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No doubt that replacing a toilet fill valve is a dirty job. You’ll have to get on your knees and crawl under the water tank to reach the plumbing and toilet parts. The most challenging part is figuring out what to do first, which direction to turn the water supply valves, and which features you can live without for an extended period if something goes wrong.
If you have a toilet running constantly, this is the article to read! In this article, we’ve outlined the steps required to replace your toilet fill valve yourself. Whether you’re trying to save money or learn a new skill, this article will teach you about replacing a Toilet Fill Valve – even if you’re not mechanically inclined!
How to Replace a Toilet Fill Valve
If your toilet has a fill valve, it’s important to replace it if it becomes leaky. A leaking fill valve can cause water to flood your house and damage property. This article will show you how to replace a toilet fill valve without turning off the hot water tank.
Before starting, make sure that the cold water inlet line is shut off at the main shut-off valve. This will prevent water from entering the house while you’re working.
When it comes to installing a toilet fill valve, there is more than one way to do it. Some methods are easy, while others are complicated.
Unscrew onto the water
Most toilets have a fill valve that screws onto the water supply line coming into the tank. Loosen the screw on top of the valve body, unscrew it, and remove it to replace the valve. If your toilet has a ballcock assembly attached to the fill valve, remove that. Check your plumbing schematic to see where the new fill valve should go.
Parts of Fill Valve
The fill valve has two main parts: a ball and a flapper.
- The ball screws into the bottom of the tank while the flapper sits on top of it. As you flush, water in the tank starts flowing through the ball’s opening onto the flapper, which opens up to allow water to move into the bowl.
- Once water is drained out of your tank, an arm at the bottom of your tank closes off this opening and stops more water from entering your bowl until you flush it again. This is the flapper.
Over time, some fill valves may become worn out or damaged by age or misused by children or pets who may have accidentally flushed something down. When this happens, it can result in leaking when flushing.
Cautions before replacing
To replace a toilet fill valve, it is important first to inspect the overall condition of the valve and plumbing system. If the valve appears to be damaged or corrupted, it will need to be replaced before work can commence. Once the condition of the valve is known, the appropriate tools and parts will need to be gathered.
If you notice that your toilet isn’t flushing properly, the first step is to check the fill valve. If it’s clogged, you’ll need to remove the obstruction and replace the valve.
Toilet fill valves are usually located on either side of the toilet tank. You’ll need to remove the bolts that hold down the tank cover to access it. Once the cover is removed, you’ll see two hoses connected to the fill valve. Disconnect these hoses and remove the fill valve from its housing.
To install a new fill valve, ensure that you have the correct parts available.
Tools / Gadgets Required
Here are the tools or equipment you will need to replace your fill valve:
- Pliers
- Tape measure
- Socket wrench
- Wrench
- New fill valve
- Screwdriver
- Pipe cutter or hacksaw
- Wrench
- Needle-nose pliers
- Ratchet
- Extension cord
- Cordless drill with a bit size of 1/4 inch or greater
- Pipe thread sealant
- 1/4 inch hole saw, jigsaw
- Stiles
Instructions to install
Replacing a toilet fill valve is an easy do-it-yourself project. The replacement process can take less than an hour and does not require removing the toilet from the floor. We are giving steps by step instructions to install the fill valve.
Turn Off the Water Supply
Turn off the water supply to the toilet by turning off its shutoff valve or by closing a separate supply line shutoff valve if there is one.
Turn off the water by turning the main water valve off at the main shut-off stop. If the valve is a handle valve, pull it up and turn it off. If the valve is a fixture, turn it anticlockwise until it clicks. Always turn off water supplies before making any repairs.
Remove the Tank Cover and Cover Bolts
Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the screws on either side of the tank cover and lift it off the bowl. Some tank covers have handles that lift, but most pull straight up and off their brackets. If your new toilet has a fill valve mounted below, you will also have to remove this old fill valve before installing your new one. Use pliers to unscrew it from its mounting bracket. Make a note of how everything was connected before removing anything so that you can reattach everything correctly once your new parts are installed.
Remove the Lid
Remove the lid from your toilet tank by unscrewing it from its hinges on either side of the bowl. Lift off any bolts underneath with a screwdriver if necessary.
Remove mounting brackets
Unscrew any mounting brackets holding the old fill valve to the inside top edge of your tank with a wrench or pliers if present (these are usually just plastic knobs). If present, remove any bolts holding down other parts of your old fill valve (such as small metal plates covering electrical connections).
Note: Carefully pull the fill valve cover off of the toilet. Be careful not to damage the plumbing beneath it.
Reinstall
Clean all of the metal parts of the fill valve with soap and hot water. Use a metal brush if necessary. Dry everything off with a paper towel before reassembling it in the opposite order you removed it in step.
Fit the new seal and spring into place, then screw the fill valve back onto the tank using the bolts you saved from before. Make sure that you line up the notches on both sides of the valve to be properly seated.