How do you fix a leaking shut off valve for a toilet?

Answer 1

You are talking about the chrome valve coming out of the wall with the 3/8" tube going to the tank, right?

Where is it leaking? If you turn off the water main in your house, and then drain the system, you can unscrew the nut on the pressure side of the valve which has 1/2" tubing going into it. Next you can put Teflon tape around where the copper or plastic tubing goes into the valve (there should be a wedding band shaped piece of brass or plastic called a ferule at this point). Just wrap it so that if you have the end of the pipe facing you, you go around clockwise. then retighten the nut. If it's on the 3/8" plastic or chrome tubing going to the tank, you can do the same thing.

If this doesn't help, you'll need a pair of tubing cutters and a new ferule. Cut off the water main, drain the system again and cut the tubing back just far enough to get the tubing cutters on past the ferule. Keep the nut past the ferule and put the new ferule on. Using a pair of crescent wrenches, tighten the nut while holding the valve. Make sure you tighten it until you hear it sqeak one time if you're using Copper. If the tubing is plastic, don't over tighten it.

Answer 2

By shut off valve you mean the valve on the wall, right? Not the valve in the toilet itself?

You need to turn off the water at the main valve, either in your house or at the water meter. Double check to make sure you have the water off by turning on a couple of faucets. Once this is done, you can take the valve apart and replace the the washer, packing, or whatever needs to be replaced, including the whole valve if that is necessary. Make sure things are tight when you are done and turn the water back on. Good luck.

Answer 3

After you have been to the hardware store and purchased a new shut off valve for a toilet (instructions should be included in the package). Replace the shut off valve by turning the water off to the house (there should be a shut off under the house, if not turn it off from the street). If no instructions are included, you remove the existing shut of valve and replace it with the new one.
I hope this will help you.

Answer 4

First off, rejoice! Toilets are the simplest of all home repairs- there is NOTHING that can't be fixed by an 85 y/o blind granny.

A- if it's the rubber plug that has to lift to empty the tank, just bend the metal arm extending from the toilet handle down to give your chain enough slack to let the stopper seat/seal properly.

B- If it's leaking water from the hose that delivers the water to the tank, you will probably need to replace the gasket and/or hose (simple and cheap fix). The only tool that you'll need is a wrench.

C- If it's something other than these two problems, any do-it-yourself store can give you simple instructions to repair it yourself (cheaply).

Good luck.

Answer 5

When you say "shut off valve"... Are you referring to the shut-off valve on the water supply line OUTSIDE of the water closet?... Or one of the valves INSIDE of the water closet?...

Here is a pretty cool link for reference:
http://www.toiletology.com/anatomy.shtml

I am thinking you are probably talking about the supply line valve outside of the toilet... which is commonly a type of "gate valve"... and notorious for eventually leaking... especially if left in a "transitional" position... That is... not COMPLETELY open... or COMPLETELY closed... Because of this... I prefer a type of "ball valve"... wherever I can...

Anyway... back to your situation...
I suspect your best solution is to just replace the valve...
[no matter which valve it is]...
If it is the supply line valve outside the water closet... you must first turn the water off... somewhere "up stream" from the valve you want to replace...

Feel free to rattle my cage anytime to compare notes etc...
I am not an expert... but I'd be happy to share my mistakes with you!...
Greg Cochran
[e-mail]
,,
U

Answer 6

Your question isn't clear as to whether you mean the internal valve inside the toilet tank or the one at the wall for the water supply to the toilet.

In either case, both of these of these items are relatively cheap....and they are cheap for a reason. They don't last. Exam both of them closely and then go to your local Home Depot or other hardware store and buy replacements.

My experience with modern plumbing is that it is mad to last less than ten years. Just buy new, and replace the old.

Answer 7

Do you have a ballcock in your toilet? Look in the tank. If you ahve a big floating hollow ball resting on the top of the water that is a ballcock, and old technology. Go to Lowes or home depot, they have two other different devices you can replace a ballcock with (I know that name sounds funny) and if you use any one of these 2 devices you will never have this problem again.

Answer 8

Take out the former one. that's uncomplicated it basically slides up the over bypass tube bypass to a ironmongery shop and get a alternative ball valve (Ballcock) they're only a pair money.slide the recent one on! Take the former one once you bypass to get the recent one.

Answer 9

Just replace it,you can buy the whole unit at Lowe's and it's pretty simple to change it out!

Answer 10

there is only two ways I know to fix the promblem that is replace or new rubber seal