Plumbing Advice

So hubby and I are both severely lacking handyman skills. Our upstairs toilet had the float ball fall off. It’s not one of the menta ones, it’s all plastic that connects by this circular plastic ring that won’t stay attach even with the screw. So I turn off the water to the toilet so it will stop running. I sorta think I got the float ball attached and go to turn the water back on. Well... nothing happens. After some brief googling, it seems like my water valve is broken. Now what? Is it time to call a plumber? Anything more involved is way out of line in what we can do.

Dendrobates wrote:So hubby and I are both severely lacking handyman skills. Our upstairs toilet had the float ball fall off. It’s not one of the menta ones, it’s all plastic that connects by this circular plastic ring that won’t stay attach even with the screw. So I turn off the water to the toilet so it will stop running. I sorta think I got the float ball attached and go to turn the water back on. Well... nothing happens. After some brief googling, it seems like my water valve is broken. Now what? Is it time to call a plumber? Anything more involved is way out of line in what we can do.

That's weird. If your water valve is broken you'll probably have to turn the water off to the whole house, then change the valve out.

When you say "nothing happens" does it seem the valve is working when you turn it? If you have an easily reached whole house shut off you could try turning the water off, then open a couple taps to let pressure off on the lines, and try the valve again. But my guess is that you're at the call a plumber or Floyd stage.

Are you sure the handle to the valve isn't stripped?  Remove it and try turning the valve stem with pliers, or better yet vice grips.  Counter-clockwise, of course.  Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey

LooseGoose wrote:

Dendrobates wrote:So hubby and I are both severely lacking handyman skills. Our upstairs toilet had the float ball fall off. It’s not one of the menta ones, it’s all plastic that connects by this circular plastic ring that won’t stay attach even with the screw. So I turn off the water to the toilet so it will stop running. I sorta think I got the float ball attached and go to turn the water back on. Well... nothing happens. After some brief googling, it seems like my water valve is broken. Now what? Is it time to call a plumber? Anything more involved is way out of line in what we can do.

That's weird. If your water valve is broken you'll probably have to turn the water off to the whole house, then change the valve out.

When you say "nothing happens" does it seem the valve is working when you turn it? If you have an easily reached whole house shut off you could try turning the water off, then open a couple taps to let pressure off on the lines, and try the valve again. But my guess is that you're at the call a plumber or Floyd stage.

Nothing happens in that I don’t hear and see water filling up in the toilet. And nothing happens when I flush it. So I don’t think it came back on.

The Pantry wrote:Are you sure the handle to the valve isn't stripped?  Remove it and try turning the valve stem with pliers, or better yet vice grips.  Counter-clockwise, of course.  Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey

I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am stupid as fuck when it comes to this shit. And husband isn’t any better.

Dendrobates wrote:

The Pantry wrote:Are you sure the handle to the valve isn't stripped?  Remove it and try turning the valve stem with pliers, or better yet vice grips.  Counter-clockwise, of course.  Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey

I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am stupid as fuck when it comes to this shit. And husband isn’t any better.

When turning the valve handle counter-clockwise does it come to a stop where you can't turn it anymore?

The Pantry wrote:

Dendrobates wrote:

I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am stupid as fuck when it comes to this shit. And husband isn’t any better.

When turning the valve handle counter-clockwise does it come to a stop where you can't turn it anymore?

Yes it does

Dendrobates wrote:

The Pantry wrote:When turning the valve handle counter-clockwise does it come to a stop where you can't turn it anymore?

Yes it does

Try closing the valve (clockwise) and opening it a few times.

How old is your dwelling?

MSU addict wrote:My guess is the valve that is broken is likely the toilet fill valve as opposed to the shut off valve. They are cheap and fairly easy to replace. Get this type:


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fluidmaster-Universal-Toilet-Fill-Valve-400ARP25/100554467

Possible it's the fill valve instead of the shutoff. Would have to disconnect the hose at the shutoff to determine. Dendro, can you or Nevets do that? If not, PM me for my phone number and I'll talk you through it

The Pantry wrote:

MSU addict wrote:My guess is the valve that is broken is likely the toilet fill valve as opposed to the shut off valve. They are cheap and fairly easy to replace. Get this type:


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fluidmaster-Universal-Toilet-Fill-Valve-400ARP25/100554467

Possible it's the fill valve instead of the shutoff. Would have to disconnect the hose at the shutoff to determine. Dendro, can you or Nevets do that? If not, PM me for my phone number and I'll talk you through it

Pantry with the 1980s bar move to get Dendro's #......;-)

Pics of shut-off valve and inside the tank might help. I just replaced a sink and one of the shut-off valves took a shit. They only break when you use them. Given that you worked on the float you want to make sure it's somehow not in a closed position.

I did the turning of the valve back and forth earlier to see if it worked and it didn’t.

This is a combined problem. The cock and ball thing is kinda broken. But as I said, it’s not even a metal rod attached to the float ball, it’s all plastic with a circular ring that looks like it screws in. But the screw is plastic and maybe morphed. It’s the water valve that I’m more concerned about with fixing.

Side note... I’m so bad at this home fixing shit. But I was pretty damn proud of myself last year when I fixed the clogged toilet. Nothing worked, so I bought a snack. I drilled that shit through and cleared that toilet. I was pretty proud

So it looks like the ball float should be screwed on like the top pic. But it’s not staying. And pic of valve if that helps at all.

Dendrobates wrote:I did the turning of the valve back and forth earlier to see if it worked and it didn’t.

This is a combined problem. The cock and ball thing is kinda broken. But as I said, it’s not even a metal rod attached to the float ball, it’s all plastic with a circular ring that looks like it screws in. But the screw is plastic and maybe morphed. It’s the water valve that I’m more concerned about with fixing.

Side note... I’m so bad at this home fixing shit. But I was pretty damn proud of myself last year when I fixed the clogged toilet. Nothing worked, so I bought a snack. I drilled that shit through and cleared that toilet. I was pretty proud

If your problem is the shut-off, you'll need to shut off the water to your house and run what water you can out of the lines. After that, you're looking at a plumber or friend who can solder...or Shark bite stuff is great DIY (in my opinion).

MSU addict wrote:First off, tell you husband to quit missing the toilet and peeing on the shutoff.

IMO, you have to replace the toilet fill valve.  It is broken - that ball is what floats up and shuts off the valve.  Replace that with the one I linked earlier.

If that does not solve the problem, call a plumber or a very handy friend/relative.

Replacing the fill valve is simple and it comes with instructions, you can also view it on youtube. The shut off valve, not so much especially if it is sweated (soldered) on. You can get into problems there.

Agree. Fix the easy stuff first (you need to anyway). It's cheap and easy and you'll know for sure if you have a shut-off valve issue. I can buy toilet kits at my local gas station.

Someone needs to mention an upper decker.

Dendrobates wrote:



So it looks like the ball float should be screwed on like the top pic. But it’s not staying. And pic of valve if that helps at all.

Turn valve off all the way. Loosen up fitting at top of valve, turn valve on a little bit at a time. If water comes out it's not the valve. Don't forget to retighten.

MSU addict wrote:First off, tell you husband to quit missing the toilet and peeing on the shutoff.

IMO, you have to replace the toilet fill valve.  It is broken - that ball is what floats up and shuts off the valve.  Replace that with the one I linked earlier.

If that does not solve the problem, call a plumber or a very handy friend/relative.

Replacing the fill valve is simple and it comes with instructions, you can also view it on youtube. The shut off valve, not so much especially if it is sweated (soldered) on. You can get into problems there.

Ok, I guess I will just get a new kit and replace that. I think I could do that.
Actually it’s dirt/rust on the knob. Hubby is pretty good about cleaning his messes up! I always know it’s company every time they’re here, since I don’t usually have to clean that stuff.

The rest I will call a plumber. I’m not fucking with that.

Oh... and pull light in the furnace room cord broke. Hubby went to remove cover to see if he could rejoin it. Sparks everywhere, and kitchen/bathroom lights don’t work. Could be a fuse, but our box is old and nothing is labeled. Fuck me.

Addict is right. Replace the fill valve with the type he linked. Been a long time since I've seen a supply line hard-piped like in your pic so you'll need to replace that too. Remove the old line (bent tube) and take it with you to HD or Lowes and ask someone to assist you in picking out a proper length flexible line. I like the braided stainless steel ones because they don't kink if you have to loop it.

Dendrobates wrote:

MSU addict wrote:First off, tell you husband to quit missing the toilet and peeing on the shutoff.

IMO, you have to replace the toilet fill valve.  It is broken - that ball is what floats up and shuts off the valve.  Replace that with the one I linked earlier.

If that does not solve the problem, call a plumber or a very handy friend/relative.

Replacing the fill valve is simple and it comes with instructions, you can also view it on youtube. The shut off valve, not so much especially if it is sweated (soldered) on. You can get into problems there.

Ok, I guess I will just get a new kit and replace that. I think I could do that.
Actually it’s dirt/rust on the knob. Hubby is pretty good about cleaning his messes up! I always know it’s company every time they’re here, since I don’t usually have to clean that stuff.

The rest I will call a plumber. I’m not fucking with that.

Oh... and pull light in the furnace room cord broke. Hubby went to remove cover to see if he could rejoin it. Sparks everywhere, and kitchen/bathroom lights don’t work. Could be a fuse, but our box is old and nothing is labeled. Fuck me.

That is not the fuse (the Sparks). Likely some barely connected wiring tripped the fuse. Open a new thread for that one or send me a pm.