Reliable Toilet Fill Valve and Flapper Assembly

[Speed4Life]

Hey all, I have an older toilet that has a leaking flapper, and that whole assembly that holds the flapper is about 15 years old and needs replaced. Also the fill valve has issues and I'm going to rebuild all the tank internals. It seems over the years the Fluidmaster stuff you can get at Lowes and such has gotten cheaper and less reliable. Any plumbers or other people out there with any in depth experience that can recommend longer lasting parts that don't need replaced every year or so?

 

[adamgayton81]

I've replaced all 4 of mine with Korkey Universal Fit Toilet Repair Kit http://low.es/2dvsb4J

Takes a little extra time to replace but saves water, fills faster, and has lasted for 2 years so far.


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[Jeepster04]

Im having good luck out of the korky kit that you can buy at lowes. Replaced the whole flapper assembly and water fill thing. Think Ive had it about a year.

 

[59 wagon man]

fluidmaster has a pro series with brass for the threads also has a leak stopper or something on it

 

[Speed4Life]

I've heard good things about Korky. Rebuilt a tank with my dad a month or so ago and we ended up using an adjustable Korky flush handle assembly that is awesome. We used Fluidmaster internals cuz we had them on hand but we're both tired of Fluidmaster wearing out too quickly. I think I might give that Korky kit a try and see what happens. Thanks for the replies so far.

 

[Speed4Life]

fluidmaster has a pro series with brass for the threads also has a leak stopper or something on it

Saw the pro series the other day and wondered if they were really any better over the regulars. Thanks.

 

[Ricoch3T]

korky red flappers are what you want.. fill valves pro or non pro seem to last just as long, really hadn't had much trouble with either one unless you have a lot of sediment in your water.

 

[Speed4Life]

I do have hard water here in Texas, but the fill valve that is in there has lasted 10 years or more, so I don't know that it's too big of an issue.

 

[6PTsocket]

I do have hard water here in Texas, but the fill valve that is in there has lasted 10 years or more, so I don't know that it's too big of an issue.

I replaced with Korky, as well. No complaints. I would use them again. My model has a neat feature. The water in any fill valve is split between the tank and the bowl. The bowl fills until it over flows and the tank fills until the level adjustment cuts off all the water. That means that the flow to the bowl has to be more than needed to make sure the bowl is full when the valve shuts off. It also means that water that could have been used to fill the tank faster went down the drain in the bowl. My valve has a bowl fill adjustment screw that you adjust, that reduces flow to the bowl so that it fills just before the tank does, filling the tank faster and saving water. If you don't adjust it, the valve comes set wide open and works like a valve without the feature.

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[Speed4Life]

Great info. Thanks for the tip.

I replaced with Korky, as well. No complaints. I would use them again. My model has a neat feature. The water in any fill valve is split between the tank and the bowl. The bowl fills until it over flows and the tank fills until the level adjustment cuts off all the water. That means that the flow to the bowl has to be more than needed to make sure the bowl is full when the valve shuts off. It also means that water that could have been used to fill the tank faster went down the drain in the bowl. My valve has a bowl fill adjustment screw that you adjust, that reduces flow to the bowl so that it fills just before the tank does, filling the tank faster and saving water. If you don't adjust it, the valve comes set wide open and works like a valve without the feature.

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[kwschumm]

fluidmaster has a pro series with brass for the threads also has a leak stopper or something on it

I installed the fluidmaster pro in a toilet a year ago. It worked great for 9 months but it has failed already and won't flush reliably. So I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[mires]

I'm a plumber and we use the Fluidmaster 400 in everything. They are reliable as any other and carry a 5 year warranty. I really love them because they are so easy to change out. Most people don't realize it but you can swap out just the top part of it and leave the shank alone. I can swap out a fill valve in less than one minute.

For flappers, I do stay away from Fluidmaster. They used to be just fine but I can't get the damn things to seal correctly anymore. Especially the stupid ones with the yellow float attached. That is what comes pre-installed on their flush valves and I swap them all out with a gatorskin flapper. They are the best flappers I have found and are made right here in the United States. You can get them from Plumbmaster but they are a little pricey. If I had to pick one from a box store, I would get the standard red Korky flapper. I've never had any trouble out of them. Stay away from all the adjustable, water saving, smart etc. flappers. It's just a damn flapper. Stick with simple.

 

[Speed4Life]

Thanks Mires.

I'm a plumber and we use the Fluidmaster 400 in everything. They are reliable as any other and carry a 5 year warranty. I really love them because they are so easy to change out. Most people don't realize it but you can swap out just the top part of it and leave the shank alone. I can swap out a fill valve in less than one minute.

For flappers, I do stay away from Fluidmaster. They used to be just fine but I can't get the damn things to seal correctly anymore. Especially the stupid ones with the yellow float attached. That is what comes pre-installed on their flush valves and I swap them all out with a gatorskin flapper. They are the best flappers I have found and are made right here in the United States. You can get them from Plumbmaster but they are a little pricey. If I had to pick one from a box store, I would get the standard red Korky flapper. I've never had any trouble out of them. Stay away from all the adjustable, water saving, smart etc. flappers. It's just a damn flapper. Stick with simple.

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

I really like the Fluidmaster replacement units. I have something like 13 toilets between the house and the rentals. I also have done lots of repairs for clients. I have never pulled a failed Fluidmaster out.

Sometimes, the fill tube is too large diameter for the Fluidmaster flappers and they hang up. I keep some Korkys in my stash for that occasion.

 

[vettex2]

Another Fluidmaster customer here.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Another "hybrid" guy here. Fluidmaster valves, Korky flappers.

Tommy

 

[kbs2244]

And leave the big chlorine tablets on the store shelves.
If you feel you need chorine in the bowl, then put in the bowl.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

And leave the big chlorine tablets on the store shelves.
If you feel you need chorine in the bowl, then put in the bowl.

X2. Bleach/chlorine ruins all the rubber parts in the tank. Fluidmaster makes a toilet cleaning system that has a bleach/"blue cleaner"/septic safe cartridge that only puts the treated water into the bowl. I've been using the bleach system for years.

http://www.fluidmaster.com/products...ners/8300-toilet-bowl-cleaning-system-bleach/

Tommy

 

[mires]

Thanks Mires.

No problemo

 

[vettex2]

X2. Bleach/chlorine ruins all the rubber parts in the tank. Fluidmaster makes a toilet cleaning system that has a bleach/"blue cleaner"/septic safe cartridge that only puts the treated water into the bowl. I've been using the bleach system for years.

http://www.fluidmaster.com/products...ners/8300-toilet-bowl-cleaning-system-bleach/

Tommy

you just found a new way for me to spend $$

How often do you change the cartridges?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I don't know why, but flappers seem to only last 4-6 years instead of 20+. Fluidmaster.

 

[smackey05]

I've replaced all 4 of mine with Korkey Universal Fit Toilet Repair Kit http://low.es/2dvsb4J

Takes a little extra time to replace but saves water, fills faster, and has lasted for 2 years so far.


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I replaced my leaking flappers with the Korkey kits. Haven't had any issues since. They are also significantly quieter on refill.

 

[RECox286]

I always relied on Korky and Fluid Master when I was doing

repairs/replacement out in the field. Never got skunked. I

ended up stocking the Korky Red flappers, which seemed to

last a bit longer... Towns have to add Cl and Fl to the water,

which seems to have a bad way with the standard black rubber

products

Uncle Bob

 

[mikegt4]

My Dad, being a child of the depression, kept everything even broken and worn out stuff. A few weeks ago I cleaned out his "plumbing supplies" drawer. In there was a couple of copper toilet floats about 5" in diameter mounted on a brass rod with linkages. Several cast brass valves and heavy duty flapper valves all made to last forever were also in the drawer. It makes me wonder at how far plumbing has come in 50 years and if it has been a forward or backward movement.

I also found a couple of unopened Fluidmaster fill valve sets that were probably from the 70's or 80's.

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

Used a complete Fluidmaster system last year to replace everything. Did the braided hose while I was at it so I wouldn't have to work on that for a few years.

 

[6PTsocket]

My Dad, being a child of the depression, kept everything even broken and worn out stuff. A few weeks ago I cleaned out his "plumbing supplies" drawer. In there was a couple of copper toilet floats about 5" in diameter mounted on a brass rod with linkages. Several cast brass valves and heavy duty flapper valves all made to last forever were also in the drawer. It makes me wonder at how far plumbing has come in 50 years and if it has been a forward or backward movement.

I also found a couple of unopened Fluidmaster fill valve sets that were probably from the 70's or 80's.

Must have been a Sunday night or a holiday. The chain tab broke off a flapper. I glued the chain to the flapper with Goop. I has been years. I am still waiting for it to break. There is nothing wrong with floats. One of mine just died after 24 years and the other one is still going strong. People say they don't make them like they used to. They really don't. I read a recent post. A guy said he had a GE top coil refrigerator from 1929 still going strong.

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[uppster]

Lowes/Home Depot does not sell replacement parts for Korkey flush valves. You have to buy and entire unit.

 

[Kaizen]

after spending a few hours doing the internals on a toilet and spending 50 bucks on the stuff the damn thing randomly leaks enough to flush once in awhile. I really regret not just replacing the whole damn toilet.

 

[6t7gto]

I dry the flapper and put a coating of Vaseline on it.
Works like a charm.

P.s. This is for Kaizen