A Fill Valve. How Do You Install One in Your Toilet?
Changing the fill valve in your toilet is a quick and easy cure for several problems. In this case, the old valve worked fine, but was making a high pitched whistling sound when the tank is filling up.
Functionally it was OK. The sound it made was just annoying! The usual problem is that the water will not shut off. This repair will take care of both problems.
The fill valve is the valve that lets water into the toilet tank and shuts off when water reaches a pre-determined height. It is usually on the left side inside the tank.
REPLACING THE FILL VALVE
The replacement is easy and can usually be done with only a pair of pliers. Here’s what you do.
- Turn off the water supply;
- Flush the toilet. Make sure you hold the handle down to drain as much water as possible from the tank.
- Take a towel and place it in the tank. This will help absorb most if not all of the water left in the tank.
- Unscrew the supply line from the bottom of the toilet. Place another towel under the pipe to absorb any leaks while you are taking the supply line off.
- Unscrew the valve from the bottom of the tank. This is usually a plastic nut with finger tabs. But it could be a brass nut requiring a wrench. If the brass nut is what you have, then plan on replacing the riser tube with a flexible metal braided hose. The riser tube is the tube that runs from the shut off valve that comes out of the wall and goes to the bottom of the tank
- If there is still any water left in the tank, place a bucket or bowl below the tank to catch any water before removing the fill valve.
- Pull the old valve out.
- Place the old valve next to the new valve as in the picture to the right and adjust the length so both of them are the same. When doing this, follow the manufactures instructions.
- Put the new valve in the tank.
- Attach the nut to the bottom of the valve.
- Attach the supply line to the bottom of the valve.
- Attach the refill tube to the valve mechanism and the other end to the adapter attached to the overflow tube. Follow the manufacturer’s directions.
- Turn on the water.
- Check for leaks.
- If there are no leaks, adjust the fill valve to the proper height. There should be a mark inside the tank showing you where the full line is.
REPLACEMENT OF THE FLAPPER VALVE
The repair kit I purchased included a new flapper valve so while I am in the tank, I’ll replace it.
- Cut off the universal adapter ring.
- Remove the old flapper from the toilet. It just hangs on two arms.
- Match the chain lengths.
- Install the new flapper and connect the chain to the lever.
- Turn on the water supply.
- Check to make sure the tank is working properly. If it is OK, put the top back on the tank.
We are done!! Another easy repair job completed.
Fill Valve. How Do You Install One in Your Toilet?
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