Why Is There No Water in My Toilet Tank?
Did you just try to flush your toilet, and nothing happened? Glance within the tank, and you might see no water inside. Before you stress, relax knowing that correcting this problem is usually straightforward. If you can’t figure it out yourself, you can always set up toilet repair with a knowledgeable plumber. Follow these tips to diagnose and repair the problem of no water in the toilet tank.
Check the Water Supply
The first move is to verify that the water is running. If you or someone in your household recently did a toilet repair, you most likely turned off the water first. Did you not realize you had to turn it back on? To see, spin the water shut-off valve on the wall in back of the toilet. If the valve was turned off, water should now start refilling the tank. If this does not work, test the water at your sink or a different plumbing fixture. If nothing flows from the tap, you could have a more substantial water supply issue. Contact your water company to get more details.Reposition or Replace the Float Mechanism
Older toilet models use a float ball to measure the water level as it goes up in the tank. When the ball hits a specific height, the float arm it’s attached to stops the water flow. However, insufficient water may enter the tank if the ball is positioned improperly or the arm is faulty. To move the float ball, start by removing the toilet tank lid. Bend the float arm up slightly to alter where it sits in the tank. If this fails to fix the problem, you may need to replace the entire float mechanism. You should be able to perform this yourself by following the directions that come with the replacement parts, or you can hire a plumber for help. Just note that float balls are old toilet technology. You may prefer improved reliability and efficiency if you upgrade the existing tank components or replace the toilet entirely.Adjust the Fill Valve
More recent toilets operate with a float cup in place of a float ball, coupled with a fill valve and water level rod. There could quite possibly be no water in the toilet tank because the valve has slipped out of place or become blocked. Here are some to consider:-
- Test the fill valve: Glance inside the toilet and find the fill valve on top of a vertical tube device on the left side of the tank. Verify that it’s secure and evenly attached to the tube. Then, change the water level. More modern toilets have an adjustment knob you can turn with your hand, while older designs may require you to loosen an adjustment screw with a flathead screwdriver. Flush the toilet and let the tank refill to test the water level. Adjust it until the water comes to {about|approximately|roughly]] one inch below the top of the overflow tube.
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- Clean the fill valve: Mineral buildup and other crud may be clogging the valve and preventing your toilet from filling. Turn off the water behind the toilet and take away the fill cap. Then, gradually turn the water back on, cupping your hand over the valve to block water from spraying all over. After several seconds, turn the water back off. Finally, clean off the fill cap to dislodge any hard water buildup. If the cap is damaged, buy a new one.
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- Clean the valve tube: The tube below the fill valve might also be blocked. Shut off the water and remove the valve hardware. Then, stick a slim bottle brush or wire down the tube. Turn the water back on just a little to flush away the blockage. Replace the valve hardware and flush the toilet to check your efforts.