Tips to Fix Toilet Ghost Flushing From the Skilled Plumbing Supply Experts at Dye Home Improvement March 7, 2019 Have you heard your toilet flush all by itself? Phantom flushing might happen when your toilet flushes without the handle being pressed down. It might also happen when water drains from the tank of your toilet without flushing. Phantom flushing means either that the toilet’s fill tube has been inadequately installed, or it could be that the flapper inside the toilet tank is leaking and should be replaced. Check out the fill tube first, and fix it or replace it if necessary. If that doesn’t clear up the complication, replace the flapper next. Stopby Dye Home Improvement in Monticello and Monon and inquire about the trouble you are having so we can aid you in getting your project accomplished.The cause of ghost/phantom flushing is uncomplicated and easy to explain, and prevention is a candid maintenance issue. Water is gently draining from the tank, normally through a deteriorating flapper, and from lowering the float. When the float extends to its critical height, it switches on the water. To stop this from happening, you will need to make sure all the tank seals are intact. To check the toilet flapper you can do a Food Dye Test: Get these 3 items: Food DyeToilet flapperScrewdriver Put some drops of food dye in the back tank of the toilet and cease flushing for about 30 (thirty) minutes. If the toilet bowl water turns the same color as the dye, it could mean the flapper is leaking. Before replacing any parts, check the length of the flapper to the flush handle. It might be that you just need to lengthen the chain by one or two links. Repeat the dye test after you lengthen the chain. If the chain is too short, it stops the flapper from seating in the siphon hole and may cause the type of leak that produces ghost flushing. Changing the Flapper If the dye still shows in the toilet bowl turn off the water supply and hold down the flush handle to empty the tank. Remove the flapper from the chain that connects it to the flush handle and unhook its two ears from the overflow tube. Take it to Dye Home Improvement and ask the pros for help. You should be able to purchase an identical flapper replacement. There are many types of flappers, and all will not fit your toilet. Once you have purchased the new flapper, hook the ears to the overflow tube and connect the flush handle chain. Be sure to allow plenty of for the flapper to seat fully. Turn on the water, fill the tank and try a few test flushes. When you are content the flapper is functioning properly, repeat the dye test again. Behold You are done you mended your toilet! Is the food dye still appearing? Check for other hints of leakage from the tank if the bowl of water is discolored. scan the floor for small fragments of water and feel the underside of the tank with your fingers, especially at the points where the bolts join the tank to the bowl. Tighten the tank bolts with a screwdriver if you observe water by them or on the floor. Hint – If you have an older toilet, the flexible tube connecting the fill valve to the overflow tune could need water taken out of the tank because it is spanning too far down the overflow tube. Cut the tube and clip it to the top of the overflow tube that is extending no more than an inch inside it. Water pooling under the tank might be a sign of a hairline crack in the tank. You will notice the water beading around it on the outside of the tank. If you do find one, it is sometimes easier to buy a new toilet then repairing it. Visit us at Dye Home Improvement in Monticello and Monon so we can help you with all your plumbing questions. Bath, Plumbing Back To Project Blog