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.

1.1 Toilet parts.png 1.2 Parts inside cistern.png 1.3 Parts at the bottom of cistern.png 1.4 Turn off cistern tap clockwise.png 1.5 Empty cistern by flushing.png

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.

2.1 Locate position of locking clip.png 2.2 Twist to release valve.png 2.3 Remove valve.png

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.

3.1 Locate old seating washer.png 3.2 Grab one corner of the old seating washer.png 3.3 Pull old seating washer off.png 3.4 Get new seating washer.png 3.5 Clip seating washer to flusher bottom.png 3.6 Pull the edges of the seating washer.png 3.7 Centre the seating washer.png 3.8 Push flusher to lock in place.png 3.9 Return the flushing valve back into position.png

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.

4.1 Hold the top part of inlet vlave.png 4.2 Twist the valve's body anti-clockwise to open.png 4.3 Locate the inlet valve seal.png 4.4 Hold top of seal and pull out.png

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.

5.1 Turn cistern tap back on.png 5.2 Reattach cistern cover.png 5.3 Toilet repaired.png

Materials

Inlet valve seal
Seating washer.

Tools

Gloves (optional).

Images

1.1 Toilet parts.png 1.2 Parts inside cistern.png 1.3 Parts at the bottom of cistern.png 1.4 Turn off cistern tap clockwise.png 1.5 Empty cistern by flushing.png 2.1 Locate position of locking clip.png 2.2 Twist to release valve.png 2.3 Remove valve.png 3.1 Locate old seating washer.png 3.2 Grab one corner of the old seating washer.png 3.3 Pull old seating washer off.png 3.4 Get new seating washer.png 3.5 Clip seating washer to flusher bottom.png 3.6 Pull the edges of the seating washer.png 3.7 Centre the seating washer.png 3.8 Push flusher to lock in place.png 3.9 Return the flushing valve back into position.png 4.1 Hold the top part of inlet vlave.png 4.2 Twist the valve's body anti-clockwise to open.png 4.3 Locate the inlet valve seal.png 4.4 Hold top of seal and pull out.png 5.1 Turn cistern tap back on.png 5.2 Reattach cistern cover.png 5.3 Toilet repaired.png