How to fix a leaking toilet

[EricL]

Difficulty: Beginner

Leaking toilets can lead to significant water wastage and potentially high bills.

Here is a simple guide on how to fix a leaking toilet. It involves replacing the flushing and inlet valves, which are the two most common sources of water leaks in toilets. 

We recommend engaging a registered plumber for anything beyond replacing a washer. Let us know if you have any questions.

Steps

Step 1

Identify the source of the leak.

Refer to the photos for the names of different toilet parts.

Locate the cistern tap. It’s usually located at the bottom with a hose or pipe attached to the cistern.

Turn the cistern tap off by turning it clockwise. You can wear gloves to prevent your hands from getting dirty.

Remove the cistern cover. Listen carefully for the water leak.

If water is leaking from the cistern to the pan, it is leaking from the flushing valve. If the leak stops when the cistern tap is turned off, the leak is coming from the inlet valve.

While the cistern tap is off, empty the cistern by flushing the toilet. Take note of the flush valve’s position so you can reinstall it correctly later.

        

Step 2

Remove the flushing valve.

Locate and remove the flushing valve in your cistern. Most modern flushing valves can be removed by either twisting the top or by pressing release clips at the side. Note the position of the valve before removing it.

My toilet valve uses a twist-lock mechanism.

    

Step 3

Locate and replace the seating washer.

Turn the flushing valve upside down and locate the seating washer, which is a rubber seal attached to the bottom of the flushing valve.

Grab one corner of the washer and peel it off.

Take the old seating washer to the store as a reference when purchasing a new washer.

Clip the new seating washer to the bottom of the valve. Pull the washer's edges to secure it and make sure it is centred.

Now click the flushing valve back into its original position inside the cistern.

                

Step 4

Remove and replace the inlet valve seal.

Most inlet valves include a float that activates a lever which pushes on a seal to stop water from flowing into the cistern. If the seal is worn or damaged, it must be replaced.

To remove the seal, hold the top or cap of the inlet valve and pull the lever arm until the float is at the top.

Grab the top of the valve firmly and turn its body anti-clockwise. The inlet valve top should come off, revealing the inlet valve seal.

Hold the top of the old seal firmly and pull out.

Bring the old valve seal to the store as a reference when purchasing a new seal. My toilet uses the FluidMaster inlet valve.

Reverse the above steps to replace the old valve seal with a new one.

      

Step 5

Test the toilet.

Turn the cistern tap back on by turning it anti-clockwise. Finally, reattach the cistern cover.

You have now successfully fixed your leaking toilet.

    

Materials

• Inlet valve seal
• Seating washer.

Tools

• Gloves (optional).

Images

                                              

[jackyk]

I have a back to wall toilet and the bottom inlet valve is hidden in the toilet how do I find that to replace the inlet valve please

[redracer01]

Hello @jackyk 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. In this instance you'll need to engage the services of a licensed plumber due to the type of toilet suite you have. 

A back to wall set needs to be completely moved in order to service the inlet valve. I would encourage you to try and repair the inlet valve as much as possible.

However, if it is truly beyond repair, you'll have no choice but to get a plumber to service your toilet set. 

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Red

[JacobZ]

Hi @jackyk,

Thank you for your post and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community.

@redracer01 has offered some great advice which I agree with completely. Unfortunately, a back to wall set has complexity that makes its repair beyond the realms of D.I.Y.

You might like to use a service such as HiPages or True Local to find a plumber in your area.

Let me know if there is anything else I can assist with.

Jacob

[sarahdee]

Hi mine doesn’t seem to be a twisting one. Any chance you could do a detailed guide on how to remove the clip lock ones please?

[JacobZ]

Hi @sarahdee,

Is it possible to get a couple of photos of yours so I can assist with troubleshooting the issue?

Let me know if you need a hand uploading images, I'm happy to help if required.

Jacob

[sarahdee]

 

Thanks for the quick reply @JacobZ  I’m guessing it’s one of these clips but I don’t know which one. I’ve tried both sets and can’t for the life of me get it unclipped.

[EricL]

Hello @sarahdee 

Those two fittings you've pointed to are not the release tabs on your flushing valve they are further below near the bottom. If you can lower your camera down further and take a photo of the base of the flushing valve, we'll be able to tell you how to unclip it. But if you can see or touch the release tabs at the bottom of the valve, you just need to push them both at the same time to release the valve.

Another type of clip is the slot type, and you'll need to turn the flushing valve to the release point in order to pull it out. But we'll have a better idea of what it is if you can post a photo of it.

Eric

[sarahdee]

Ok I’ve got it removed. Had to find a video on YouTube to figure out which bit. I wish Bunnings would make genuine “beginner” content that explains things in great detail as though it’s a persons first day on earth because there’s too many assumptions of knowledge made in the current tutorials 😭 Attaching pics for anyone else like me who has less than zero clue. And yes I unclipped the top but first but now I know how to do it and also that it was the wrong thing to do. 

  

[EricL]

Hello @sarahdee 

That is excellent work! It's great that you've managed to get the flushing valve out. All you need to do is replace the seating washer and reclip the top and you can reinstall the whole thing. Please make sure that the seating washer is precisely centred to the flushing arm before reinstallation.

The guide is meant to give you a general idea of how it could possibly be repaired. I'm sorry, but there are just too many flushing valve varieties, and it can't be covered in a single how to guide.   

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[surfingdolphin]

Hi I have already replaced my washer for my valve (but still leaking). I was wondering if a faulty valve can also cause leaking? Thinking of buying a new one but if it doesn't fix the issue then it would be a waste.

Looking forward to any comments! Thanks

[EricL]

Hello @surfingdolphin  

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your valve.

I suggest turning off your cistern valve. If your cistern continues to leak odds are it is your flushing valve seal that is at fault. But if the cistern tap is on and water continues to enter the cistern it's the filling valve that needs to be repaired. Please try this diagnosis method first to determine which valve is at fault. 

If you have any other question we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[surfingdolphin]

Thanks Eric.

Its leaking from the cistern to the pan, I have already replaced a new outlet washer, but it still trickles into the pan. Inlet are all ok, they fill then it stops at the right level. So I just wanted to know if it's possible that the actual outlet valve could cause it, as I'm planning to buy a new one but if it doesn't help then I would not want to waste it.

[MitchellMc]

The outlet valve being faulty is a possibility, @surfingdolphin, especially if you've replaced the washer with the correct equivalent and the inlet valve is working as it should.

The next step would be to replace the outlet valve.

Mitchell

[surfingdolphin]

Thank you Mitchell