LESLIE: Our next call is from Mary Alice in Delaware who has a toilet that double flushes of its own free will.
What’s going on?
TOM: It’s so nice it flushes twice.
MARY ALICE: Oh, we flush and then about 30 seconds to a minute later it flushes again and you don’t even have to prompt it. (Leslie chuckles)
TOM: Hmm.
MARY ALICE: And I just don’t like the wasting of the water.
TOM: Yeah. I would replace all your flush valves.
MARY ALICE: A flush valve?
TOM: Yeah, the flush valve, that’s the flapper thing that’s inside the toilet.
MARY ALICE: OK.
TOM: If you take the lid off and you see it lift up and all the water runs through it.
MARY ALICE: OK.
LESLIE: So that’s like the rubber stopper on the bottom?
TOM: Yeah. It’s not that expensive and it’s easy to do. You should go out and buy a Fluidmaster replacement part because it fits the widest variety of toilets. Take a look at the one that’s in there. Go to the store, buy the same one and replace the flush valve. Because what’s happening, Mary Alice, is that the flush valve is not seating all the way. It’s kind of staying open. And so it’s trying to flush twice.
MARY ALICE: Okey-dokey. Sounds simple enough.
TOM: Yeah, it’s pretty easy. You know, it’s like $2, $3, $4 to buy one of those flush valves. Or even, while you’re at it, since you have to drain all the water out of the tank anyway, replace the fill valve and the flush valve and you’ll have all new toilet guts and the toilet will work perfectly and will work efficiently.
I tell you what. If you stand by, we will actually take your address because I think that we have some Fluidmaster toilet repair kits here in the studio and we’ll even send you one to get you started.
MARY ALICE: Oh, that’s great.
TOM: OK?
MARY ALICE: Thank you so much.
TOM: It’s your lucky day. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT, 888-666-3974.
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