Nothing seems as hard as fixing a leaking toilet tank, but that’s if you don’t know the particular place it’s leaking from. Immediately you detect the spot where it’s faulty, you will find easy to fix a leaking toilet tank.
It could be trickling water to the ground or from the tank, but by fixing a new flush control or fill valve, you will get the problem solved. With that said, let’s see the best ways on how to fix a leaking toilet tank.
Major Reasons for a Leaky Toilet Tank
There are many reasons a toilet tank leaks. These include:
- Loose Fill valve
- Worn out Fill valve
- Leaky Flapper
- Loose or worn out Gaskets
- Crack Toilet tank
Are any of these your toilet problems? Has water been dropping because of the above causes? Then you don’t have to worry as we will show you how to fix leaks in toilet tanks.
How to Fix a Leaking Toilet Tank
Below are the steps to enable you to repair a leaking toilet tank.
Method 1. Fixing a loose fill valve
Water used in flushing toilet comes through from the fill valve, which is beneath the toilet tank. It stays tight to the tank with a big plastic screw and plastic washer, which forms a closure that prevents leakages.
In your toolbox should be a set of flexible pliers sufficiently broad for the screw beneath the toilet tank, and then follow these steps to replace a fill valve
- First, you have to close off the inflow of water to the tank by turning the valve at the main water tank pipe to avoid spilling water. Then remove the toilet tank cover and pull the flush handle to discard all the water in the tank. Pull the flapper to expel the remaining water so that when you detach the fill valve, there won’t be spillage.
- Now locate the fill valve at the left-hand side of the tank with a floating object. This component helps to regulate the inflow and shut off the water.
- Clench the bottom of the flush handle to avoid turning around. Then fasten the plastic lock that lies beneath the tank. You’ll find two screws at this junction; the water inflow pipe screw and that of the fill valve. Use little force to fasten, so you don’t crack or damage the plastic latches.
- Test the junction for leakage by turning the inflow valve to let in water. If water is still dropping, then it will require total replacement of the fill valve cabinet or the plastic washer or screw.
Method 2. Changing a worn out fill valve
In the case that leaks still occur after you have tightened the screws, you may need to fix in a new fill valve. Follow these steps to replace the Fill valve.
Step 1: Close the Water Inflow and Expel Remaining Water From the Tank
Spin the regulator that controls the supply of water into the tank and toilet bowl during flushing. Spin the valve so that it crosses a T with the supply pipe. Then expel the water by flushing the toilet and scooping out the little water with a container.
Step 2: Detach the Pipe that Provides Water at the Back of the Tank
A pipe runs just under the tank at the location of the fill valve intersection that supplies water to the tank. Detach this pipe with a twister wrench by turning it anti-clockwise until it become loose. Then remove the pipe, which might be an L-shaped pipe or short pipe fixed at the control valve junction.
Loosen the screw that fastens the fill valve beneath the tank. You’ll find this screw just beneath the tank at the point the fill valve attaches to the tank. Take a set of pliers to unscrew and take out the bolt. Apply extreme care as this screw is close to the control pipe.
Step 3: Pull Out the Faulty Fill Valve from Inside the Valve
Remove the cover of the toilet tank and drag the loosened fill valve out from inside the tank. Make sure you have expelled all particles of water in it before detaching to avoid water spillage on the ground.
Step 4: Install the New Fill Valve
Attach the current fill valve into the hole from where you pulled out the faulty one and tighten the screw that holds it in place. Then fix the refill duct into the fill valve and arrange it on top of the surge pipe. Adhere to the manual procedures of how to fix a leaking toilet tank flapper as it entails the important guide.
Connect the control pipe that provides water to the tank and test run the new attachment. Pull the flush handle and ensure that it doesn’t flood or spill. If there are still difficulties in function, invite the expert to check it. If not, then you know that the leaky fill valve has been repaired.
Method 3. Repairing the leaky flapper
To fix a leaking flapper do the following
Step 1: Check If the Position of the Flapper Regulator is Right
The Flapper is located beneath the tank. This component stops water from seeping into the toilet bowl unless you pull the flush handle.
Drop some trickles of colored fluid in the tank and observe for a while. Once the colored liquid seeps into the bowl without flushing toilet, it indicates a leaking flapper. It’s always messy when a flapper is faulty in a compact toilet for small space.
Step 2: Cut the Inflow of Water with the Control Valve
Stop the inflow of water by shutting the control valve at the supply pipe under the tank. Then remove the water in the tank by flushing the toilet and scooping out the remaining water with a cup.
Check if the flapper is still flexible. If it’s not, then you should get a new one.
Fix in New Flapper
Take out the faulty flapper by detaching the double loop (one on top of each tab connected to the overflow tube).
Then disconnect the thread that binds it to the flush handle, pull out the flapper, and replace it with the new one.
Now reconnect the thread and flush to check.
Method 4. Fixing a faulty gaskets
Step 1: Cut the Inflow of Water and Expel Water from the Tank
Stop the inflow of water by shutting the control valve at the supply pipe under the tank. Then remove the water in the tank by flushing the toilet and scooping out the remaining water with a cup.
Step 2: Find the Nuts that Binds the Toilet Tank and Bowl
You’ll find 3 nuts that secure the flapper just at the underside of the tank, and these nuts have plastic washers under them. Fasten these nuts with a screwdriver and a flexible wrench. Clasp the nuts with the screwdriver and fasten with the wrench by turning in a circular direction.
After fastening the nuts, the leaking water from the bottom of the tank will cease.
Step 3: Test for Leakage
Release the flow of water into the tank and observe the bottom for a while. If water still drips, you should get new nuts, but if it doesn’t, that means the gasket is in working order.
Method 5. Replace the faulty gaskets
If it still leaks after tightening the nuts, you will need to replace the gaskets. Unscrew the nuts and clean them with crystal vinegar and scrub.
Then mount the new gasket and screw in the cleaned nuts by rotating the wrench to tighten properly.
Method 6. Fixing a crack toilet Tank to stop leaks
It may be challenging to repair a crack that causes leaks in the toilet. You can buy any porcelain toolkit for the repair.
You can use the ones with crystal fiber net on the inner part of the tank. They all make use of resin. These are the steps.
- Buy the porcelain toolkit
- Stop the water supply and remove water from the tank by flushing toilet
- Dry the body of the tank before you start fixing. You may use a cloth to dry or a hairdryer to fasten the drying. After that, ensure the procedures on the toolkit to mend the crack.
- Give it time like 2-3hours for the mend to patch. Then release the water supply to fill the tank.
Final Word
It is very frustrating when our toilet tank drips water and messes the bathroom floor up, especially in a compact toilet for small space. So it’s essential to know how to fix a leaking toilet flapper if you’re facing such problem. When such problem occurs, follow this step by step guideline
- Always remember to shut off the supply of water before anything.
- Handle the cover of the tank with care because it’s fragile and can easily break.
- After each repair, turn on the water supply and check if it leaks
- Fix or replace faulty equipment if you notice any leaks.
If you have any other questions or find anything confusing, you can kindly leave a comment below.