A common issue we encounter in local calls is that the toilet tank isn’t filling with water properly after pressing the flush lever or handle. Often, it takes more than one flush to clear the toilet bowl, or the tank doesn’t fill right away. In other cases, the toilet basin may not fill at all after flushing, or it fills very slowly. In many cases, the toilet won’t flush. Some describe it as their “toilet doesn’t stop flushing” or a running toilet.
The Issue with a Toilet Tank that Won’t Refill
According to Toilet Haven, “A toilet tank is designed to refill up with water every time it is flushed. The water level should be about a half inch below the overflow tube (or overflow pipe) and should take about 10 seconds to refill…When a toilet is not filling up with water it is a sign of a faulty fill valve, wrong height of the toilet float, a leaking flapper, a toilet flapper stays up, cracked overflow tube or low water pressure.”
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Bay Area is always here to help you with your plumbing issues and commode repair. If you are a handy person (and you really don’t need to be all that handy for most of these), you can probably solve any of the following issues (even when it comes to changing out toilet guts) related to your toilet’s:
- Float ball
- Fill valve
- Trip assembly
- Water pressure
In this blog, we take a look at just how to figure out on your own possible solutions to why your toilet tank isn’t filling up after you flush it and toilet bowl water flow subsides. You will need to get under the toilet tank lid to perform any of the following troubleshooting steps. You should also make sure you know where your water shut off valve is located (just follow the water supply hose to the valve). Bear in mind, it is always advised to call a professional plumber to fix any plumbing issue that goes beyond your comfort zone to address. (Homeowners often call us to repair damage caused by DIY attempts that went beyond their comfort zone, without a clear understanding of how a toilet tank works.)
Reasons Why You May be Faced with a Troubling No-Fill Toilet Tank
Here are some reasons why you may be faced with a troubling no-fill toilet tank and what you or your plumber can do about them. Note: we’re discussing American toilets in this post – like brands Kohler toilet, TOTO, American Standard, Delta and many more.
Float Ball Readjustment
From our experience at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, the float ball (or commonly called a floater for toilet) is the most common culprit for this problem of the toilet tank not filling with water after flushing. The float ball sits above the water in the tank (usually a metal rod with a plastic ball attached). It is connected to a float arm that regulates water entering the tank. When the tank water reaches the optimal height, the float ball stops the inflow of water by moving the float arm to block the entry of water in the fill tube.
Like all of us, sometimes the float ball needs a little readjustment over time. Especially if it seems the toilet won’t stop filling. First and easiest thing to do to try to correct insufficient water filling the tank after flushing is to bend the float arm slightly upward, so that the ball goes higher and stops the entry of water much later.
If that doesn’t work, you may need to replace the float ball. What allows a float ball to float is that it is hollow inside. As it ages, a float ball might develop cracks or holes that allow water into it. A no longer hollow float ball filled with water doesn’t float very well. It’s easy enoug to replace a soggy float ball with a new one. A very inexpensive fix.
If readjusting or replacing the float ball does not solve your toilet problem, the next place to look is the toilet fill valve.
Adjust the Fill Valve
Toilet fill valves control the flow of water from the supply line to refill the tank between flushes.
If the toilet still proceeds to not fill properly after readjusting the float ball, then the problem might be resolved by adjusting the fill valves. How you do this depends on whether your toilet uses:
- Float arm
- Adjusted cylinders
Float Arm
If your toilet’s fill valves use float arms, then the fix is to start by removing the toilet cap lid and locate the fill valve in the tank on the left side.
Use a flat-head screwdriver to turn the adjustment screw clockwise to raise the fill valve to allow more water to fill in. (Note: if the water level was too high, you would do the opposite and lower the fill valve by turning the screw counter-clockwise.) Flush the toilet after these adjustments and see if the water fills properly.
Adjusted Cylinder
If your tank uses adjusted cylinders, remove the toilet lid and find the fill valve that is located on the left side of the tank. Pinch the float clip on the side of the float valve and slide it up to let in more water.
Is the Fill Valve Still Not Working After Adjustment
If adjusting the fill valve hasn’t resolved the issue and your toilet tank still isn’t filling after flushing, or if the toilet won’t flush at all, the fill valve might be the cause. For older fill valves, it’s often more effective to replace them rather than attempt repairs, as they may have reached the end of their lifespan.
For newer fill valves, check the toilet tank for any grit or debris in the water. This debris can clog the fill valve, preventing it from functioning properly. To fix this, drain the tank, turn off the water, and follow these steps to replace the fill valve:
- Hold the shaft of the fill valve at the bottom with one hand and use the other hand to turn the valve cap counterclockwise until it comes loose.
- Remove the fill valve from the toilet and inspect the inlet holes on the valve seat for only debris.
- Spray water into the holes to force the debris out.
- Replace the fill valve in the toilet (be sure to turn the valve cap clockwise until tight so it doesn’t leak) and reconnect the water supply.
That might fix the immediate problem. But if you have debris in your water, the problem could easily reoccur. You might want to consider a water filtration system to purge your water of too many minerals.
Bad Trip Assembly
Back in the 1960s it was not uncommon for some people looking to expand their consciousness to complain of taking a bad trip. Your toilet can also have a bad trip.
The trip assembly connects the flush handle to the tank, but it may be poorly positioned or block itself when the lid is on. Either of these can result in the flush cycle not completing correctly.
To fix a poorly operating trip assembly, open the toilet lid and inspect the trip assembly. If you notice that the trip assembly is bent, broken or worn out, it is time to consider getting a replacement trip assembly to fix your filling problem.
Low Water Pressure
If you’ve tried everything else we’ve suggested and your toilet is still no filling up properly, the problem probably isn’t the toilet itself. You just might have low water pressure leading to a slow filling toilet tank.
What causes low water pressure? Rusted or leaking water pipes, water supply valve or a clogged valve tube. Sometimes even just bad plumbing in how water lines are configured. This is often the issue in older homes. Whenever water isn’t flowing efficiently, you are going to suffer low water pressure and slow filling toilet
Unlike the other steps we’ve outlined to possibly fix a toilet tank that isn’t filling up with water after flushing, the fix for low water pressure is not a DIY project. Call a Benjamin Franklin Plumber to inspect your home’s plumbing. We will figure out the real issue to your problem and solve it promptly.
If DIY Fails, Call a Plumber
A toilet malfunction is never fun. A plumber is your best option if you can’t get your toilet tank to fill properly or the flusher for toilet still isn’t working —that means you’ve got a serious problem either with the toilet itself, the toilet bowl construction, or somewhere deeper in your pipes.
There are other problems that can occur with your toilet besides a tank that isn’t filling. For example, you might hear a toilet that keeps filling. You might see a toilet refilling on its own. Or notice water loss in the bowl. You might also experience a weak flush, or find a cracked flush valve opening. Other common issues include a continuously filling toilet, a toilet that won’t flush (even without a clog from toilet paper), a cracked toilet bowl, plumbing vent or waste pipe problems, and repairs needed for the toilet pump, flush valve, flapper valve, or flapper chain.
Toilets rely on the interaction of numerous parts to function properly – even when dealing with tankless toilet repair. If a toilet isn’t flushing properly (or a toilet won’t flush properly and not clogged), it could be a problem with its plumbing or with the parts that make it work. Sometimes a toilet will function even though it has malfunctioning components. Even though it’s tempting to ignore, a toilet’s parts should be replaced once they start to break. If left ignored, they could fail. Even if they don’t completely break, malfunctioning toilet parts waste water and increase your water utility bills.
Why Call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing?
You can count on Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to effectively determine the source of your problem and perform effective bathroom flush repair. We take to heart the words of our namesake. Benjamin Franklin famously said, “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” We’ve built our company around bringing a higher level of excellence to every customer experience. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and our licensed plumbers proudly offer an on-time guarantee and a 100 percent customer satisfaction guarantee to meet all your plumbing service needs.
Our locally owned team at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing understands the plumbing challenges, like toilet tanks that won’t fill, that homeowners face. It also doesn’t matter if you’re in the city looking for “toilet tank repair san Francisco” or searching “toilet tank repair near me” in Novato. A the end of the day, wherever you are, we are here to help. Plus, if there’s any delay in providing your service, we pay!
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing answers your service calls 24 hours a day at 800-259-7705. Or go online to request an appointment.