Fluidmaster toilet fill valve. Change seal or whole valve

[walterjay]

Well, it happens quite a bit. The number 1 plumbing repair of the service industry is a toilet fill valve \ flapper failure. Normally, in the past if I got called for this condition, I would first verify either or, then replace both....... do you agree @walterjay

Yep

 

[PWMDMD]

If you put those chlorine tablets in your fill tank it makes everything in there die faster.

My wife was using an in the tank cleaner in the hall bathroom because the teen boys use it and they are gross. The toilet is an American Standard and only 4 years old and recently the tank started leaking into the bowl, I suspect due to the chlorine tabs but I was annoyed because there are few different versions of the flush valve including one revised version, because there was too much lateral play in valve top and it doesn't sit squarely into the pipe. My version also required taking the entire tank off and replacing the entire flush valve assembly but thankfully the new one can be disassembled from the tank side to replace the gasket. We are no longer using in the tank cleaners.

 

[factorytuned2012]

here is what those caustic inside tank/bowl cleaner/fresheners do after time

 

[alarmguy]

Fluid Master entire fill valve assembly is only $15 or less at any major home improvement store and Amazon.
Why bother repairing?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=toilet+fluidmaster+fill+valve&adgrpid=13458047157091349

https://www.lowes.com/pl/plumbing-p...let-fill-valves/4294753289#no_universal_links

 

[4WD]

FluidMaster gone China master - I buy from these guys

 

[alarmguy]

FluidMaster gone China master - I buy from these guys

View attachment 267242

I know that name well who could forget it?

 

[4WD]

I know that name well who could forget it?

Once I switched - wish I’d marked the date bcs the Korky valves have lasted a long time for me …

 

[alarmguy]

Once I switched - wish I’d marked the date bcs the Korky valves have lasted a long time for me …

up until I don’t know when I used to only associate Korky with the flap valves.

Only recently did I see them with fill valves but then again I haven’t had many toilet repairs in the last two decades because we were in a new house and when they did go, I replaced the whole toilet

 

[wavinwayne]

The seal is what usually goes bad and can be accessed by popping off the black cover. I have done it a couple times. It's easy and quick.

Same here. Just did this recently to cure a toilet that was constantly running. Easy fix.

 

[rszappa1]

here is what those caustic inside tank/bowl cleaner/fresheners do after time

YUP I have a Gerber and found out the hard way that the red color gasket does not work.. You have to have the one for a Gerber to work..

 

[Mechanician]

I have never had one of the diaphragm valves fail to shut off. The fill time just gets longer and longer and there are, ahem, "occasions" when a 5 minute cycle time on flushes is inadequate.

I've found there's a restrictor/muffler made of rubber just inside the water inlet, that deteriorates and swells almost shut on one end.
It can be removed with needle nose pliers, and cut down, then reinstalled for another few years use.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I've found there's a restrictor/muffler made of rubber just inside the water inlet, that deteriorates and swells almost shut on one end.
It can be removed with needle nose pliers, and cut down, then reinstalled for another few years use.

That’s probably the anti-siphon valve some sort of reed valve type gizmo

 

[Hohn]

I just do the full rebuild, new everything becuase the fluidmaster kits are so cheap online. Did it on the 3 toilets when we moved in.

Not sure why you would need to replace this every 6 months. Should be more like every 6 year or more.

Yes they're cheap. That's why you seemingly have to do it so often.

It's not too hard, but it's annoying they don't last longer.

 

[Mechanician]

That’s probably the anti-siphon valve some sort of reed valve type gizmo

It's a tube with ribs in a double helix around it - tension fit into the inlet, with no moving parts.
I think it's to quiet the water flow through the valve.

 

[factorytuned2012]

It's a tube with ribs in a double helix around it - tension fit into the inlet, with no moving parts.
I think it's to quiet the water flow through the valve.

what part are you referring too?

 

[BrendanC]

i always just replace the seal.

 

[Mechanician]

what part are you referring too?

Not shown in that video.
It's inserted into the inlet, at the bottom of that tube.
I'm pretty sure it's not considered a serviceable part.

 

[Mechanician]

what part are you referring too?

I removed the one from my spare valve, and took a photo.
It's the first part the water hits on the way into the valve.
Mine had deteriorated on the end to the right - closest to the inlet - and was restricting the flow so badly it took 5 minutes to fill the 1.6 gallon tank.
I trimmed off the deteriorated end, and it has worked well ever since.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I removed the one from my spare valve, and took a photo.
It's the first part the water hits on the way into the valve.
Mine had deteriorated on the end to the right - closest to the inlet - and was restricting the flow so badly it took 5 minutes to fill the 1.6 gallon tank.
I trimmed off the deteriorated end, and it has worked well ever since.
View attachment 267459

thanks for sharing I haven't the slightest idea what the mechanism could be. like you had mentioned earlier some kind of restrictor.

 

[factorytuned2012]

Flow Restrictor in Fill Valve​

A flow restrictor in a fill valve, such as the Fluidmaster 400A, can significantly reduce the water flow rate. Older Fluidmaster 400A fill valves had a white rubber screw-shaped plug that greatly limited the flow, but newer models may not include this feature.6 The purpose of a flow restrictor in a fill valve is to control the rate at which water fills the toilet tank, which can help in managing water usage and preventing excessive water waste.