Toilet flush valve unit is often made of plastic or metal. This unit is placed in the middle of the toilet tank. This is responsible for controlling the flow of water that pours into the bowl and completes the flushing process. The unit consists of a long overflow tube that is attached to the valve seat.
The valve seat is placed at the wide opening at the bottom of the tank. There is a flapper in the unit as well that stops the water flow until a flush is processed. In this way, the whole unit completes a cycle of operation to execute a successful flushing process.
Indications of a Faulty Toilet Flush Valve Unit:
There are some indications of any problem that happens to manmade things. If you are a good observer, you will certainly find the reason behind the malfunctioning of any equipment. However, this requires some background knowledge about the very item that you are facing an issue with.
Here we are discussing the replacement of a flush valve. But before going on that we should quickly know some of the indications that impose the replacement.
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The biggest indication of a malfunctioning flush valve is the continuation of the water even after the flushing process has ended. There can be the following possible issues in the valve unit:
- The flapper may not be able to provide a proper seal.
- The valve seat is damaged, and the grip of the flapper is not enough to control the water.
- The valve itself is damaged.
Although it is not an easy process to replace the flush valve, you can do it with the help of background knowledge. This guide will take you through the process. Before moving on to the process, let us list down the material and required tools.
Necessary Tools:
- Hacksaw
- Standard size screwdriver
- Sponge and bucket
- Channel lock-pliers
- Adjustable wrench
Required Material:
- New flush valve
- Toilet tank bolts
- Rings and washers if needed
- Water supply line if needed
Replacement Process Of a Toilet Flush Valve:
The following set of instructions will take you through the step-by-step process of replacing the flush valve in a toilet tank. But make sure to verify the list of tools and materials.
Shut Off The Water Supply:
Begin the process by shutting off the water supply of the toilet. This is achieved by closing the fixture shut-off valve located on the tailpiece of the toilet fill valve. This fixture shut-off valve is normally situated at the bottom left of the tank.
If you are unable to find this, or this valve does not shut the water supply off completely, or it may not be installed, you will need to do the following:
- Shut off the water from the main supply of the house.
- Flush the toilet and remove the toilet lid. Bail out all the water in the tank with the help of a sponge.
After you have controlled the flow of the inlet supply, you may move on to the next step.
Remove The Toilet Tank By Unscrewing The Bolts:
The toilet tank is connected to the bottom with the help of bolts held together by the nuts. You should start from the bottom and unscrew the nuts with the help of a wrench. Meanwhile, you will need to hold the tank with the help of a screwdriver. If the corroded nuts do not come off easily, you may need to cut the bolts with the help of a hacksaw. But be careful with the cutting angles while using a hacksaw.
There is another set of nuts that are holding the bolts onto the tank. These nuts need to be removed as well. Do the same if the nuts are not being removed easily. After this, lift the tank carefully and separate it from the bowl. Place the tank on a suitable surface carefully.
Remove The Old Flush Valve:
There is a large foam gasket that covers the mounting nut that is placed on the tailpiece of the flush valve. Remove this mounting nut with the help of a channel lock-plier. With the bolts already removed, there is no holding to the flush valve. It is now time to remove the flush valve from the tank. Make sure to clean the tank before the replacement of hardware.
Install The New Flush Valve:
The following steps will take you to the installation of the flush valve.
- Place a washer on the tailpiece of the flush valve.
- Insert the valve from inside and through the opening at the bottom.
- Place the mounting nut on the tailpiece of the valve and tighten it using a channel lock-plier.
- Place the gasket to work as a shock absorber.
New Tank Bolt Installation:
Install new tank bolts through the opening of the toilet tank. Place rubber washers on the heads of each bolt as well as on the bottom of the tank. Place the nuts, tighten them and fix the toilet tank again with the bowl. The unit is assembled again with a newly installed flush valve. Now turn off the water supply and check for any leakage. Repeat at least four to five sessions of flushing before you finally decide to wind things up.
Conclusion:
Toilet flush valve plays such an important role in a proper flushing operation. These valves work like a unit in synchronization with different parts of the toilet tanks. If the flush valve does not work properly, you will need to replace it, but how would you know that a replacement is needed? And how would you replace the valve? We expect after reading the article, all of the questions related to the replacement of a flush valve will be answered unanimously.
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