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Toilet Tank Leaks When I Lean Back Mortimer Schnerd, RN 10-12-2006
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Posted by Mortimer Schnerd, RN on October 12, 2006, 4:51 pm


I just installed a brand new American Standard Champion in my downstairs
bathroom. I was congratulating myself on an excellent watertight installation
on the first try but I find I'm perhaps a little premature.

While the tank to toilet seal is perfect normally, if I'm sitting on the throne
and lean back a bit while reading, I'm finding the seal between the tank and the
toilet is being broken slightly. It's not a gullywasher... just a slow drip,
drip, drip from both sides. Looking behind the tank, I find there's a good
couple of inches of free space between the tank and the wall. Looking inside
the tank, there's just the two bolts that would resist side to side movement but
don't do a thing to prevent backward motion.

Before I crank the bolts down unnecessarily, the thought occurs to me to stick
some sort of spacer behind the tank to stop the backward movement and prevent
further leaks. How is this problem usually handled?



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com



Posted by Jeff Wisnia on October 12, 2006, 5:14 pm


Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:

> I just installed a brand new American Standard Champion in my downstairs
> bathroom. I was congratulating myself on an excellent watertight installation
> on the first try but I find I'm perhaps a little premature.
>
> While the tank to toilet seal is perfect normally, if I'm sitting on the
throne
> and lean back a bit while reading, I'm finding the seal between the tank and
the
> toilet is being broken slightly. It's not a gullywasher... just a slow drip,
> drip, drip from both sides. Looking behind the tank, I find there's a good
> couple of inches of free space between the tank and the wall. Looking inside
> the tank, there's just the two bolts that would resist side to side movement
but
> don't do a thing to prevent backward motion.
>
> Before I crank the bolts down unnecessarily, the thought occurs to me to stick
> some sort of spacer behind the tank to stop the backward movement and prevent
> further leaks. How is this problem usually handled?
>
>
>

Either the way you propose or by adding some silicone caulk to both
ceramic surfaces contacting the gasket when installing or reinstalling
it. Poisanally, I'd go for both.

Definitely NOT by trying to tighten the two tank to bowl fasteners,
that's a sure way to crack something.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."

Posted by Speedy Jim on October 12, 2006, 5:28 pm


Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
> I just installed a brand new American Standard Champion in my downstairs
> bathroom. I was congratulating myself on an excellent watertight installation
> on the first try but I find I'm perhaps a little premature.
>
> While the tank to toilet seal is perfect normally, if I'm sitting on the
throne
> and lean back a bit while reading, I'm finding the seal between the tank and
the
> toilet is being broken slightly. It's not a gullywasher... just a slow drip,
> drip, drip from both sides. Looking behind the tank, I find there's a good
> couple of inches of free space between the tank and the wall. Looking inside
> the tank, there's just the two bolts that would resist side to side movement
but
> don't do a thing to prevent backward motion.
>
> Before I crank the bolts down unnecessarily, the thought occurs to me to stick
> some sort of spacer behind the tank to stop the backward movement and prevent
> further leaks. How is this problem usually handled?
>
>
>
Do NOT put the spacer behind the tank. When you lean back
or, worse, if someone slams the seat up against the tank lid,
all that force will be transmitted *thru* the tank to the
wall.

A spacer is a great idea. Put it between the back of the
tank *cover* and the wall. All it needs is a bit of adhesive.
Finish it off nicely and it will look like it belongs there.

Jim

Posted by Mortimer Schnerd, RN on October 12, 2006, 5:43 pm


Speedy Jim wrote:
> Do NOT put the spacer behind the tank. When you lean back
> or, worse, if someone slams the seat up against the tank lid,
> all that force will be transmitted *thru* the tank to the
> wall.
>
> A spacer is a great idea. Put it between the back of the
> tank *cover* and the wall. All it needs is a bit of adhesive.
> Finish it off nicely and it will look like it belongs there.


What I have just tried is to put a piece of foam material between the tank and
the wall. The piece is about 6" X 12" and is 3" thick. Does this seem like a
reasonable solution? I would think the foam would tend to prevent damage to
either the wall or the tank while providing some support. It can't be seen by
anyone not specifically looking for it so it appears to be the perfect solution.

What I can't understand is why don't the manufacturers give these tanks a more
positive way to interlock? Another thought is could I possibly have installed
the rubber ring between the tank and toilet upside down so that the tank sits
too high now? I'd rather find out ahead of time before I go to all the trouble
of removing the tank just to find out it can only go in one way.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com



Posted by Goedjn on October 12, 2006, 6:07 pm


On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:43:19 -0400, "Mortimer Schnerd, RN"
<mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com> wrote:

>Speedy Jim wrote:
>> Do NOT put the spacer behind the tank. When you lean back
>> or, worse, if someone slams the seat up against the tank lid,
>> all that force will be transmitted *thru* the tank to the
>> wall.
>>
>> A spacer is a great idea. Put it between the back of the
>> tank *cover* and the wall. All it needs is a bit of adhesive.
>> Finish it off nicely and it will look like it belongs there.
>
>
>What I have just tried is to put a piece of foam material between the tank and
>the wall. The piece is about 6" X 12" and is 3" thick. Does this seem like a
>reasonable solution? I would think the foam would tend to prevent damage to
>either the wall or the tank while providing some support. It can't be seen by
>anyone not specifically looking for it so it appears to be the perfect solution.
>
>What I can't understand is why don't the manufacturers give these tanks a more
>positive way to interlock? Another thought is could I possibly have installed
>the rubber ring between the tank and toilet upside down so that the tank sits
>too high now? I'd rather find out ahead of time before I go to all the trouble
>of removing the tank just to find out it can only go in one way.

You're supposed to be taking a crap, not a nap.
Why are you leaning on the cistern at all?



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