How to Install a Fill Valve Kit

Install a fill valve kit in your toilet.

The fill valve is the fixture inside the the toilet tank that refills the toilet after a flush. A device called a ball float is attached to a plunger at the top of the fill valve. As the water in the tank rises, it carries the fill valve up, which eventually closes the plunger and shuts off the water supply. Installing a fill valve kit in a new toilet isn't difficult, and you can save a few bucks by doing it yourself rather than calling a plumber.

Things You'll Need

• Fill valve kit
• Silicone grease
• Wrench
• Plumber's tape
• Scissors
• Pliers

Instructions

1. Lift the lid off the toilet tank, if present, and set it aside. Wipe up any dust or construction debris on the bottom of the toilet tank, paying special attention to the area around the toilet fill valve inlet on the left side.

2. Unwrap the toilet fill valve kit. Turn the fill valve upside down so the rubber washer on the bottom is facing straight up, towards you. Lightly coat the face of the washer with silicone grease.

3. Lower the fill valve into the toilet tank so the rubber washer at the bottom aligns with the inlet at the bottom of the tank, and the threads on the fill valve poke through the bottom. Hold the valve in place with one hand.

4. Take the retaining nut in your other hand and thread it onto the bottom of the fill valve protruding from the bottom of the tank. Tighten it with the wrench.

5. Wrap the threads on the fill valve at the bottom of the tank with plumber's tape. Make two turns around the fill valve inlet with the tape and trim off any excess. Do the same on the water supply inlet on the wall behind the toilet.

6. Connect the plastic coupling on the water supply hose to the fill valve inlet on the bottom of the tank. Connect the metal coupling to the water supply valve on the wall.

7. Connect the float valve to the top of the fill valve, if this is a two-piece kit. Turn on the water supply and allow the toilet to fill. Replace the lid.

Tips & Warnings

• If any of the connections start to leak after you turn on the water, turn the water supply back off before trying to fix the leak. Otherwise you may soon be knee-deep in water.

References

• Toiletology: Fixing a Leaky Fill Valve
• Family Handyman: Replacing a Toilet Fill Valve