A ballcock controls the water level in a toilet tank to prevent overflow. It consists of a hollow sphere attached to a lever that closes the valve when the water reaches a certain level. It can be made of metal or plastic and is replaceable. Understanding how it works is important for repair. Both metal and plastic types are available, but plastic is cheaper and less sturdy.
A ballcock, or fill valve, is the part in a toilet that controls the amount of water in the tank. Its job is to ensure the right amount of water in the tank so that the toilet does not overflow when the lever is pressed. As the name indicates, this item consists of a hollow sphere, which is attached to a lever that bolts to the rest of the toilet mechanism. It is mounted near the top of the tank. The ball valve is usually made of metal or plastic and can usually be easily replaced when needed.
The mechanism consists of a ball floating in the water, to which a long lever is attached. This lever attaches to a valve that is attached to the piece that houses the incoming water supply. When the water reaches a certain line near the top of the tank, the float lifts up enough to force the lever to close the valve, which cuts off the water flow. Therefore, a broken ball valve can cause the toilet to overflow or even just slowly flush excess water into the bowl, wasting it. Fortunately, this appliance is usually quite inexpensive and can be found at most home improvement stores.
It is best to understand how a toilet works and how the ballcock fits into the mechanism, before repairing this part. When the toilet is flushed, a chain usually pulls the flapper up, and it will gradually sink more slowly than the water level. Once the water from the tank is drained into the tub, the float ball slowly lowers until the fill valve is activated, causing the water to gradually fill the tank once more. At the same time, the overflow tube slowly fills with a small stream of water to feed the bowl until the right amount of water is present. When the flapper is closed, the fill valve will continue to allow water flow until the tank level is restored.
The ballcock can be found in both metal and plastic and both types can be used as long as the threaded stem matches the old one. Indeed, it is useful to bring the old ball valve with you when buying a new one to make sure that it is compatible with the toilet. It should be noted that while the plastic type is cheaper and will not corrode, it is usually not as sturdy as the metal type.
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