Height of a low flow toilet

[y_p_w]

I was helping out with a rental property toilet where the tenant seemed to have a problem. It's an American Standard Cadet 3, which I've bought and had installed at my own home. I didn't install this toilet and haven't done any work on it. But from the sound of the description, the fill valve was possibly leaking and hissing. I just proactively got a Korky QuietFill Platinum. The original was a basic Fluidmaster 400A, and I noticed that the tenant tried taking it apart at the cap where the seal was but couldn't get it back in place (I've played around with the 400A enough times that it's pretty easy if you know what to do). It was a pain removing it since it had a plastic hex nut that was too big for any of my crescent wrenches, but I eventually got it off. Why they don't all use hand tightened nuts is something I don't quite understand since nearly all aftermarket replacements come with such nuts.

But at least on this toilet, everything seemed odd. The overflow tube seemed to be really short and at least a good 8 inches below the top of the tank. I had to lower the fill valve's height adjustment to the minimum, which I've only needed to do in a low-profile toilet. In the other versions of this toilet, it's designed taller. It's my understanding that although the tank might hold about 2.5 or 3 gallons, the flapper design works where it's designed to drop 1.28 gallons per flush. But a taller column of water should produce higher static pressure for a stronger flush. I'm wondering what the deal was with this toilet.

I also mistakenly bought a 2" replacement flapper (I thought maybe they had complained earlier about the flapper leaking) but this uses a fairly reliable 3" rigid flush valve.

 

[97prizm]

Just curious, was it possible that the wrong tank and toilet were put together?

 

[y_p_w]

Just curious, was it possible that the wrong tank and toilet were put together?

This is definitely a Cadet 3 tank and I'm sure the fill valve and flush/valve overflow tube were factory installed. I think this was from Home Depot, where this set used to be the cheapest complete (tank, bowl, wax ring) brand name toilet kit they had. I suppose they might have installed the wrong part at the factory. I'm just thinking it's going to result in a weak flush. Or maybe this was a later version where they reduced the height. Because it looks like it's sitting really low.

I don't know if it might be possible get a taller height short of replacing the entire flush valve/overflow. Maybe some way of extending the height of the tube that doesn't leak? I'm reading how other people have tried something like that.

Raising the height of the fill line isn't going to result in more water being used, but it should flush better with higher static pressure. I've watched the flush in my Cadet 3 at home, and the flapper closes fairly quickly - well before the water level drops to the flush valve opening height.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Just did this fix on my American Standard 4 months ago. Easy and it works.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ame...ate=ive&vld=cid:0d1c3178,vid:SMb6M9h1xqg,st:0

This gasket is available and cheap on Amazon.

 

[CarLuver]

Does the toilet have a line where it shows filled . if it does, the fill tube should only extend and inch or two above it . if you want to raise the fill tube just change it all out. its no that hard . usually 2 or 3 nuts and a big plastic nut.

looks like its a real short tube. probably the larger flapper design allows more water quickly to flush it quickly

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156294795759

 

[y_p_w]

Does the toilet have a line where it shows filled . if it does, the fill tube should only extend and inch or two above it . if you want to raise the fill tube just change it all out. its no that hard . usually 2 or 3 nuts and a big plastic nut.

looks like its a real short tube. probably the larger flapper design allows more water quickly to flush it quickly

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156294795759

No line on the tank nor on the overflow (as with the photo of the install kit in the eBay listing). But I could see where the water line was based on discoloration from the water. The flush is decent, but almost seems like it’s mechanically a low profile toilet.

 

[CarLuver]

No line on the tank nor on the overflow (as with the photo of the install kit in the eBay listing). But I could see where the water line was based on discoloration from the water. The flush is decent, but almost seems like it’s mechanically a low profile toilet.

As long as your tenant is good with the turd flushes it should be good .

 

[daves87rs]

Strong flush is important!

 

[y_p_w]

I ended up going there again because of some issue with it (reportedly a hissing sound), although the issue couldn't be replicated. I looked inside the toilet again and I noticed there is actually a water line mark at the top about an inch from the top of the tank. But the top of the overflow is well below this. There's something about this that just seems wrong.

 

[y_p_w]

I've been looking for some way to perhaps extend it without having to remove the whole thing. I have seen some "universal" replacement kits that have a sliding overflow tube, although I'm not quite sure how they well they seal against leaks. There's also at least one company selling varied colored extension tubes, although it's pretty expensive for what appears to be just a short piece of PVC tubing. My main worry is about finding a way to connect it that will be stable and won't leak.