Dirt in Toilet
#1
10-20-06, 08:27 PM
Dirt in Toilet
Hello, my husband and I noticed dirt/sediments of some sort coming into our toilet when we flush. We noticed it when we got back from vacation about 3 weeks ago. We've never had this problem prior to vacation. If you look in the tank, you can see it sitting on the bottom of the tank. I have no clue what it is and how it got there (well I know how but don't know why). What would you suggest doing? The more you flush it, the more it goes away but eventually it builds up again? Any suggestions? Also, we don't notice it in our showers, other bathroom toilet, or sinks. Just our bathroom toilet.
#2
10-21-06, 04:18 AM
You won't notice it in the shower or where the water drains as fast as it comes in. But in the tank of the toilet, the water sits and the solids precipitate and collect at the bottom. Are you on a well or city/county water? It would help overall to place a whole house filter inline to stop sediment. You can get by with a 5 micron filter, as the smaller ones will clog with sediment more quickly.
#3
10-22-06, 03:58 PM
Originally Posted by chandler
You won't notice it in the shower or where the water drains as fast as it comes in. But in the tank of the toilet, the water sits and the solids precipitate and collect at the bottom. Are you on a well or city/county water? It would help overall to place a whole house filter inline to stop sediment. You can get by with a 5 micron filter, as the smaller ones will clog with sediment more quickly.
#4
11-27-06, 04:39 AM
Reviving post
Hello again!! Well we haven't figured out what it is that is causing the dirt in the toilet but have noticed our water bill just jumped a hell of a lot!! That usually means there is a leak somewhere right? Well we don't hear any water dripping anywhere nor is there any puddles outside/around our house. I compared the "usage" number to last months and previous bills and it was never, ever this high. Any suggestions would be helpful! Thanks!
#5
11-27-06, 04:52 AM
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Shut the main water valve off inside the house and go watch your meter "I assume your meter is at the street". If the little tri-angle thing is moving at all then you have a leak.
#6
11-27-06, 05:04 AM
YOu have hit the nail on the head. The leak is sucking the surrounding mud into the pipe by siphoning action. Do as Mattison says, but if the triangle is not moving you are in better shape, because it means the leak is on the city/county side. If the triangle is moving, you have a leak, but it is on your side and you have to pay to fix it.
We may not give the answers you want, but hopefully you can find this leak before it can cause further damage.
Let us know how it comes out.
We may not give the answers you want, but hopefully you can find this leak before it can cause further damage.
Let us know how it comes out.
#7
11-27-06, 05:05 AM
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sounds like a rubber flapper ,deterioration I don't see a leak allowing dirt in the system the water pressure should keep it out
high water bill could also be leaking toilet
high water bill could also be leaking toilet
#8
11-27-06, 05:29 AM
Well I called the water company to see if there was by chance an annual fee and that was a no. She did say thought since October was a dry month it was probably because we watered a lot, etc. My husband doesn't think that's the case, he said even if we did take showers twice as much and watered the lawn twice as much it should only be $80, $90 at the most, not $110. So I am going to go home and try these little test, look at the meter, record the numbers and if it's moving, etc. Thanks for your help. I will let you know what happens.
#9
11-27-06, 07:59 AM
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If you were out of town on vacation, solids will settle in toilet bowl. If water has high iron content this is usually evidenced as a reddish brown build up in toilet tank and bowl.
To clean tank, shut off water supply behind toilet and flush to remove water. Soak up excess water in tank with paper towels and wipe down interior. Inspect the flapper and other components in the tank. Turn on water and let tank and bowl fill. Add some red food coloring to the water in the tank. If flapper is leaking, the red food coloring will show up in the toilet bowl water. If so, this will tell you if the leak is at the toilet.
Periodically water companies flush their lines and stir up sediment. This usually results in some solids coming into the home's water line. This usually clears up after running water for a short while.
To clean tank, shut off water supply behind toilet and flush to remove water. Soak up excess water in tank with paper towels and wipe down interior. Inspect the flapper and other components in the tank. Turn on water and let tank and bowl fill. Add some red food coloring to the water in the tank. If flapper is leaking, the red food coloring will show up in the toilet bowl water. If so, this will tell you if the leak is at the toilet.
Periodically water companies flush their lines and stir up sediment. This usually results in some solids coming into the home's water line. This usually clears up after running water for a short while.
#10
11-28-06, 12:31 AM
sand
I think some tolit inserts/sanatizers have sand in them. I am talking about the blue stuff that people put in the back of the tank. I think the sand is added to hold the product container under water.
Do you have any of these products in your tank?
Do you have any of these products in your tank?
#11
11-28-06, 05:05 AM
Originally Posted by toadpad
I think some tolit inserts/sanatizers have sand in them. I am talking about the blue stuff that people put in the back of the tank. I think the sand is added to hold the product container under water.
Do you have any of these products in your tank?
Do you have any of these products in your tank?
#13
12-12-06, 02:53 PM
You might check with your neighbors to see if they are having a similar problem. If there was a problem in a main line and the water co. shut everything down in the area, when it was turned back on it could have disturbed junk that had settled in the mail line. Have a nice day. Geo
