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My basement toilet has stopped filling about 4 times in the last 8 months. The pipes are not frozen. It will suddenly start working. Nothing makes sense. Could there be a suction or a vacuum
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If it is construction Styrofoam it is a good insulator. Fill as best you can between the studwork and use spray foam to fill gaps. Then cover with drywall. Floor insulation and underfloor heating is a good way to keep the chill out.
Frozen pipes and only caused by cold and draughts.
This is usually the fill valve. Try adjusting the water height. If that doesn't work, you can replace the fill valve fairly inexpensively with a new one at any home improvement store
This is usually the result of long hot showers and lack of ventilation. Open a window, or install an exhaust fan that runs whenever the light is on or kick those kids out of the shower. Another (maybe silly) option is to run a detour in the supply cold water-- that is, make the water supply that feeds these toilets run through a long section of 3/4 inch copper pipe in the basement so that the water can warm up a little before it fills the tank. 50 ft of 3/4 inch pipe holds about a gallon. (That would run you about $75 plus fittings.)
It keeps making noise becasue the pump is still trying to get rid of the water inside.
it can't get rid of the water most likely because their is a blockage in the waste water pipe.
if possible follow where the waste pipe runs to. if it goes in to a loft or somewhere else VERY COLD there is a good chance that it has frozen somewhere along the pipe.
If you are tying to pump the toilet waste vertically (upwards) then as soon as you turn the power off to the saniflo, the waste will fall back down and in to the toilet - or over the top in your case, sorry!
You might want to accept the inevitable and get a bucket and start removing the waste water from the bowl. Make sure that you have rubber gloves and I suggest goggles and something protecting your mouth - in case you get splashed.
Easiest solution, is to remove the excess waste water, turn off the saniflo, pour some bleach in to the toilet bowl, then cover the bown securley with cling film to keep the rank smell at bay.
Other wise, start tring to follopw the waste water pipe and warm it up, either by directly or indirectly (warm air gun) or by warming the area around it.
Personall;y i am using the easy option. the cold werather won't last forever, but can you use a toilet elsewhere in the meantime.
In the meantime, Saniflo claim about 15 years as the lifespan, but i have never know a saniflo to make it past 3! they are not ideal, but may be your only option.
consider whether you could get a proper toilet waste pipe put in, as it WILL save money in the long run...
I believe that I qualify... over 300 toilets installed in the past 15 months!!
I would go with the wax rings... but I would press the ring into the base of the toilet before installing the toilet....that way you are sure to have a good seal to the toilet....
If you actually read the directions, the manufacturer will tell you to press the wax ring onto the toilet....then install it onto the floor drain.
I guess that a PLAIN wax ring placed on the floor drain (since it is recessed) before placing the rubber-sleeve equipped ringed toiled is a good safety measure... I have done that an it work about 37 times out of 40.
Good question - BTW.. and well worded. THANKS for being specific and precise!!
Turn off the water at the valve going to the tank of the toilet.
The valve is normally located half way between the tank and the floor, on a pipe leading to the tank.
The water in the bowl will last over a week and should not be a problem.
Good luck, I hope this helps
Please rate me, Thanks
for the upstairs if the valve is fully on there is not much you can do other than replace water service to the house or heaven forbid repipe.Valves usually don't restrict fill volume.But you can take the supply loose from the tank and stick it in a bucket turn the valve on and check the flow.this should narrow it down.Down stairs repair or replace flush valve
it sounds like one or more of your shut off valves has a glog from hard water calcium. were from indiana its a big problem here.To check this u will have to shut off main water supply and remove top of shut off valve and check for white crusty blockage, even if u see a few particals its present. It can severely restrict flow.
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