If you have a broken toilet, not only does this create an inconvenient situation, but also, if the water is constantly running it could be a huge waste that would cause your monthly utility bill to skyrocket. Therefore, as soon as you realize your toilet is not operating properly, you need to identify why and fix it. Most often, problems with a toilet can be completed as a do-it-yourself project, saving you the need to hire an expensive plumber.
One potential problem is water on the inside of the tank running because the rubber valve in the base is not closing completely. As a result, the water continually runs but the tank is never filled. Usually, this is due to the chain going from the handle to the inside valve being broken or having disconnected. When the toilet handle is flushed, the chain lifts the rubber valve so water from the tank flows out into the bowl during the flush.
Once the toilet has been flushed, the valve drops back down into the closed position, allowing the tank to refill. If the chain were broken, a new chain for less than $5 would be connected from the handle to the valve. If the chain simply came unhooked, it would need to be reconnected at the point where it came undone, whether at the handle or the valve.
If water in the tank is taking a long time to fill, you should start by increasing the fill level. This can be done by making a simple adjustment to the water valve located at the back of the toilet. To determine if this was the problem, after making the adjustment, flush to see if the level in the bowl is higher. If not, then the fill level valve was not the problem. Although not common, this problem could be the result of a clog inside the drain system. Typically, the solution would be to change the tank valve, tank float, and water valve. The cost of this unit is affordable and the process of switching the old out for the new easy.
Although no one wants to deal with this next toilet problem, it actually happens often. You may notice that even with a clean bowl, the toilet has a foul odor. This could be due to the wax ring not being securely in place. When this happens, sewer gas leaks out, thereby creating the unpleasant smell. The solution for this toilet problem would be to buy a new ring and replace it for the old. Although the process is somewhat labor intensive, it is not difficult.
In this case, the water valve should be turned off so there is no water going to the toilet. Then, the actual toilet would need to be unscrewed, lifted off its position on the floor, and set aside. Because toilets are heavy, you want to make sure you have help with this to avoid injuring your back. After the toilet has been set aside, you would see a black ring on the floor measuring about five inches in diameter.
Remove the ring, replacing it with the new one. If wanted, you can purchase a special type of lubricant that would create an even tighter seal. When done, the toile would be lifted back into position, screwed in, and the water turned on. At that point, the foul odor that had permeated from the toilet should be gone. If not, you may be at the point of asking for help from a professional.