This is probably not a Japan life question but when I tried to consult my American friends no one has any idea what I am talking about.
So I have one of those Japanese pit toilets in my place with a sink on top. You flush the toilet and the sink automatically turns on and you wash your hands w the water that’ll be used for your next flush. Pretty cool.
But for the last two days the sink water hasn’t stopped for a really long time and even after it does I can still hear a water stream. I tried pulling the top off but tbh I don’t really know what I’m looking for. I can have my coworker call a plumber in the morning because I really don’t want my toilet to flood but I’ve already had one embarrassing interaction w the heat guy because I didn’t understand to push a button and I really don’t want a repeat of that if it’s a simple fix.
Update: thank you Reddit people I added more water to the top and it finally stopped. I thought I was going to go insane. I think I’ll still call the plumber in the morning but I’m happy to get a goods night sleep and stop running up my water bill
16 comments
This contraption is probably what you have inside the toilet tank https://sos-mizu24365.com/dictionary/dic51.html
A floating device connected to a water outlet that opens/closes when the water reaches a certain level.
It is a mechanical device, so you could take a pick inside and see if anything seems out of place. Otherwise you might as well call a plumber, is probably a very common thing.
You need to replace the float assembly inside the toilet tank or have the landlord do it if it’s a rental.
Inside the tank should be basically the same as a US toilet. Look inside, and there should be a floater that’s attached to a valve that lets the water in to refill when you flush. Basically the floater floats to the top and pulls the valve shut. There should be a chain attaching the floater to the valve. It may be broken or just unattached. Yo8 may be able to just reattach it yourself. If that doesn’t work I’m not sure… but that’s what I would look for.
The toilet flapper is not closing flush at the bottom which means the water is leaking and not filling the tank. So you are running up your water bill. Think of it as you don’t completely turn off your faucet.
Call your management company
Your ballcock is bollocked, if you’re renting call your rental company/building management, if you own it call a plumber.
Note that if you run up your water bill because of this, some places have a system where you can get a discount on the bill by proving it was due to a fault (i.e. provide proof of the repair). Look for something called 漏水減額請求書.
Serious question, you try wiggling the handle?
水のトラブル 0120-123-456
Jiggle the flush handle repeatedly every now and then until the plumber can come around. Doing this stopped the water running when we had a similar problem. Also depending on the issue you could try manually adding water to the upper tank top get the bulb to go up and close the gasket.
Pit toilet? Oh no! Look for the main and turn it off. You don’t want your sewer tank filling up with water! You are talking about the kind of toilet that needs sucked out every six to 12 months, right?
Don’t feel embarrassed. These things are different in Japan! Unless your coworker is willing to give you Home Maintenance in Japan 101, how are you to know? If you can get that crash course, video it for future reference.
same has happened to mine. there is a screw (well, like a tap but you can only turn it with a flathead screwdriver) on the pipe going to the toilet you can shut it off to save the water running for 2 days and costing you money. i am renting so tomorrow i would just call the management company like im gonna.
Your flap isn’t sealing or the float isn’t cutting off, can get a kit at a DIY store.
If you know where or what the shut off is, close it after the tank fills to save on water and call your property manager to get a plumber to fix it. Probably the plastic bit that plugs the hole dried up and disintegrated if it was sitting empty for a few months and was an older place, had that problem at my apartment.
It is not a difficult thing to fix, but it isn’t your responsibility. If you cock it up, you will be liable. If you didn’t know to close the water valve next to the toilet, you probably shouldn’t mess with it tbh.
I bet any money there is a float system that has a failed. If you ever pulled off the top of a standard North American toilet – the flushing systems works with a float attached to valve / flapper dealio on a chain – it retracts slowly until the suction of water below closes the valve.
I’d assume the sink section is off low just redirected back up into the top of the tank to wash your hands in order to reuse potential wasted clean water. If it’s continually pouring I bet that float system has failed.
Take the top off again, flush the toilet, look for what doesn’t reset correctly in an timely manner.
Check the fitting that attaches to the flush handle inside the toilet. They come loose after time and need to be tightened. If its loose it won’t give enough downward force to seal the plunger.
Yeah. Plumbers get lonely sometimes and can use a call from time to time.
Give a plumber a call and ask him how his day was?
He’d really appreciate the companionship.
#plumberlife