A slow refilling toilet is a problem that almost every homeowner experiences at some point in their lives. While you don’t have to worry about overflows and flooding with a slow refilling toilet, it can be frustrating having to wait a few minutes to be able to flush again.
Thankfully, you can often fix a slow refilling toilet by yourself with no assistance from a plumber. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you to solve the problem stress-free and to know when an expert is needed.
4 Reasons your toilet takes time to refill
Below we’ve highlighted the four most common causes of slow refilling toilets. We’ve also outlined how you can identify which problem you are facing and what you can do to fix it when possible.
Blocked water valve
A blocked or faulty water valve will limit the amount of water that flows into your toilet’s tank, drastically increasing the refill time. In some situations a water valve may even require assistance from an engineer if it is blocked with debris.
Before calling a plumbing engineer you should ensure that your water valve is completely open. A completely or partially closed water valve will reduce the amount of water that is flowing into your toilet and is often missed by homeowners.
An open valve will have its handle running parallel to the pipe while a closed valve will have its handle in a perpendicular position to the pipe.
If you’ve determined that your valve is open and there is still not enough water reaching your toilet you should contact a plumbing engineer to troubleshoot the issues for you. There could be a blockage so the sooner you can get an engineer appointment the better.
Blocked fill valve
A fill valve (also known as a ballcock) refills your toilet’s tank after every flush and is located at the bottom of the tank. The fill valve is attached to a float which indicates when the toilet’s tank is full and when it has been emptied.
Before checking the fill valve for blockages you should check that the float is still functioning as intended and has not become waterlogged. If the float is damaged you should see a replacement. If the float is in good condition you should look at replacing or cleaning the fill valve.
Before attempting to clean the fill valve it is important to note that it is very delicate, so take care while handling. To clean the fill valve follow these steps:
- Make sure the water supply valve to the toilet is closed.
- Flush the toilet so the tank is empty.
- Take the top of your toilet off and identify your fill valve. It is the tallest part beside the overflow tube.
- Take the fill valve out gently.
- Fill it with vinegar and leave it to rest for 20 minutes.
- Rinse and clean the valve with hot water.
- Reinstall the valve.
- Open the water supply valve.
- Flush the toilet to test that it's working.
If this doesn’t solve the issue then we recommend purchasing a new fill valve. If you aren’t confident in fitting the part yourself you should contact a plumbing engineer to install it for you.
Low water pressure
It’s possible that your toilet is slowly filling because of low water pressure across your entire system. If this is the case then it’s likely that your toilet isn’t the only thing experiencing problems. Other signs of low water pressure include slow flowing taps and low pressure showers.
Unfortunately, low water pressure isn’t easily fixed and can be a symptom of a neighbourhood wide issue.
There are ways to navigate low water pressure such as installing a water pump, but these require a significant financial investment and aren’t always suitable.
If you’re not sure if you’re experiencing low water pressure we recommend contacting a plumbing engineer to troubleshoot potential problems for you.
To book an engineering appointment click here.
Blocked water supply hose
Another potential cause of a slow refilling toilet is a blocked water supply hose. A water supply hose connects the main water supply to the toilet tank, so there is always a chance of debris building up and blocking the flow of water.
Much like the fill valve you can either clean the water supply hose or replace it. If you don’t want to purchase a new one, here's a breakdown on how to clean your existing supply hose:
- Make sure the connecting water supply valve is closed.
- Empty any excess water into the toilet.
- Remove the supply hose from the valve and the toilet.
- Use a brush to clean the hose’ and valve’s entrances.
- Put the hose into a bowl of vinegar and leave for 20 minutes.
- Rinse and clean the hose with hot water.
- Reconnect the hose.
- Open the water supply hose.
- Flush the toilet to test the hose.
If you would like help installing a new supply hose you can book an appointment with a plumbing engineer here.
Dealing with a slow refilling toilet can be frustrating and time consuming. The best approach is to identify which particular problem you are facing so that you can take the appropriate action. If you are unable to do so you should contact a plumbing engineer and have them come and troubleshoot the problem for you.
While a slow refilling toilet isn’t an emergency we recommend solving the issue as quickly as possible to give you peace of mind.
