Annemarie called Frontdoor with a question about her toilet fill valve and learned that she needed it replaced. But with the new parts in hand, she wasn’t sure how to go about making the fix.
Instead of standing over the lidless tank scratching her head, Annemarie gave Frontdoor a call back. Within minutes, she had plumbing Expert Erick on the line again and was ready to brave the big install.
How Frontdoor came to the rescue
The call
With Erick’s guidance, Annemarie turned off her water supply, flushed the toilet to drain the tank, and began unscrewing the plastic nut holding the supply line to the tank. Then, they unclipped the tube from the fill hose, allowing Annemarie to remove the entire old fill valve.
The roadblocks
Annemarie had a tough time unscrewing the plastic nut from the supply line. It was likely that the person who originally installed the toilet had tightened the nut before placing the tank on the bowl.
Although she muscled through to remove the old fill valve, this quirk became tricky when it was time to install the new one. With Erick’s support, she sawed the wings off the plastic nut to make installation easier.
The successful install
Erick also advised her on adjusting the size of her new fill valve so that it was the appropriate size for her toilet. They clipped the new tube in, flushed to test it, and confirmed that it was filling to the right water level. As a bonus, Erick provided some advice on how to gently replace the flapper when it came time for a new one.
“You did a great job!” Erick said.
“Thank you for your help, oh my goodness!” Annemarie replied. “I really liked using the Frontdoor app.”
What is a toilet fill valve anyway?
The fill valve is the part of your toilet that controls how much water flows into the tank after each flush. It’s the tall, skinny part inside the tank—usually on the left side—with a long tube and a float attached to it (the float rises with the water level to shut the valve off when the tank is full).
When a fill valve starts to fail, you might hear the toilet constantly running, notice a slow refill, or even see water leaking. Thankfully, like replacing the handle, it's a common and fixable issue.
How to replace a toilet fill valve, step-by-step
Replacing your toilet fill valve is not replacing the entire toilet. But it can still feel confusing to navigate the water flow and parts of the tank. Here’s how to approach your replacement:
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1
Turn off the water supply
Turn off the water supply. Find the shutoff valve near the base of the toilet and twist it clockwise to stop the flow.
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2
Flush the toilet
This empties most of the water from the tank.
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3
Drain the rest
Place a bowl under the tank where the water supply line connects. Unscrew the plastic nut holding the supply line to the tank to drain the remaining water.
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4
Remove the old fill valve
Depending on your toilet model, you may need to twist the valve loose from inside the tank or unscrew a fastener underneath. Once it’s loose, lift the fill valve straight out and set it aside. You may also need to detach a small hose from the overflow pipe.
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5
Install the new valve
Before installing, adjust the height of the new fill valve so the top sits about an inch above the overflow pipe in your tank. Then insert the valve into the same opening, making sure the rubber washer inside the tank sits flat for a proper seal. Secure it in place by tightening the locknut or fastener as directed.
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6
Reconnect the water supply line
Secure it tightly at the bottom of the tank.
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7
Turn the water back on and test
Open the shutoff valve to restore water flow. Let the tank fill, then flush a couple of times. Watch and listen for any leaks at the base or inside the tank. If everything sounds and looks good, you’re all set!
Get ready for your future fixes with Frontdoor®
Some home fixes feel too small to call in a Pro for but too tricky to tackle alone. As Annemarie and Erick discovered, with the right guidance, you’re capable of more home maintenance than you think. When you become a Frontdoor member, there’s no end to the home repair advice you can phone an Expert for.
From your plumbing to your HVAC system, Frontdoor Experts are just a tap away, ready to help you feel confident enough to make the fix yourself.
Download the Frontdoor app today and get help in real time, right when you need it. And make sure to check out the Frontdoor Blog for even more step-by-step guides, pro tips, and plenty more real-life stories from homeowners just like you.
What does the Frontdoor app offer?
Frontdoor is the one-stop home repair and maintenance app that lets you video chat with home repair Experts in real-time. Frontdoor offers different membership plans to choose from based on your home repair needs and budget. Simply download the app to chat with an Expert and find the plan that’s right for you.
What is a video chat?
- Talk to a plumbing, electrical, appliance repair, HVAC, or handyman Expert in real-time and show them your issue through video.
- The Expert will help you diagnose the issue, sometimes help you fix it right then and there, or let you know which parts are needed for the repair and where to get them. After your video chat session, your Expert will send you some helpful notes in the app to recap next steps and will often include links to the parts you need.
- Your Expert will also send you a list of qualified, local Pros should you need in-home service after your video chat session.
- It’s the easiest way to get the home repair help you need in real-time from Experts who have an average of 20 years of experience in their field.
I signed up with Frontdoor. How do I get more video chat sessions?
To get more video chat sessions as a Frontdoor member, you can easily upgrade to Frontdoor Unlimited on the home screen of the app.
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