When you flush your toilet bowl the toilet tank should refill within a short amount of time unless there is something wrong. If your toilet fills slowly, chances are you will need to replace the toilet fill valve. You also will want to make sure that the water supply valve to the toilet bowl is fully open. You can open the toilet fill valve by turning the handle to the left which is counter-clockwise.
The toilet fill valve is located inside of the toilet bowl tank. You can replace your existing toilet valve with a replacement toilet fill valve that is sold online, at local hardware stores or even big box stores like Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes. There are also many brands of toilet fill valves to choose from. The most popular brand names of replacement toilet repair parts you will find for sale in these stores are Korky and Fluidmaster. Both Fluidmaster and Korky have been trusted names in the toilet repair industry for many years. The toilet fill valve will cost you between $5 – $15.99 depending on the brand and where you buy the toilet valve from.
When you replace the toilet fill valve, its also a very good idea to also replace the toilet supply line as well. This is the line that connects the toilet fill valve to the water supply valve. The toilet supply can be bought at the same place that you buy the toilet fill valve. The toilet supply line will cost you between $4 -$12.00 depending on what type you buy. Toilet supply lines come in plastic, metal and also a flexible braided hose style.
To replace your toilet fill valve you will first want to shut the water off to the toilet. You can do this by shutting the angle stop below the toilet tank or by shutting the main water supply to your house if you do not have a shut off valve to the toilet in the bathroom. This is sometimes the case in older homes, although if there is a basement, be sure to check for isolation valves that can shut the water supply off to the toilet or the entire bathroom. Once the water s off to the toilet, you now will want to loosen the toilet supply line. You will want to loosen and disconnect both ends of the toilet supply line. One end of the toilet supply line is connected to the toilet supply valve and the other end is connected to the water supply valve or line. Now you will want to take an open end wrench or adjustable wrench disconnect the toilet supply line.
Once the toilet supply line is removed you will want to take a pair of channel lock pliers and remove the toilet fill valve mounting nut on the bottom of the tank. You first will want to remove the toilet bowl tank lid and place it in a safe place so it will not break or get damaged while you are repairing the toilet bowl. It will be easier if you remove the tank lid first and use one hand to hold the fill valve with one hand while removing the mounting nut with the pliers with the other hand.
Now you will want to take your new fill valve and stick it into the whole in the tank and then you will want to tighten down the mounting nut. Next you will want to take your new toilet supply line and connect both sides. One side will connect to the toilet fill valve and the other side will connect to the water supply valve. If you have a fill tube you will want to reconnect that as well. Once you have reconnected the toilet supply line and the fill valve mounting nut is tight you can turn the water back on and check for leaks in your fill valve and water supply connections. If you have no leaks you will want to flush the toilet and watch how fast your toilet now fills with your new fill valve.