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Is Your Toilet Tank Not Filling Up? Here’s What to Do

Is your home’s toilet tank not filling up with water after flushing? This can become quite frustrating. Toilet tanks that do not fill up all the way usually lead to slow flushes and clogs. As a result, more problems can be created. To avoid situations like this, it’s best to handle the problem right from the start. You can either hire a professional plumber to fix your toilet, or you can try and do it yourself. Listed below are some valuable solutions for when your toilet tank is not filling with water.

The Float Ball

The float ball is a ball that floats in your toilet’s tank and regulates how much water is entering the tank. Once the tank is filled to the right level, the float ball then stops more water from entering by closing off the water entry hole. However, if your float ball is much too low, then the tank will not fill up to its necessary level.

There are two things you can do to fix this problem. First, you can remove the float arm and while being very gentle, bend it slightly upward. This will make the ball float at a higher level and allow more water into the tank before the water entry hole is shut. Your other option is to replace the float ball. This is a pretty inexpensive replacement to make.

The Fill Valves

If your toilet tank is still not filling up, then its time to check the fill valves. Fill valves are responsible for the flow of water and control the water from the supply line to the toilet tank. Before you start readjusting the fill valves, you need to check and see if your toilet’s fill valves use float arms or if your toilet tank uses adjusted cylinders. If your tank uses float arms, then you’ll want to:

  1.  Remove the toilet cap lid.
  2.  Pinpoint the fill valves in the toilet tank (Typically, it’s located on the left side)
  3.  Using a flat-head screwdriver, turn the adjustment screw clockwise. By turning it clockwise, you’ll be raising the fill valve. This will let more water enter the toilet tank.
  4.  Once you have made all the necessary adjustments, flush your toilet and see if the tank fills up.

On the other hand, if your fill valves use adjusted cylinders, then you’ll want to start by locating the fill valves on the left side of the tank. Once you locate them, slide the floating clip positioned on the side of the float valve upward to allow more water to enter the toilet tank. If you want to allow less water to flow in, slide the clip downward.

Learn How to Replace a Fill Valve

Trip Assembly

Another reason your toilet may not be filling up with water after you flush could be due to the trip assembly. If your trip assembly is not positioned correctly, or it’s broken or bent, your toilet will not fill up and flush properly. To resolve this issue, you will need to remove the lid from the tank of your toilet and examine the trip assembly. If you are unsure where the trip assembly is located, it’s the portion of the flush handle that’s attached to the tank.

Water Pressure

If water pressure is the reasoning for your toilet tank not filling with water, then you might want to start by inspecting your home’s water pipes. Pipes that have become rusted, corroded or leaky can limit the amount of water that flows into your toilet resulting in your toilet tank’s ability to fill up to the right level. If this is the problem, you’ll have to have the pipes replaces and/or fixed. Although it may seem like an expensive repair, it will be worth it in the long run.

Kevin L. Sharp

Tamara Staker

Wednesday 6th of December 2017

All 3 of my mom's toilets suddenly takes half an hour to fill