Do It Yourself: Defective ballcock can give toilet fits

Sun., March 27, 2011

Gene Austin McClatchy-Tribune

Quick tip

Reader Rita Grimes says she got excellent results when she used Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner With Bleach to clean the grout in the mosaic-tile floor in her bathroom.

Grimes said she opened the bathroom windows for ventilation and cleaned a small area at a time. She sprayed the Fantastik on the tiles and let it work for about 10 minutes, then scrubbed the grout with a small, brass-bristled brush.

“It literally pulls grime out of the tiles and whitens better than painting the grout,” she said. “It’s a miracle.”

She said the brush did not scratch the mosaic tiles. Brass-bristled brushes, about the size of a large toothbrush, are sold at many home centers.

To try this method, be sure to get the version of Fantastik that contains bleach. It is a good idea to wear rubber or plastic gloves when using it, and read and follow all cautions on the label.

Grimes said she doesn’t know how her method would work on other types of tiles. Test first on a small area.

Q. We have a very noisy toilet in our master bath. The noise reverberates throughout the other rooms when the toilet is used. Any suggestions?

A. Toilets can make a wide variety of noises, ranging from hissing and groaning to foghorn sounds.

You don’t give many details on your noise, but since it occurs when the toilet is used it apparently is a flushing or refill noise. These noises are often caused by a defective refill valve, also called a ballcock.

The refill valve is located inside the toilet tank on the left side. In many older toilets it has a rod attached with a metal or plastic ball on the end. The ball or float rides up and down, controlling the flow of water into the tank; it starts the toilet refilling again after a flush and stops the water flow when the tank is full.

In many newer toilets, the refill valve has a tower shape and the float rides up and down on the tower, performing the same function as the rod and ball.

Replacement refill valves are not expensive (about $15 or less) and can be bought at many home centers and hardware stores. Do-it-yourself installation is possible; usually the most difficult part of the job is removing the large nut that holds the refill valve in place.

The nut is located under the tank, and removing it requires a large adjustable wrench. Care must be taken not to crack or chip the tank or bowl.

Fluidmaster is a widely sold brand of replacement refill valve. Look for a valve that fits your brand of toilet and comes with instructions.

Even if replacing the refill valve doesn’t completely solve your noise problem, it could help prevent future problems.

Q. Is there any way to remove rust buildup around the rim of my bathroom sink drain?

A. A product called ZUD Heavy-Duty Cleanser, sold at many supermarkets and home centers, is excellent for removing rust stains from bathroom fixtures and some other surfaces.

ZUD will also remove some other hard-water stains. It is a powerful cleaner, and before using it you should read all the cautions and directions and follow them carefully.

Q. Our kitchen cabinets are stained, then finished with polyurethane. Can we paint them without sanding? Will a stain-killer primer over the poly suffice?

A. Polyurethane generally has a glossy finish, and paint won’t stick to glossy surface unless given special treatment. There are several ways to do it, but one of the simples is to use a glossy-surface primer.

You can buy good glossy-surface primers at most any paint store under various brand names. One popular choice is Zinsser’s Bulls Eye 1-2-3.

Zinsser also makes a relatively new primer, Smart Prime, which is said to be superior for glossy surfaces. Smart Prime is water-based and has low odor and low VOCs (volatile organic compounds), but is said to perform like an oil-based primer.

Both Bulls Eye 1-2-3 and Smart Prime are also stain blockers, meaning they will keep most stains from bleeding through finish paint.

Before painting, be sure and clean the cabinets with a solution of household detergent and rinse.

Questions and comments should be emailed to Gene Austin at gaus17@aol.com. Send regular mail to 1730 Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422.