A faulty fill valve can cause your toilet to malfunction.Replacing the toilet fill valve is something any homeowner can do.It doesn't take a lot of experience to do plumbing.You need a few parts, a couple of tools, and a bit of effort.
Step 1: Turn around.
Turn off the water outside of the toilet before doing any repairs.There is a water valve below the toilet tank.The water pipe should be between the wall and the bottom of the toilet tank.If you turn the water shutoff valve clockwise, it will turn off.Continue turning until it stops moving.
Step 2: There is a drain.
Before you can connect the toilet fill valve, you need to drain the tank.To begin draining the tank, hold the flush lever down and flush the toilet.Once most of the water is gone, you will need to use a turkey baster or wet-dry vacuum to get rid of a small amount of water at the bottom.If you don't have a turkey baster or wet-dry vacuum, you can use an old towel or sponge to soak up the remaining water.
Step 3: The toilet fill valve needs to be found.
Put the tank lid on a towel out of the way so it doesn't break.The toilet fill valve is located inside the tank.The float and the on-off lever are included in newer toilets.The float is connected to the fill valve in older toilets.The overflow pipe is connected to the fill valve through a tube.
Step 4: Remove the toilet fill valve.
The nut that secures the fill valve to the water supply line can be loosened with pliers or a wrench.Remove the supply line from the valve underneath the tank.A small amount of water may leak out of the tank when you remove the nut.Keep a towel on hand or on the floor below the opening to catch any water that comes out.
Step 5: Purchase a new valve for the toilet.
Purchase a new toilet fill valve at your local hardware store.Most new toilet fill valves are universal and will fit in almost any toilet.If you're worried about fit, you can take your old toilet valve with you to the store to see if a potential replacement will work.The newer valve with the float integrated onto the shaft will work even if the old valve had a separate float.
Step 6: The new toilet fill valve needs to be put in place.
The toilet fill valve needs to be removed from its packaging.It comes with directions so be sure to read them.You should be able to put the fill valve in the toilet if it comes fully assembled.You should clip the refill tube to the overflow tube.
Step 7: The washers need to be in place.
The washers and nuts should be attached to the valve.The inside and outside of the tank should have washers on them.The water-tight seal around this connection point is ensured by the washers on the inside and outside of the tank.
Step 8: Carefully tighten the fill valve nut
The lock nut on the threaded part of the valve needs to be tightened when you have the toilet fill valve in place.The underside of the tank is where this is located.It's important to not tighten the nut too hard.You don't want to tighten the nut too much.The nut on the fill valve can be tightened with a wrench or pliers.
Step 9: Attach the water supply line again and turn it on.
It's time to get the water flowing again once the replacement fill valve is put in.Attach the supply line to the fill valve.If there is a washer inside the end of the supply line, you can tighten it with a wrench.The water should be turned on by turning the valve counter clockwise.Don't overtighten the washer or the nut could crack and cause the connection to leak.If you see a leak, turn off the water.The tank should start filling when you turn the water on.
Step 10: The float needs to be adjusted.
The float on your new toilet fill valve can be adjusted once the water is turned back on.The float's location can be adjusted with a clip on its side, a set screw at the top of the float shaft, or a screw in the fill valve.The directions of your new toilet fill valve can be used for float adjustment.When positioned correctly, the top of the float should be below the overflow pipe.The goal is for the float to come up and shut off the water before it gets to the top of the overflow pipe.