How to Replace the Parts In Your Toilet Tank

Are you putting off changing the parts inside your toilets tank because you can’t afford to pay a plumber? Why pay a plumber $50 or more per hour when you can do it yourself?

When you look inside the tank and see all of those parts, you may feel a little challenged. But, they’re all really simple to change and an adjustable wrench and a screwdriver is usually all you’ll need to complete the job!

Toilet Flapper Valve

The flapper valve is the large rubber piece that covers the hole where your tank connects to your toilet bowl. When you push the handle to flush your toilet, a chain raises the valve to release the water in the tank.

You need to turn off the water supply to your toilet and flush it to remove as much water as possible. You can save a lot of aggravation by removing the valve and taking it with you to make sure you purchase the right one.

As you remove the old flapper valve, you’ll notice there are little clips that hold it in place. To install the new one, just do a reverse of removing it!

Toilet Flush Lever

The flush lever is usually held in place by a nut that is tightened up against the inside of the tank. You must first unhook the chain and then loosen up the nut to remove the handle.

There’s a long metal bar attached to the handle. This bar will have several holes in it, these holes are used to adjust the length of the chain.

Once you’ve gotten the handle loose, slide the bar out through the opening. To replace the lever you just slide it back in and tighten the nut back up!

Toilet Float System

The float system requires a little more work to change, but with a little patience it’s still a job you can handle! The float system  controls the amount of water that comes into the tank.

When you flush your toilet the flapper valve is raised to let the water out of the tank. After you’ve flushed, the float system  refills the tank with water!

When the water level in the tank goes down, a switch is activated that starts water running back in to refill the tank. As the water level raises the ball cock raises and flips another switch to turn the water on to refill the tank.

You will need to remove all of the water from the tank by turning  off the water supply and flushing the toilet. There is a large nut at the bottom of the tank, remover this nut and you’ll be able to lift the float out.

This is another item that you will want to take with you when purchasing a new one. There should be rubber gaskets included with the new float kit. You just put the new float system in by following the reverse of how you removed the old one.

Rubber gaskets get old and worn, always take the time to change old gaskets whenever you’re working on anything that uses water. It may take a few minutes, but it can save hours of work and lots of money if you develop  a water leak down the road!