A leaking toilet can be an absolute pain in the neck, leading to a water leak that increases in water bills, damage to surrounding walls or floors and even accidents like slipping over thanks to the pool of water. Thankfully, not every leaking toilet will require the expertise of a plumber or plumbing contractor. If you’re ready for a little DIY when it comes to your Sydney plumbing why not try replacing your toilet flush valve yourself?
Give it a crack. If you can’t do it, call a professional plumber.
Wondering how perform a toilet flush valve replacement? This is how!
Step One: Which Valve?
Before you start going at your toilet and hammer and tongs you need to know which of the flush valves is the cause of all the trouble. In your toilet there are two valves: the inlet valve and the outlet valve. To find out which one’s at the root of the problem take the lid off your cistern and have a look at the water level. If the water is going over the overflow pipe then the problem is with your inlet valve, if the water is below the overflow pipe then the outlet valve is the problem. The level of water is a good indicator of what is going on inside your toilet to cause the water leak.
Step Two: Fixing the Problem
Depending on which valve is at fault your actions will be different. You’ve gotta find out… is it the:
Outlet Valve: If it’s your outlet valve, the seating washer will be the part that needs to be replaced. To do that lift and twist the outlet valve out and you’ll find the seating washer on the bottom. Grab a flat screwdriver and use it to remove the split pin that holds the washer in place then you can simply pull the washer off. Keep a hold of the washer and take it to your local hardware store so you can be certain that you get the right one to replace it. All you need to do now is slip it back over your outlet valve, put the split pin back and pop it all back into your cistern taking care to match your half and full flush buttons on your toilet tank up correctly. This flush valve assembly should be pretty straight forward.
Or is it the:
Inlet Valve: The first thing you need to do if the inlet valve is the culprit is to unscrew the water connector or water supply tube from the bottom of the inlet valve so you can safely remove the valve via the top of the cistern, along with the step washer as well. Make a note of the make and manufacture of your inlet valve and head over to your local hardware store for a replacement. Slip you new inlet valve into the cistern, taking care to make sure the step washer sits nicely as well. Now you can attach your water connector or water supply tube back up and you’re ready to go.
When to call a professional plumber
Although the above steps are a reliable solution most of the time, thats not to say that things can’t go wrong, or need the intervention of a licensed plumber. Water waste is on the top of Sydney residents minds and a leaking toilet can be the one of the biggest reasons to cause excess water from being used and then in turn, causing damage. If you have a toilet leak that seems to be more than just a simple leak (like a rubber seal replacement of a faulty valve), or it is not visible as to where it is coming from, our team of professional plumbers in Sydney can carry out leak detection and resolve the toilet leak issue right away.
Call GF James Plumbing today on 02 9640 1099 – licenced trade plumbers and experts on plumbing repair services for home and business.
If you’d like more DIY Plumbing tips have a read of How to Stop Your Toilet from Running – Sydney Plumbing Handbook.
