DIYbanter - View Single Post - Little black rocks coming up into toilet.

wrote:

I've replaced the fill valve twice {Fluidmaster 400} because the toilet
won't shut off. I've found out why. I'm seeing small black
rocks{charcoal,rust?} floating around in the toilet. They get under the
rubber seal in the fill valve preventing it from shutting off. It
flushes fine a couple of times and then keeps running. Now my wife did
open up the safety valve on the water heater, which she shouldn't have.
Someone told her it would be a good idea to release pressure once in a
while. Is it possible there are rocks in the heater that are going
through the pipes to the toilet?Seems like this problem started after
she messed with the water heater.If not, what could these rocks be? I'm
at a loss to know where thay are coming from. Frustrated. Thanks for
any responses.

Normally, the flow from the water heater should only
affect hot water taps. If the tank was producing
thye "rocks" I would expect faucet aerators to become
clogged.

Find out if the house has galvanized iron piping.
If so, deterioration of the pipe interior could
easily account for the toilet problems.
Another possible is that the particles are hard rubber
chips from a shutoff valve washer which has disintegrated.

If you're able, flushing out the line feeding the toilet
may help.

Jim