How to Remove & Install a Toilet Fill Valve: A Step-by-Step Guide

Fix a leaking toilet in a snap with this simple DIY repair

Co-authored by James Schuelke and Cheyenne Main

Last Updated: June 25, 2024 Fact Checked

A faulty toilet fill valve can cause your toilet to run all the time, fill the tank slower than usual, or leak water from the tank. Luckily, the fill valve can be cheap and easy to replace yourself. All you need to do is turn off the water to the toilet, remove the old valve, and insert the new one. To keep your toilet working properly, aim to replace the fill valve about every 5 years. Read on to learn how to change out the fill valve in your toilet and get it working correctly again in no time.

Changing a Toilet Fill Valve

Turn off the water supply valve and flush the toilet to empty the tank.
Unscrew the hose under the tank and remove the broken fill valve.
Purchase a new fill valve that matches your old valve.
Insert the valve into the hole in the tank and adjust its height.
Slide any washers onto the valve stem and screw on the nut.
Reconnect the water supply line and turn on the water.

1

Empty the toilet tank.

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Turn off the water supply valve and flush the toilet. Find the water valve behind and below the toilet tank and turn it clockwise. Professional plumber James Schuelke says the best way to drain the tank is to flush the toilet and then use a wet vacuum to remove the small amount of water sitting at the bottom of the tank.
- If you don’t have a wet vacuum, use a sponge, towel, or turkey baster.
- The water valve is usually located where the water pipe comes out of the wall. The hose coming out of the valve attaches to the bottom of the toilet tank.
- When you flush the toilet, the water flows from the tank into the bowl. Since the water valve is off, no water will flow back into the tank.
EXPERT TIP

James Schuelke
Professional Plumber
James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest.

James Schuelke
Professional Plumber

It's a good idea to turn off your main water valve, as well. Find the main water shut-off valve on the outside of your home and turn it off. Then, go around your property and turn on various fixtures to confirm that they're off, but it will also drain off residual water that's inside the system. Doing this will help you avoid water damage due to a flood.

2

Remove the old toilet fill valve.

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Unscrew the hose under the tank and remove the fill valve. Remove the tank lid and set it on a towel. The toilet fill valve is inside the tank, usually off to one side. Loosen the nut on the bottom of the tank under the fill valve by turning it counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench or pliers. Drain the hose into a plastic bin. Unscrew and pull the old valve assembly out of the tank.^{[1]
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- Put the plastic bucket or bin under the nut to collect any dripping water. Place the old fill valve inside the bin to collect any water that leaks out after you pull it out of the tank.
- In newer toilets, the fill valve is the plastic column that includes the float and the on-off lever for filling. In older toilets, the float is a separate piece but is connected to the top of the fill valve.
- The fill valve also has a small refill tube attached to it that drains into the overflow pipe.

3

Purchase a new toilet fill valve.

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Buy a new fill valve that’s the same type as the old one. Go to your local hardware store and purchase a new toilet fill valve that matches your old one. Most new toilet fill valves are universal, meaning they will fit in almost any toilet. Check your toilet’s manufacturer to see what kind of fill valve it uses.^{[2]
X
Research source} Older models might have one of these fill valves:
- Plunger or piston fill valves: These have a plastic or brass cup with a rubber lip that separates two chambers inside the valve.^{[3]
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  U.S. Department of Energy
  Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency
  
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- Diaphragm fill valves: Diaphragm valves have a rubber disk that separates the two chambers and opens and closes to control the water flow.^{[4]
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  U.S. Department of Energy
  Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency
  
  Go to source}
- Float-cup (ballcock) fill valves: This type of valve uses a plastic cup or ball filled with air to regulate how much water fills the tank.^{[5]
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- Floatless fill valves: These don’t have a seal or ball—instead, floatless valves have a pressure-sensing device that controls the flow of the water.^{[6]
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4

Insert the new fill valve into the toilet and adjust its height.

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Place the fill valve stem into the hole at the bottom of the tank. Remove the new toilet fill valve from its packaging and read the directions it comes with. Adjust the height of the valve so that the top sits 1 in (2.5 cm) below the top of the overflow pipe. Insert the small refill tube into the overflow pipe.^{[7]
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- Most kits include a clip that holds the refill tube and attaches to the top of the overflow pipe. This prevents the tube from dipping below the water line and siphoning the water in the tank.
- If the old valve is the same model as the new one and its base is in good condition, you may not need to remove the old valve.
- Just pull up on the lock ring at the bottom, slide it off the base, then remove the base on the new valve and attach the tube to the old base.

5

Screw on the nut under the tank.

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Slide any included washers onto the fill valve stem and attach the nut. Consult your kit’s instructions to see how many washers to attach onto the fill valve inside and outside of the tank. Slide the fill valve through the hole in the bottom of the tank, push it down slightly, and screw any washers and the included nut onto the valve’s stem.^{[8]
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- Washers on the inside and outside of the tank ensure that there is a water-tight seal around this connection point.
- Make sure the nut is only finger-tight. Tightening the nut on the bottom of the fill valve with a wrench or pliers could crack the toilet tank or the valve stem.

6

Reconnect the supply line and turn on the water.

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Screw the hose onto the valve stem and turn on the water supply valve. Once the replacement fill valve is in place, it's time to get the water flowing again. Attach the supply line to the bottom of the new fill valve and tighten it with a wrench. Turn on the water by turning the water supply valve counter clockwise until it stops rotating.^{[9]
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Research source} Check all your connections for leaks
- Be careful not to overtighten the supply line, or the nut could crack and the connection will leak.
- If you see any leaks, immediately turn the water off at the supply valve. Tighten the leaking connections. If the connection still leaks, it may need to be reinstalled or replaced.
- When you turn the water on, the tank will start filling right away.
EXPERT TIP

James Schuelke
Professional Plumber
James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest.

James Schuelke
Professional Plumber

Be very cautious as you turn the water back on. Once the valve is on, turn the main water supply on very slowly, and have a second person go into the bathroom and make sure there are no leaks as you regenerate the water system.

7

Adjust the water level as needed.

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Adjust the float on the new fill valve. Adjust the float on your new toilet fill valve so that the water is 1 in (2.5 cm) below the top of the overflow pipe.^{[10]
X
Research source} The float's location can be adjusted with a clip on its side, a set screw at the top of the float shaft, or by adjusting a screw at the top of fill valve where the float attaches.^{[11]
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- Look at the directions for your new toilet fill valve for exact directions for float adjustment.
- Positioning the float 1 in (2.5 cm) below the overflow pipe will ensure that it shuts off the water before it gets high enough to flow over the top of the pipe.

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Tips

Replace your fill valve every 5 years as part of your regular toilet maintenance.^{[12]
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If the fill valve is malfunctioning on an older 3.5-gallon (13.25-liter) flush toilet, consider replacing the toilet with a 1.5-gallon (5.67-liter) model. It will easily pay for itself in water savings!

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It’s best to replace the flapper at the same time you replace the fill valve.

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