Fluidmaster toilet fill valve. Change seal or whole valve

[TomYoung]

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 will assure you as a forty year homeowner, that you experience is unique or your perception is wrong, or you are using some awesome hardware I am not familiar with. Valves failing to shut off, the constantly running toilet, is a very, very common failure.

 

[TomYoung]

i have a few old fluid master toilet fill valves laying around . So it seems its the top seal that goes bad in them and it can be replaced in 30 seconds . i saw a kit on amazon 10 for $15 .

Anyone ever just change the top diapram on one?

In this case, i would say that once the lid comes off the tank, I am replacing more than a crappy piece of rubber. In fact, the repair will get the parts cannon, if a trip to Home Depot is involved. Think about it: if this filler valve is finished, how much life is reasonably left in the flapper?

 

[Wireman1987]

In this case, i would say that once the lid comes off the tank, I am replacing more than a crappy piece of rubber. In fact, the repair will get the parts cannon, if a trip to Home Depot is involved. Think about it: if this filler valve is finished, how much life is reasonably left in the flapper?

Fill valve and flapper go hand in hand i never replace one without the other

 

[TomYoung]

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

I have used them, and acknowledge domestic sourcing, but not sure they are any better.

 

[4WD]

I have used them, and acknowledge domestic sourcing, but not sure they are any better.

I am

 

[y_p_w]

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.

The standard 400A at big box stores doesn't come with them. However, the OEM installations often have these color coded restrictors that reduce the flow to the tank fill hose. I remember in an American Standard Cadet 3 that I got in 2012, it had a green restrictor that fits inside the connector to the fill hose. Kohler includes a set of these for various settings with some of their 400A models like the Silent Fill.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/KOHLER-Silent-Fill-Toilet-Valve-Kit-GP1138930/203031904

Fluidmaster also has the "Performax" version (blue cap) that contains one of two mechanisms to adjust the tank fill rate to reduce water waste. Obviously if it's already filled but the tank is still filling, the water in the tank will just go over the trap and be wasted. The Performax models have more than just this feature (like faster fill rate) but I've gotten both the version with a pinch valve as well as one that has a turn knob.

The thing I've noticed about the OEM Fluidmaster 400A setups is that they use a hex nut, while the aftermarket ones use a wing-style nut that can be hand tightened/loosened.

Lavelle/Korky also has the QuietFill, where the basic one has no adjustment to the tank fill, while the "Platinum" version has a knob at the base where the hose connects to the valve.

 

[nealberke]

I just change the so called "seal". Home Depot has them for a few bucks and you don't need tools to change them. I've done it many times. Southern California water is hard on everything including fill valves.

 

[y_p_w]

I just change the so called "seal". Home Depot has them for a few bucks and you don't need tools to change them. I've done it many times. Southern California water is hard on everything including fill valves.

Fluidmaster 242. I've checked a few and cleaned them. The issue I have is that there might be indentations inside an older seal from where it's pressed against the mechanism that prevent a tight seal if it's not perfectly placed where they match.

https://fluidmaster.com/products/toilet/toilet-fill-valves/242-toilet-replacement-seal/