How to Change Out the Flush Valve in Your Toilet
If you look into your toilet bowl can you see water constantly running into the bowl? If you have tried to adjust the float on the inside of the tank and it didn’t help most likely you have a bad flush valve. Now on the other hand, if your toilet runs and then all of the sudden stops, then most likely you have a bad flapper. When you flush the toilet and the tank doesn’t fill back with water or takes too long to fill back with water, most likely you have a bad flush valve. So let’s get started by removing the old flush valve.
First thing that you want to do is to shut off the water. Most toilets have a valve located on the wall below the toilet tank. Some of your older homes do not have this valve and will require you to shut the water off at the main water shutoff valve to the house. After you have isolated the water supply, flush the toilet and allow all of the water in the tank to drain. Remove the nut that attaches the water supply line to the bottom of the toilet tank. The next thing you want to do is to remove the plastic retaining nut holding the flush valve in place on the bottom of the toilet tank. There will still be a small amount of water left in the tank that will drain once you loosen this nut so you may want to get a small container to catch it.
Now you are ready to lift the old flush valve out of the toilet tank. Remove the old flush valve and float assembly. The new flush valve will come with a new rubber gasket and retaining nut. Install the rubber gasket on the threaded end of the new flush valve and place the valve back through the hole in the bottom of the tank. Install the new retaining nut and snuggly tighten. Now reinstall the water supply line to the threaded end of the flush valve assembly. I would recommend that you spend a few extra dollars to replace the toilet tank flapper as well. To do this, simply unhook the flapper and chain from the flush lever and install a new chain and flapper in the opposite manner.
Now turn the water back on to your toilet and allow the tank to fill. You may have to make some minor adjustments to the flush valve float to get the proper water level in the tank. Most toilet tanks have a mark on the inside of the tank indicating where the proper water level should be. Flush the toilet a few times to make sure it is working properly and you are done!
Congratulations! You have just succeeded in changing out your first toilet tank flush valve. You have also succeeded in saving yourself $80-$150 to have a plumber come to your home to make these repairs.
