How To Fix A Toilet Flush Valve In 5 Easy Steps

By Author: Alex Jones
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Have you ever experienced flushing and then realizing that the toilet keeps making running water noises that just won’t stop? That’s likely a sign of a leaking toilet flush valve, and it’s one of the most common problems in toilet tanks. Another sign of this problem is if you have to flush the toilet twice or three times (possibly more) to get it to work. It may be time to repair or replace it.

The good news is that the problem is somewhat easy to fix, especially when you hire a professional plumber. A professional may even recommend switching to a dual flush fill valve to save you time and money and to reduce your water usage.

Getting to know the toilet flush valve
When you take a look inside the toilet tank, you are likely to see many different parts. The toilet flush valve is the mechanism in the toilet tank for regulating the refilling of water after every flush. It is connected to a water source via a small pipe or a hose that is attached to the bottom of the tank. Besides the flush valve, you are likely to find the following parts in the tank:

* Ball float – A plastic ball to regulate ...
... the water level
* Flush valve seat – A hole at the bottom of the toilet tank
*Flapper – A flat circle for sealing the flush valve seat
*Flush lever – The handle that’s linked to the lift rod outside.
*Refill valve – A ballcock
*Overflow pipe – That vertical pipe in the tank’s center.

Why leaks happen
Different flush valves are used in toilet tanks, depending on the setup. A modern toilet flush valve comes with a cylindrical float that moves up or down the shaft vertically. Older models feature a ball float at the end of a metal rod. Similar to the cylindrical float, the ball rises and falls with the tank’s water level. When you flush the toilet, the flapper lifts and water should go down. The cylindrical or the ball float rises with the water level to shut the water supply upon achieving sufficient water level.

When there is a leak in a conventional or a dual flush fill valve, the root cause can vary—perhaps there’s damage to the flush valve, a worn flapper, or the valve is unable to seal tightly due to mineral buildup. Here’s how you can confirm a leak:
*Turn off the water supply to the tank.
*Take note of the water level by marking it.
*Leave that for approximately 30 minutes.
*If the water level decreased, that means there’s a leaking toilet valve flush.

Get it fixed immediately
A damaged dual flush fill valve may seem minor. The leak may seem small, too. However, ignoring it could result in expensive water bills and floor damage. Here’s how you can fix it:
1. Make sure the water supply is switched off.
2. Flush to get rid of extra water.
3. Unscrew the toilet flush valve.
4. Replace the toilet flush valve.
5. Activate the water supply and watch out for leaks.