Toilet Fill Valve Replacement

Written By: Kristen Gismondi

Comments: 5

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

10 - 15 minutes

Introduction

A failing fill valve can prevent a toilet tank from filling properly, or cause the toilet to fill continuously, wasting excessive amounts of water. Use this guide to replace the fill valve in a gravity flush toilet.

Tools

Step 1

Lift the tank lid up and away from the toilet tank.

Step 2

Shut off the stop valve underneath the toilet by turning it clockwise until it becomes hand tight.
The appearance of this valve may differ from toilet to toilet, but most operate the same. Some valves require multiple turns to stop the water while others only require a quarter turn.

Step 3

Disconnect the fill valve's rubber refill tube from the top of the overflow tube.

Step 4

Push down the flush lever.
Hold the lever down until water stops draining from the tank.
A small amount of water will remain in the bottom of the tank.
If the flush lever or pull chain have become disconnected, lift up the toilet flapper to drain the tank.

Step 5

Use a sponge to soak up and remove any remaining water from the toilet tank.
Periodically squeeze the excess water from the sponge.

This is kind of funny but it worked. I had absolutely no sponges at the house, but had leftover diapers our granddaughter outgrew. I thought outside the box and ended up being impressed with the outcome. I opened up the diapers and placed in the remaining tank water. Viola, it immediately began absorbing the water. I used 4 diapers and it did the trick. Just have a leak proof trash bag on hand. No sponge, no bucket, no mess!

Jody Broussard -

Step 6

Place a bucket under the supply tube to catch any dripping water.
Turn the coupling nut on the supply tube clockwise until it releases from the threaded shank on the bottom of the tank.

Step 7

Using an adjustable wrench, turn the locknut on the threaded shank counter-clockwise until it becomes loose.

Step 8

Turn the locknut counter-clockwise until it releases from the threaded shank.

Step 9

Lift the entire fill valve out of the tank.
When installing a new valve, be sure to adjust the float so that the water line stops one inch below the overflow tube.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Kristen Gismondi

Member since: 12/11/14

74421 Reputation

4 comments

Great guide for removing the fill valve, but we're missing the steps for installing the new one. In the case of a Fluidmaster fill valve, you'll want to adjust the height to either match the one being replaced, or the more time-consuming (but not hard) method of marking the fill line of water on the tank, adjusting the fill valve to be just above that, then testing. Or ... is that another guide? For the present, I'd call this "removal." Perhaps we can create a new one for "installing a new fill valve." Ping me for assistance if needed.

David Spalding - 01/04/16

Hi David,

Thanks for checking out our guide! By default, all iFixit replacement guides conclude with "To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order." Our guide is intended to be a basic procedure that works for most fill valves. This particular fill valve is a Fluidmaster, and we do have an adjustment guide currently in the works. We'll also be updating our existing toilet guides, so make sure to check back soon.

We hope this clears everything up!

Kristen Gismondi - 01/04/16

Awesome guide!

It will definitely help him who wants to replace toilet fill valve by his own. I just want to know from my curiosity that , if I want to replace my fill valve should I also replace other parts like flapper or any other parts.

Thanks… :)

Rose Geiger - 04/06/18

Fluidmaster fill valve frequently fails to cut off, runs for awhile into overflow, THEN cuts off. Won’t cut off when manually toggled either. Water is hard, so could be lime deposit somewhere inside of valve. When water is turned off and tank drained for a couple of days, valve works for a few days. Any information appreciated.

Just Me - 25/11/18