Fixing water leaks in the toilet with your own hands
We unscrew the button on the toilet cistern, but do not turn off the water supply yet, since we need to make sure that the water leaks through the drain gasket and not through the top of the overflow tube. To do this, remove the tank lid and make sure that the water level in it is below the top of the overflow tube.
After this, we shut off the water supply and drain the liquid accumulated in the tank. We pull out the drain mechanism by turning it counterclockwise half a turn until a distinct click appears.
We carefully examine the rubber gasket to find out its condition and the absence of defects in the form of cracks, tears, warping, chips, etc. Outwardly it looks intact, but due to long-term use it has acquired a cone shape and has become quite rigid. For these reasons, it does not fit tightly to the hole in the bottom of the tank and allows water to pass through.
We remove the gasket and try to soften it. To do this, place the rubber product in a glass jar, pour boiling water into it and leave for about 5 minutes.
During this short time, the rubber gasket softens and takes on almost its original geometric shape.To soften it even more and give it a final look, we knead it a little with our hands.
We install the restored gasket in its original place, fixing its bottom on the stops. Return the mechanism to the drain tank by turning it half a turn clockwise until you hear a distinct click.
We open the water, fill the tank and during the filling process we make sure that there is no water leakage. We drain the water and fill the tank again, the result is the same: there is no leakage. Replace the tank cap and screw in the button. The defect has been completely eliminated.
