Look for areas in your bathroom where water has pooled or anywhere you have noticed a slight dripping, such as behind the toilet. Check you supply valve and hose for corrosion. If they appear to have any corrosion, it may be time to replace one or both. A relatively small expense now could save you from spending more money in the future.
Fixing any issue requires three simple steps. We’ll use that method to replace leaky valves on your toilet.
The three simple steps are:
1. Identify the leaky valve causing the issue.
2. Create a list of tools and supplies needed.
3. Replace the parts.
While these simple steps sound easy, more goes into each step.
Tools Needed
If you’re replacing both the supply valve and the hose, you’ll likely need these tools.
-2 adjustable open-end wrenches, sometimes called a crescent wrench
-1 rib joint plier, also called a tongue and groove plier
-1 bucket to collect draining water
The supplies needed will vary based on what you’re replacing. For our example, we’ll replace the hose and the supply valve.
We’re going to use BrassCraft Compression Angle Stop and toilet tank hose. Buying parts similar to what you’re removing is best, but always measure just to be sure.
Replacing the Parts
1. Shut off the main water supply to the house. If you don’t know where this valve is located, you’ll need to search for it. If you have a basement or crawl space, it may be located on a wall near the front of the house. If you are on a slab foundation, check near the water heater or in the garage, look for where the water is entering your house and you’ll find the valve. Still can’t find the valve? Look outside near the street in a covered box buried in the ground. Still can’t find the valve? Calling a local plumber or checking your home inspection report may be the next best step.
2. Now that the water supply to the house has been shut off, turn on the cold water in the bathroom sink. This will relieve some of the water pressure so that when you remove the valve, the amount of water draining is minimal.
3. Remove the toilet’s tank lid. Flush the toilet to drain the water from the tank.
4. Place your bucket under the supply valve.
5. Prepare your new valve by removing it from the box. Remove the nuts from the valve and turn the valve off for quick installation.
6. Take your rib joint plier and remove the hose from the toilet tank.
7. Place one open-end adjustable wrench on the supply valve and the other on the compression nut. Hold the water supply valve in place and loosen the nut with the second wrench. Once loose, turn the compression nut by hand and remove the water supply valve. Expect water to drain out of the pipe.
8. Quickly place on the new valve. Inspect the existing compression ring for damage. Typically, the ring and nut do not need to be replaced but this will vary by project.
9. Align the new valve vertically and tighten the compression nut onto the supply valve. Then placeone open-end adjustable wrench on the compression nut and the other on the supply valve. Tighten the compression nut. Be careful not to damage the valve, but the nut must be tight or it will leak. Once the nut is tight do not force the supply valve into a vertical position as this could cause damage to the water pipe joint behind the wall.
10. Now that the water supply valve is in place, take the toilet tank hose to the water supply valve and tighten it carefully.
11. Tighten the hose to the toilet shank a quarter turn past hand tight.
12. Keep the water supply valve in the off position and turn on the water main to the house.
13. Return to the toilet and check for any leaks near the water valve connection.
14. If there are no leaks, you can turn on the water supply valve.
15. The toilet tank will begin to fill, and you can inspect the valve and hose connections for any leaks.
16. Once the toilet tank is full, you can put back the toilet tank lid and the task is complete.