves of us all “
There's some truth to that!
I'm familiar with that fill valve.....well, as familiar as one can get with a fill valve. And actually it might not be the valve but the flapper attached to the toilet handle. If it is old and funky it might be what is leaking. Hit me up if you want me to check it out. $180 is a lot for replacing an $8 flapper.
Yeah on past occasions when I had a toilet that wouldn’t stop running, it was usually because the flapper didn’t have a good seal. Or a chain got hung up on something, preventing the flapper from closing. I’m guessing that might not be the case here because there is no leaking sound after I turn off the valve.
@smartasswoman Offer is still there if you need it..
Failsafe ... dig & install an outhouse; does not leak, get stopped up nor requires replacement parts.
My back yard is quite small. Wonder what the neighbors would think about that??
They can be a problem. Also had leaks from upstairs thet messed up ceilings
An annoyance for sure! But, better than an outhouse in the back yard, I guess. 😊
@smartasswoman Last Fed didn't have water for a month after lightning strike dig damage to water well and hot water heater.
At first, I was wondering why such a big mirror is needed in the toilet, but then I remembered that bathrooms in the US have toilets and showers/baths in the same room. On Japan, the toilets are separate compartments, so those who want to use the toilet don't have to wait until someone finishes bathing.
It's a smallish cramped bathroom, so I assume he put in the large mirror to try to make the room look larger.
@smartasswoman
Yeah, like that makes a lot of sense 🤨
Changing that valve is easy for me and anyone else who has dealt with a toilet issue. They are so much easier to change. The problem is that Corian shelf above. I am sure when everything was new there were obviously no problems but once the problems arise like the longevity and wear and tear, you need accessibility to change the parts inside the tank. That is a problem for someone to see what they are doing. I am sure a plumber can feel his way in there after draining the tank. As I said, the whole replacing the parts is the easy part and the parts themselves are not too expensive. You can Google the parts from Menard's or any big hardware store. The challenging part is seeing what they are doing. Hopefully the plumber won't gouge you for that.
Well, the plumber is always kind of expensive. As I recall their minimum charge for a trip out is something like $180. Honestly, for me that is worth not to be wrestling with toilet parts that I can't see.
The former owner was an idiot. Definitely more into appearances than functionality. He remodeled the bathroom with fancy tile and the dumb countertop - in the meantime never updated the 40 year old super inefficient furnace that was in the house (that was my first improvement after moving in).
It sounds as if a new remodelling project may be on the cards.
I love the idea of a powder room. I'm presuming it's not the cocaine room!
Maybe this is another case of American vs. British lingo. The powder room is usually a half bath with sink and toilet, in a spot where it can be easily used by guests (for the ladies to powder their noses, I guess).
@smartasswoman I have across the powder room term before but it's not that common here.
I too struggle with a lot of challenges that my house throws at me I have four toilets in the house I am now of the opinion that as long as they work that is good enough and the one that is seldom used will probably never get redesigned as so little time is spent in there it would be a case that the money is better spent elsewhere.
I wouldn't have replaced the powder room toilet but it was a case of, "as long as I'm paying the plumber to be here anyway"...
It is usually very easy to repair a toilet that has started running. You tweak the inner workings or replace them and the problem is gone.
I like your idea of redoing the bathroom. Like you, I hate those shelves that go all the way across a bathroom. Why did people ever think that was stylish?
You are right, I love chatting about home things
Hugs!!
I'd be willing to take a stab at fixing it IF I could actually see what's going on in there.
I really liked how the master bath turned out. BUT...that company pushed to rip everything out down to the studs. I do think it turned out better for it but it also enhanced their revenue to replace every single thing in the bathroom! I would have to find someone else... ugh.
I could remodel it. Probably pretty cheap as well. Dm me if you want to see some of the bathrooms ive done .
The plumber was able to replace the fill valve, whew! So at this point I’ll put off remodeling until my partner’s daughter is no longer staying here part-time.
@smartasswoman . Well i can do and fix anythng.. ive been doing handyman remodling work almost 20 years . Im sure I'll be cheaper than your plumber... lol
Makes me glad I only have the one toilet to deal with. And that was replaced two years ago
Well, believe it or not, my second toilet which was also slightly on the fritz (I would flush and then there was a lag before the tank started refilling) was only two years old. 🫤
Incredible 😍😍
The former homeowner is an idiot. There's no way you can fix anything in that tank without removing that counter top. That's what you call a certified dumb ass.
I agree. But, my plumber thought they’d be able to work on it - my guess is that’s because it’s the visible fill valve that needs to be adjusted or replaced.