How To: Fix a Leaky Toilet
If your toilet is taking too long to refill, making loud noises, or running for extended periods of time, you may need to fix some of the internal components. Watch as Taylor Freeman, a journeyman plumber, shares a few ways to quickly and easily fix your leaky toilet.
Replace the Flapper
Broken flappers let water pass through and leak into the tank, refilling the bowl over and over again. This means costly water bills and a toilet that is running constantly, so if you’re experiencing any of these, it’s time to replace the flapper in your toilet.
To replace it, shut off your supply stop and flush the toilet to empty the tank. Then, remove the old flapper from the overflow valve and disconnect the chain from the handle. Install the new flapper by comparing the length to the old chain and adjusting as needed.
Then, attach the new chain and flapper to their respective locations. To test the installation, turn the supply stop on and wait for the water to fill the tank until there is no more water coming in, then flush it a couple of times.
Replace the Fill Valve
You may need to replace your fill valve if water is starting to leak from your toilet or if it’s taking a long time to flush.
To replace it, shut off the supply stop and flush the toilet to empty the tank. Then, grab a bucket and place it below the tank. Disconnect the supply line and unscrew the old nut from the bottom of the tank. Then, replace your old valve with a new one. This can be a traditional fill valve or a more universal style.
Hand-tighten the new nut to the tank and do the same for the supply line. It’s important to hand-tighten so you don’t crack the plastic nut or stem of the valve. Check the height of your new fill valve and adjust as needed at the stem.
Inside the tank, attach the hose from the valve to the overflow tube. Test for the correct water height by turning on the supply stop and waiting until it fills, then check that there is ½ in. to 1 in. of space between the water line and the overflow tube.
If the water is too high or low, adjust it on the knob attached to the fill valve and turn it left for less flow and right for more flow. Flush it a couple of times to test. If it flushes and creates a loud noise, use the other knob on your fill valve to reduce it.
More Toilet Repairs
If your toilet is still leaking, it might be time to replace your toilet connector or supply stop. We recommend using the SharkBite Max Stainless Steel Braided Toilet Connector with Straight Stop Valve for the easiest, fastest and most reliable installation. To learn more about replacing your toilet supply line, click below.