How to Install the Flush Valve in a Toilet
When you notice your toilet running continuously, water and money are going down the drain. It's time to replace the toilet's flush valve. The flush valve determines how much water the toilet uses for each flush and if it does not close completely, the toilet will run. The standard parts of a flush valve include a relief valve, disc, diaphragm, refill head, flow ring and guide. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Adjustable wrench
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Channel-type pliers or spud wrench
Instructions
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1
Turn the water to the toilet off. The water shutoff valve is usually next to the toilet coming out of the wall or up from the floor. If you do not see the shutoff valve, turn the main water supply off.
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2
Flush the toilet to drain the water out.
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3
Disconnect the water supply line, using an adjustable wrench. This line looks like a tube running from the tank to the shutoff valve.
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4
Unscrew the tank bolts with an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver.
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5
Remove the toilet tank with help from an assistant. Place the toilet tank carefully upside down on something soft like a rug.
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6
Remove the rubber spud washer. You'll see it on the pipe sticking out from the bottom of the tank.
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7
Remove the old flush valve by unscrewing the spud nut, using a spud wrench or channel-type pliers.
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8
Place the cone washer on the tailpiece of the new flush valve so the beveled washer edge faces up toward the end of the tailpiece.
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9
Turn the tank right-side up.
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10
Insert the new flush valve into the opening of the tank. Make certain the overflow pipe faces the fill valve and sits next to the ballcock. The ballcock looks like a floating ball in the toilet tank, which controls the water level.
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11
Turn the tank over again.
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12
Tighten the spud nut tightly onto the tailpiece with the channel-type pliers or spud wrench.
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13
Lift the tank and place it back on the toilet bowl. Position the tank so the spud washer goes through the bowl's hole.
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14
Bolt the tank to the bowl snugly with a screwdriver and wrench. Do not tighten the bolts too much or the porcelain tank can break.
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15
Attach the flapper to small lugs on the overflow pipe inside of the bowl. These lugs help keep the flapper in place.
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16
Attach the flapper's lever chain tautly to the handle lever. Connect the water supply tube and turn the water on.
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Tips & Warnings
Replace the flapper first if you hear your tank leaking. You may not need to replace the flush valve. Press down on the flapper with a yardstick, then listen. If you no longer hear water leaking or running, you know you need to replace the flapper, not the flush valve. The flapper looks like a rubber device attached to the flush valve. It moves and seals water into the tank so when you flush the toilet, water can leave the tank.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bathroom with patterned green wallpaper image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
