the Plumber says...    

 My toilet runs, then stops… runs, then stops!!

     This is probably one of the most common toilet problems. It could be goin' on for days because you usually don't recognize it until the house is nice and quiet. And when the house is nice and quiet is when you least feel like fixin' a toilet. Not that there is ever a time when you most feel like fixin' one. The remedy is relatively quick and inexpensive... so easy even one of those prehistoric ancestors of ours can do it.

      It's always wise to call a professional but with a little knowledge of your home's plumbing, we'll certainly be able to avoid a catastrophe. Let me help you locate the water shut-off valve for the toilet, commonly known as the fixture stop. The uppermost part of the toilet is the tank and the lowermost part is the bowl. Under the left hand side of the tank you'll find the supply tube leading down to the fixture stop.

      Newer versions of this valve are referred to as quarter-turn stops because it only takes 1/4 turn to open or close. A full-turn stop requires continually turning the handle until the stem is fully open or closed. Turning clock-wise   (to the right) will bring a stop to the closed position... turning counter-clockwise   (to the left) will bring a stop to the open position.

Mentor, OH Updated Saturday, July 31, 2010 10:45 AM Cloudy 77°F High: 81°F Low: 63°F Wind: 9 mph Humidity: 53% Sunday 82° / 66° Monday 83° / 72° Tuesday 85° / 74° Wednesday 83° / 69° MSN Weather Data provided by iMap

 Gettin’ Started…  Safety First

      I remember waking up one morning with an eye-ache. Looking in the mirror showed a red and black dot next to my pupil in the white of my eye. The doctor said it was a small shard of metal that was beginning to rust as the natural eye was growing over it. About a week earlier I was preparing metal ducting for installation while my safety glasses were in the

work truck. I never felt the shard enter my eye! Wear Safety Glasses!

      There are no readily available stories for vinyl gloves but use them... trust me. A small box of gloves cost very little and makes cleaning up a whole lot easier, not to mention the sanitary benefits.

      This project shouldn't require any tools but have the following ones on hand. It's always nice to look like you know what you're doin'! And you really don't wanna go huntin' for 'em when you're busy in the bathroom. (so to speak) I like to place them on a clean rag, near the fixture stop.

Flat-tip Screwdriver                                Slip-joint Pliers

Adjustable wrench                              Cross-tip screwdriver

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