Solving Plumbing Troubles in a Dorm Room

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A user shares their frustrating experience with toilet issues in their dorm, detailing a series of problems that began with a toilet that wouldn't stop flushing. After notifying maintenance, the toilet was fixed but subsequently began leaking, leading to further complications, including water damage to the bathroom wall. Maintenance replaced the toilet with a smaller model, which then failed to flush properly. The discussion highlights the irony of the situation and suggests that such maintenance issues are common in dorms. Some participants offer insights into potential causes for the toilet problems, such as a faulty gasket, and share their own experiences with dorm facilities, emphasizing the challenges of living in shared accommodations.
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So, this is my first time in a dorm. Here's a breakdown of what's happened. I'm just looking for some opinions/venting.

August - Toilet works fine
Two weeks ago - Toilet won't stop flushing (As I'm a guy, I like it this way)
Two days ago - Notify maintenance about toilet (I felt bad about wasting the water)
Yesterday - Maintenance guy fixes toilet
Yesterday evening - Notice that the toilet is leaking, think "no big deal" since it's in a wet-room, and notify maintenance
This morning - Discover that there's also a leak in my dorm/bathroom wall. Toilet water is everywhere
Later this morning - Maintenance arrives, replaces toilet with a smaller toilet, and leaves
This evening - Realize that my new toilet won't flush

Thus confirming that the universe runs on irony.
 
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Thsi sort of thing is quite normal.

Look at it from the maintenance guy's point of view. If there are no problems that need fixing, he will lose his job. Therefore...
 
AlephZero said:
Thsi sort of thing is quite normal.

Look at it from the maintenance guy's point of view. If there are no problems that need fixing, he will lose his job. Therefore...

this happens often?
 
ƒ(x) said:
So, this is my first time in a dorm. Here's a breakdown of what's happened. I'm just looking for some opinions/venting.

Two weeks ago - Toilet won't stop flushing (As I'm a guy, I like it this way)

Likely this was due to the gasket around the flapper valve, which usually costs ~$1.50 at Lowes and can be replace without any tools in a 5 minutes.

Shut the water off, take lid off, remove the flapper valve from the plunger handle, the gasket fits around the hole in the bottom of the tank. Over time they get old, warped and won't make a good seal and water will leak through, into the bowl, but not fast enough to cause a flush.

No idea what the repair guy did in order to cause the toilet to leak, maybe the water line into the bowl, as it must be turned off to the repair. The valve there can leak if tighten either way too tight.
 
Insanity said:
Over time they get old, warped and won't make a good seal
Reminds me of the ex's lips...
 
Insanity said:
Likely this was due to the gasket around the flapper valve, which usually costs ~$1.50 at Lowes and can be replace without any tools in a 5 minutes.

Shut the water off, take lid off, remove the flapper valve from the plunger handle, the gasket fits around the hole in the bottom of the tank. Over time they get old, warped and won't make a good seal and water will leak through, into the bowl, but not fast enough to cause a flush.

No idea what the repair guy did in order to cause the toilet to leak, maybe the water line into the bowl, as it must be turned off to the repair. The valve there can leak if tighten either way too tight.

Problem fixed
 
I'm confused. Does your dorm have its own bathroom?

When I was in college, there was a row of about 10 stalls, mostly without doors, and half filled with vomit.
 
Danger said:
Reminds me of the ex's lips...


:biggrin:
 
Lol, I feel your pain!

I'm the one who usually fixed these problems myself.
 

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