A Simple Guide to Fixing Your Leaking Toilet Fill Valve

Is your toilet leaking from tank to bowl? 

We get it, there’s nothing worse. That disturbing trickling sound is enough to drive anyone up the wall. 

Unfortunately, leaky toilets are one of the most common plumbing issues in Perth. 

Knowing what’s wrong and how to fix it doesn’t just stop you from going crazy, it also saves your water bill. 

Here’s everything you need to know about how to fix a leaky fill valve in your toilet. 

Why is my toilet leaking from tank to bowl?

There are a couple of ways toilets manage to cause chaos by continuously leaking and wasting precious water. Here are six potential reasons:

1. Your flapper might be broken 

What is a flapper? It’s the device that sits in your toilet tank and allows water to drain into the toilet bowl. They can easily wear down over time and become ineffective at their job. As such, this is one of the most common causes of toilets leaking.

2. Leaky flush valve

If your flapper has been fixed or replaced and your toilet is still leaking you might have an issue with your flush valve. The flush valve facilitates the water as it makes its way from the tank to the bowl to actually do the “flushing”. A leaky flush valve can result in water trickling down for long after you’ve flushed. 

3. Leaky fill valve 

Another common cause of a leaky toilet is problems with the fill valve. The fill valve (unsurprisingly) is the connection that fills the tank from your supply line. A leaky fill valve can result in water spilling onto the floor and causing small puddles to build up.

You’ll recognise this issue by the sound it makes (like the toilet is constantly running) – even if you haven’t flushed at all recently. One simple method for assessing whether your leaky toilet is being caused by your fill valve is by pouring some food colouring into your toilet tank to see if the water in your bowl turns the same colour.

4. Damaged seal

Damage to the watertight seal at the base of your toilet can be another problem causing your leaky toilet. If your leaks are occurring on the ground, then the wax seal may have a hole in it or have been worn out. To fix this issue, the toilet must be completely removed, so hiring a professional plumber in Perth is highly advisable.

5. You’ve got a leak in your sewer line

Often the worst-case scenario is that your leaky toilet is a result of a leak in your sewer line. If you suspect this may be the case, you must get in contact with the team at No Probs Plumbing and Electrical. This sort of leak can turn into a much larger issue, so you’ll want to act quickly to avoid any extensive damage to your property. 

6. Crack in your toilet base or tank

If your leak is occurring as a result of a crack in your toilet bowl or tank, that could mean that water is leaking directly into your floor. This water leakage has the potential to cause significant water damage to your wood, tiles, and potentially subfloor beneath your toilet. This is another reason why it’s essential to have a specialist come to analyse the problem, as something as small as a little leak could turn into a much larger issue if left unattended. 

Why you should fix your leaky toilet ASAP

A leaking toilet isn’t just a pain every time you have to fiddle with it to get it to stop. There are some real adverse effects of leaving it unfixed. Here’s why you should get this toilet problem fixed ASAP:

• Increase in water bills. A leaking toilet tank can cost you big time, especially if it’s leaking constantly.
• Toilet leaks cause large amounts of water to be wasted. A visibly leaking toilet could waste more than 60,000 litres of water in a year.
• Water wastage places an unnecessary burden on the environment.
• The water leakage can also create mould or attract pests, potentially putting you and your loved ones at risk.
• If your water leak is spilling gradually onto your bathroom floor or affecting your walls, mould can grow undetected. You’re unlikely to discover the situation until it has grown into an expensive issue.

Solutions! how to fix a leaky fill valve in your toilet

Leaking toilet fill valves can easily be fixed by following the following steps:

• Grab some pliers and put some rubber gloves on
• Turn off the water supply line
• Open up the toilet lid
• Flush the remaining water in the tank until you can access the fill valve on the inside
• Using one hand, secure the fill valve inside the tank, and with your other hand tighten the bolt using the pliers

Fixing flappers, Flush valves, and Cracks

If your toilet is suffering from a dodgy flapper, this can easily be replaced with a like-for-like contraption.

If your issue is more complex, such as a leaky flush valve, or a sewer problem, your best bet is to call in the experts at No Probs Plumbing and Electrical. These issues will demand expert attention to get them fixed properly.

Fix your toilet leak today

No matter if you have a leaky fill or flush valve, or an issue with the wax sealing, water supply, cracks, or worse a sewage leak, leaving a leaky toilet to magically “fix itself” is not a wise decision.

Even tiny toilet leaks can turn into major plumbing problems for your home and your family’s health.

Calling the leaky toilet plumbers at No Probs Plumbing and Electrical will give you the peace of mind that you need that this issue is being handled by experienced professionals. Don’t wait any longer and call us on (08) 9315 5545 today.