Is it hard to change a toilet fill valve?

Do you ever hear a sound like rushing water, but aren’t sure where it’s coming from? The sound could very well be coming from a running toilet, due to a fill valve that’s seen much better days.

You know how the toilet valve quickly refills after a flush? That’s the fill valve doing its job. But when the fill valve gets stopped up, this is a sign that you should replace your toilet fill valve. To replace your toilet fill valve, follow these simple steps:

This is what you’ll need:

Tools: Bucket, crescent wrenches and rags.
Materials: Toilet fill valve

Step 1: Turn off the water and drain the toilet. You’ll notice residual water left below the drain valve in the toilet that will leak out when the old fill valve is loosened. Prepare for this by placing a low pan underneath the opening so whatever water drains out will go into this pan. Also, place a towel on the floor to catch any excess water that might overflow.

Step 2: The fill valve must be loosened from the other side of the tank (down below) in order to remove it. Before you do that, disconnect the fill hose, which detaches easily.

Step 3: Now, using adjustable pliers, loosen the nut that’s holding the fill valve to the tank. The water will begin to flow out. Once the tank is completely empty, clean out any debris, and empty out the pan before putting in the new fill valve.        

Step 4: Now you’re ready to install the replacement part. Put the threaded end down through the hole and hold it tightly against the bottom of the tank. Then thread the nut onto the bottom of that. Use the adjustable pliers to tighten the nut. Note: Whenever you’re tightening anything against a ceramic part, you don’t want to tighten it too much, or you could crack the ceramic.

Step 5: Next, secure the water supply to the new fill valve and adjust the height, if necessary. Then, put the water feed tube back into place, in the downspout, and turn the water on.  When flushed, the water should stop at the right level, with no running and no leakage from the bottom of the tank.

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A toilet fill valve is probably the most important part of a toilet tank. It is responsible for filling the toilet tank with water after every flush.

Toilet fill valves are normally installed on the left hand side of the toilet tank. A water supply line is then connected to the fill valve from the underside of the tank.

On the inside of the toilet tank, the fill valve is connected to the toilet float and to the overflow tube through the refill tube. Old toilets have a float ball which is attached to the fill valve via a lever while modern toilets have a float cup/cylinder which is directly attached to the fill valve’s vertical body.

To replace a toilet fill valve, start by turning off water supply, flush the toilet then disconnect the supply line from the tank. Remove the locknut, unhook the refill tube from the overflow tube and lift it out. Adjust the length of the new fill valve, slide it in and secure it with the locknut. Connect back the water and hook the refill tube to the overflow tube.

Toilet Parts Diagram

How Do I know if My Toilet Fill Valve is Bad?

The following are the telltale signs that your fill valve has seen better days and will therefore need to be replaced:

1. Toilet won’t stop running.
2. When the toilet is taking too long to refill.
3. Toilet has a weak flush/not flushing all the way.
4. When toilet makes a humming/screeching sound.

How a Fill Valve Works

In order to understand how to replace a fill valve, it is important to first understand how it works. Before you flush the toilet, the toilet tank is normally full of water, fill valve shut, flapper sitting on the flush valve opening and the toilet float at the top of the tank. This is what happens when you flush the toilet:

Toilet Flapper

When you push the flushing handle down, the lift chain lifts the toilet flapper off the opening of the flush valve. The water in the tank flows to the toilet bowl through the flush valve for flushing to happen.

After flushing, the flapper sits back on the flush valve opening to allow the toilet tank to refill. Some people prefer to replace the toilet flapper as well while replacing the fill valve. In case you would want to replace your flapper this is how to do it.

Toilet Float

After flushing the toilet, the toilet float moves to the bottom of the tank a move which opens the fill valve. Water starts to fill the tank and the float starts to move up gradually. When the float reaches its set height, it stops move and shuts the fill valve.

Refill Tube

The refill tube is small tube that is connected from the fill valve to the overflow tube. After flushing and as the fill valve fills the tank with water, the refill tube send a little amount of water back to the toilet bowl.

That is the water you see at the bottom of the bowl which acts as a barrier for preventing sewer gases from coming up into your bathroom.

Overflow Tube.

The overflow tube is a large tube in the toilet tank that acts as the tank’s failsafe. If the fill valve is defective and is continuously filling the tank with water, the overflow tube sends the excess water back to the toilet bowl to prevent overflowing of the toilet.

When you have a toilet that won’t stop running, either the toilet flapper is not sealing or the fill valve is defective and therefore continuously sending water down to the bowl.

Water Supply Line

The water supply line is a tube that runs from the shut off valve to the toilet tank. It is specifically connected to the fill valve and supplies it with water as and when needed.

How to Replace a Toilet Fill Valve

Replacing a toilet fill valve is a simple task and should take you only 15 minutes if you already have the new fill valve with you. These are the only materials you will need:

• New fill valve
• Sponge
• Adjustable wrench (optional)
• A small bucket
• Measuring tape

Step 1: Drain the Toilet Tank

• Start by turning off the water supply to the toilet. The shut off valve is located on the wall behind the toilet. Turn this valve clockwise.
• If instead you have the pull/push type of valve then hold the valve handle and pull it outwards
• Flush the toilet and hold the flushing handle down to remove as much water as possible from the tank.
• Remove the toilet tank lid and place it away in safe place. You wouldn’t want to break it.
• Use the sponge to soak up the water at the bottom of the tank until it is dry.

Step 2: Remove the old Fill Valve

• Disconnect the water supply line from the toilet tank. Use you hand to loosen the coupling and only use the wrench if it is too tight. Remember to have an empty bucket to collect any water that might still be left in the supply line.
• Remove the fill valve lock nut which holds the fill valve in place from underneath the tank. Again, attempt to remove it with your bare hand before attempting with a wrench.
• Disconnect the refill tube from the overflow tube and lift off the fill valve.
• Take this moment to clean the inside of the tank and especially the area where the new fill valve gasket will seat.

Step 3: Install the New Fill Valve.

• Inspect the new fill valve’s gasket and make sure it is sitting pretty. This gasket seals the opening where the valve is installed to prevent the tank from leaking from its bottom.
• Place the new fill valve in position but do not tighten it yet.
• Take out the measuring tape and measure the distance between the top cap of the valve and the top of the overflow tube. This distance should be 3 inches.
• Remove the fill valve and adjust the height. Hold the valve body with one hand and use your other hand to turn the threaded shank clockwise or counterclockwise until you get the desired height.
• When the height is properly adjusted, put the fill valve back in position and screw in the locknut from underneath the toilet tank to hold the fill valve firmly in place.
• Connect the water supply line back to the new fill valve and hand tighten. Do not use a wrench here.
• Clip the refill tube to the overflow tube. If the refill tube is to long cut it into size to prevent it from siphoning water from the bowl.

Step 4: Reconnect the Water Supply

• Open the shut off valve and let water fill the toilet tank.
• Check if the new fill valve is filling the tank faster, quieter and that the water level in the tank is about ½ inch below the overflow tube.
• Confirm also that no water is running from the tank to the bowl.
• Flush the toilet a couple of times just to make sure the new fill valve is performing optimally.
• If you are happy with everything put the toilet tank lid back on and enjoy your toilet.

And that is how to replace a fill valve in your toilet. If unfortunately even after replacing the fill valve your toilet is still running, you should consider replacing the toilet flapper or the flush valve. To replace the flush valve you will need to first remove the toilet tank. In case it comes to that, we have written a very informative post on how to remove a toilet tank. Read it here. This is only if you have a two-piece toilet.

FAQs

1. Are toilet fill valves universal?

Yes. Modern toilet fill valves which use a float cup/cylinder can be installed on any toilet. They are easy to install and their heights can be adjusted to fit in any toilet tank.

2. Which is the best toilet fill valve?

Apart from the one made by your toilet manufacturer, Fluidmaster’s and Korky toilet fill valves are among the best in the market.

3. How much does it cost to replace a toilet fill valve?

A new toilet fill valve costs under or about 20 dollars. A plumber will however charge you between 70 and 150 dollars to replace the fill valve for you.

4. How long does a toilet fill valve last?

In areas where water has lots of mineral deposits, the toilet fill valve will not last as longer as areas with clean water. How long the fill valve lasts also depends on its quality and the amount of traffic the toilet gets per day. On average toilet fill valves last for 5 years.

5. Can you fix a toilet fill valve?

If the fill valve is old, you should consider replacing it. If however the fill valve is fairly new then you can try and fix it. Some time it is just mineral deposits trapped inside it which are easy to remove.

6. What is the difference between a toilet fill valve and a flush valve?

A toilet fill valve is toilet part found in the toilet tank that fills the tank with water after every flush. The flush valve on the other hand is 2-4 inch wide opening at the bottom of the toilet tank where the water leaves the tank and flows to the toilet bowl during flushing.

How long does it take to replace a fill valve on a toilet?

How much does a plumber charge to replace a toilet fill valve?

How do I know if my toilet needs a new fill valve?