How to fix a toilet: replacing the Fluidmaster 400 fill valve seal (HD)
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- How to replace the seal on fill valve for the Fluidmaster 400a (and other 400 series valves).
If you have this specific problem, this is a very easy fix that most people can do. It requires no special tools (just moderate dexterity and strength in your hands) and can be done in under 15 minutes.
If your seal has failed it's much easier, cheaper and less time consuming to replace the seal than to replace the entire fill valve. I'm not very technical but this was not a hard fix.
Difficulty (1 to 10): 2
Time required: 5 - 30 minutes
Cost: $1 - $3
Tools required: None
Camera: Canon Vixia HF20
Editing software: Sony Vegas
Thank you, this helped me at my Maintenance Job
I owe you a beer! The humor and music made this dull task suck approximately 50% less... Thanks for being awesome!
Great video! Clear explanations and tremendous music. Didn't know plumbing can be fun!
Wow you got the shut off valve right under the toilet. Who would of thought of that. I have to keep running back and forth to the laundry room on the opposite side of the house. Gets old real fast when you are trying to fix a leak.
Thanks for video to show how easy it was to replace the fill valve seal. I have done it twice now. The first time fixed the problem. But not the second. The problem was the float did not return up after the flush but got stuck in down position. A light tap on float and it would rise up allowing water to fill tank. The fix was still to remove the cap to move float down and clean off scum on fill tube and put it back together. Over the years the fill tube collected scum on outside and float was getting stuck going back up.
Congrats on the score; it made the experience 'grand', and somehow hygienic and clinical
Nailed it! Dead on balls! $2.75 fix. Great video, I even enjoyed the music while the bowl was filling up! Thanks!!
Thank you so much for this! This is exactly what happened to mine, and the step by step was perfect for someone that has only seen the inside of a toilet tank one other time in her life. :P
helped me fix my problem - thank you... sorry others are unappreciative and ungrateful
Great video, very informative and helpful.
I had already pinpointed the problem to the fill valve seal and had felt pretty proud of myself. The seal is intact but there is friction when the metal pin moves in and out. I didn't know the seal was called the "fill valve seal" so I googled a few things and found your video. Now I know that the seal is replaceable, I know the part number, and I also know, from the comments, that it may just need a good cleaning with hot water. Thanks for this video! Home repair videos rock the internet!
Nailed it! Dead on balls! $2.75 fix. Great video, I even enjoyed the music while the bowl was filling up! Thanks!!
Thumbs up for the overly dramatic music 😂 My refill valve wasn't shutting off at full level. I have a water well, not city supply. Popped the cap to inspect the seal and it looked great. I took it out and rinsed it and the cap, then I noticed a little sediment on top of the valve body tube itself, where the seal should seat on it. Put a cup over the tube and opened shutoff valve to flush out. Put it back together and works fine again. As a side note, every so often I have to drain the tank and kinda rinse and wipe down the flap seal and tank sides. It's get a slimey film build up and eventually causes the flap to not seal properly. Country living problems 🙄
Coming from a FLUIDMASTER TECH SERVICE REP, living in California, I appreciate the fact you used an IN-N-OUT cup to flush your fill valve. Well Done!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, You were the only video that clearly explained what a broken valve seal looks like. Once we watched, we went back and found the broken "nipple" of the valve seal stuck in the area around the needle. Not being a plumbing expert, we thought the seal was just a donut, did not realize that it had a part missing. Replaced it with a new valve seal and the water is filling in the tank the way it should. A $5. repair. Can't thank you enough!
HELP! It fixed the original issue (toilet refilling really really slowly), but now it doesn't stop, it runs/overflows.
The metal pin is the only part that pushes the valve down to stop the water, but it doesn't hold onto the valve, so the pin just slides up and down through the tiny hole in the nipple.
I've put the old valve back in (it has a broken nipple) cause at least it stops the water from constantly running.
It doesn't make sense to me, how is the pin supposed to push the valve down?
That's what I thought too. According to this page: (helpfulcolin.com/toilet-silent-fill-valve-works/) the theory is that the pin opens and closes the hole in the seal. When the hole is closed, it increases the water pressure above the seal and that's what pushes the seal down.
Thank you!!! This video is EXACTLY what I needed. From diagnosis to repair, it was awesome!!! (It took me longer to watch the video than it did to repair the fill valve seal itself!)
Great video
You're welcome! I'm glad that the vid was helpful.
Also great video to fix Sediment issues! Our seal was good, but full of sediment due to some maintenance on our pump system! (We had low pressure due to an issue with our pressure tank losing it's air pressure). This released extra sediment into our system. Some always gets by here and there anyways due to us having a well. I am thinking a in-line filter after the pressure tank may also be good!
Thank you, this was most helpful and informative. Excellent production..!!
Two thumbs up. I was looking for something else and stumbled onto your video. Good job and I always try to replace the failed part to futher limit the pollution of our planet with additional plastics. It will most likely run another five years trouble free. Amazes me how almost 150K folks viewed your video, a fraction left a like and a fraction of those left a comment. Maybe amazes me is not a good term for it. Perplexes me, then!
Thank you, thank you, thank you ! ! ! I tried everything EXCEPT this, and wouldn't you know... I had a crack in the little black seal disk. Great video... PEACE
Many many many thanks, I fixed my toilet for $4, I am sure the plumber would have charged a min of $150
I don't know who Craig Mammalton is but he's the man! Fixed hissing problems on two of my three toilets (glacier bay and delta prelude). The third toilet has no hiss and is still functioning. I think the fill valve seal failures on my toilets were caused by my use of those clorox bleach discs. I won't be using those in the future.
Fantastic video (love the jokes). I didn't need to actually replace my seal, just clean it out, but did the trick.
Just fix my toilet wothout having to call my renting agency on a weekend. Love the music and makes me less frustrated. Thank you for the video. I owe you a beet too.
Thanks- quick and easy. Works with other music playing as well 😉
Thank you for the excellent video! I enjoyed the great music. Music seems to help take some of the stress away of a repair job. Well explained. Perfect!!! Bravo!
Thanks for your video. I cleaned debris out of the valve with your help.
You made my day with this! When things go wrong or wear out, it is all too easy to take things so seriously that you get down about it. Your delightful approach cured me of that within the first 15 seconds. Thank you, Craig!
Great video ,loved the music
Thanks for posting this. I was close to calling the land lord to take a look, but then i remembered we live in the digital age. UA-cam videos for the win!
Thanks again !
This is a terrible design. Have no idea how they got a US Patent for such an unreliable part. I had TWO $17 Fluidmaster fill valves, new in box, which leaked at this part. Thank you for providing a video on the existence of the $3 part. Saved me $14 on a whole new valve. Need to buy several diaphragms to account for such a weak part.
EXCELLENT VIDEO! Thank you so much for posting this!
enjoyed the music, lowes plumbing employee in Greensboro NC showed me this trick, I-40 and Wendover, he used to run a hotel, a new deli India gentleman, so he had many commodes to babysit, much easier than replacing the entire fluidmaster fill valve, I looked at my old washer for tears but it appeared ok, but it was still bad and the new $3.00 washer fixed my running commode!
replaced 2 elger 1.6 w/new kohler 1.2 sewer line has blocked twice in 2 mo kids flush and walk away only about a quart of water goes out of tank .line goes straight down 8 ft to base 90 out 40 ft to main never clogged w/elger in 40 years
I was looking for a video on this topic. I normally replace the entire cap but Fluidmaster re-engineered it. Instead of a metal bar they now have some plastic bar on it. The caps I'd bought a year or more ago wouldn't go on. But I'll just put a new seal into the old cap. Thanks.
spot on
Love the accompanying Beethoven. Sounds like the Kleiber version.
Awesome thanks Craig. As a total novice this was perfect for helping me fix my issue. Thanks for your time and effort and comedic relief! :-)
This helped me out! I did not want to call a plumber for such a little thing! THANK YOU!
Excellent video, better the Flluidmaster's Website. How did you do the video... with what software?
very helpful video. originally planned to call a plumber and after i saw your video, decided to give it try. it worked. thank you so much.
Thank you for getting back to me. I am beginning to think the same thing that the plumber who installed the new toilet added a seal, of which, now won't loosen. My next attempt will be to remove the tank, and see if I can get more leverage. My toilet is in a tight spot. If not, then I guess it ends up calling the plumber. I do not need the instructions as I have already replaced the filler valve on other toilets. Thanks again.
The idea of adding the classical music makes it less boring to watch. But have you sent Beethoven the approbate royalties?
Sorry- i don't know the answer. It sounds like you're removing the whole fill valve, which haven't done, so I have limited insight. I would think that it's 'lefty loosey' but it sounds like you've already tried that. I'll pm you a link to the official fluidmaster pdf instructions in case you don't already have it. If it's still not loosening, I'd speculate that the previous installer over tightened the lock nut or sealed it with silicon/plumber's putty. Hope you get it working.
Problem with my 400A was that there was a delay in the water coming on. I took the whole thing apart, cleaned the seal (just noticed some grey scum on it) - & that didn't fix it. Thought I'd try something new, & replaced it with the Korky Quiet Fill Max Performance 528MP (5 yr warranty). It does appear to be a better design. Through adjustments you make, it potentially uses less water & is quieter. Also, due to the design and how it's installed, you don't have to deal with the screw mechanism.
I have the same issue but the valve is not broken, but the metal pin goes all the way through, is it suppose to be that way?
the music sucks. it would have been nice to here what you were doing but i forgot you cant speak. hope your next video is better done if not quit making them.
@jhenry1041 I never knew that people had such appreciation for toilets. Not to offend the Standard fans, but I prefer the new Toto to the Cadet. I think the average height in the US was a lot shorter in the 60s- the seat was pretty tiny. On the other hand, the Toto's flush lever was poorly made- I've already replaced it after less than 3 months!
Thanks for your comment. I'm glad that you mentioned the appasionata; I'd only ever listened to Beethoven's symphonies and had never heard the appasaionata, but gave it a listen after you mentioned it. My heart grew three sizes that day.
To loosen the lock nut from the filler valve and looking at the toilet, do I turn the lock nut to the right or to the left. I already have the water line disconnected, but I am unable to loosen the lock nut . Any suggestions? Thank you.
wow thats sad if you would like an old standard toilet you can check your local craigslist for an old cadet toilet like this one just tipe in the search box toilet,american standard toilet,toilets.ok if you want one do that ok.
Sorry to hear that you couldn't get the top off. Just to confirm, did you raise up the plunger arm, while you pushing down on the the cap? I'm lucky that my fill valve didn't have much calcium despite being fairly old.
Five years? Mine have lasted 30. CLEAN THE TANK, FFS!
all looks too easy,remember one thing, all parts are made from plastic and plastic breaks, so make sure you have spare parts on hand , as a plumber I would not use fluidmaster product again, why, because how do you justify a 1hour bill when the unit fails to turn off, I have had this problem a few times no simple explanation the inlet valve stem comes in 2 parts with a 2 O ring seal more problems giveme the good old fowler or daulton one piece sexy fingers plumbing services
Great video. Probably saved me an afternoon of replacing the whole valve.
Ludwig would be so proud to take his 5th 'movement' on that porcelain principal chair.
Haha! Took me a minute to get the joke- much more clever than I could have come up with.
I tried this and unfortunately it did not work. What I found worked for my situation was 1). reducing the water flow (a little bit) and 2.) There was a kink in the refill tube (which I unkinked). It works fine now. I also got a refund on the $5 washer. Hope this helps.
5 mins and $2.75 later it’s fixed. Thanks bro!
I can't seem to twist the top off as you showed. Maybe the calcium has built up too much. Thanks for the video.
damn, different model. which is too bad, because I'm getting that same exact issue you displayed in this video. at least i know what the problem is. damn things need to be labeled better, mine just say "Flushmaster"...
good shit boss. my seals are busted too.
This is exactly what was wrong with mine! Thanks a bunch. This was a really fun video. (However, please work on the camera angle next time.)
Thank you thank you thank you! Now I don't have to wait three or four days for the maintenance guy in order to have a working toilet.
Witty and informative. Good thing Herr Beethoven never had to deal with a Fluidmaster, he never would have gotten to the Appasionata
-Bill
This is the best UA-cam video I have ever seen.
great toilet this is a 1960s american standard cadet toilet has this toilet ever cloged
So it looks like you have the same innards we do. I just replaced the old flapper part but the water trickles into the tank although the water intake knob is turned on full. So your video is the above fix if the water is trickling out really slowly?
Hey Caelidh, I'm no expert so I can't say for sure a faulty valve is causing the issue, but I think it's worth checking out. My recommendation would be to find instructions for your fill valve and then to access and inspect the seal. My broken seal caused a hissing at first and trickling of water, that worsened over time. If anyone else has any recommendations, please feel free to share.
Just fantastic! My cynical heart was 99% sure the fluidmaster filler valve was just another piece of disposable, irreparable plastic crap to destroy the earth. It was hope against hope that I searched YT to see if a repair was possible. Thanks so much for the great information! The silly little specialized diaphragm seal cost only 1/4 the price of a new valve, I did not have to crawl on my knees on the wet floor or even blot the water out of the tank with old towels. Once I had a new seal it did not even take two full minutes for a perfect fix. Cheers to you and your descendants; may you find your way to the undying lands. Cheers to Fluidmaster.
Thank you SO much for your video. I had all 4 problems in your "diagnosing the issue" step and had been googling way too much and had only found partial/confusing explanations before i found your clear and helpful video, which made me laugh (bad seal, bad camera angles) and cry (i was already missing in-n-out and the pre-covid california roadtrips when we would stop there many times, and then *that* cup came into frame), and most importantly, be able to fix my toilet myself, quickly and cheaply--and usually i don't dare mess with anything to do with plumbing. So, thanks for your video (and audio--for once i didn't mind having the sound on) excellence!!
Thanks! Saved me a call to the plumber.
You saved my toilet! My problem was a slow filling tank. The nipple on my old seal had separated, exactly as in the video. I came up short thinking of a decent punchline, though. I replaced the seal (Fluidmaster Seal 242C). Cost less than $5 Cdn at my local hardware store. Task took less than 2 minutes.
Thanks, My seal was just dirty ( you may insert joke here also) & full of slime. I could't find the instruction sheet as I installed this thing years ago. Just needed to see the written directions to get the cap off. The music was a nice change from most youtube videos (I usually mute them)
My husband didn't change toilet valve seal water sound driving me crazy. I wish to change my self.
Maybe you should change husband also??
[insert joke]... I did... and fixed the problem. Good job and thanks!
Man, I should have watched your vid before dismantling the entire toilet tank. Turns out I only need to unscrew the cap and flush everything out. The "nipple" is fine.
Now there's water everywhere and wife is pissed.
THANK YOU! This video was exactly what I needed! It was the only one I found that addressed my precise problem, where the stem had separated from the fill valve seal. Bonus points for the first movement (heh heh) of the fifth!
Great video, thanks! I've watched quite a few videos about the fill valve, but not a single one mentions how or where the water exits the fill valve to fill the TANK. I'm not asking about the hose that leads to the overflow tube to fill the BOWEL. Is it under the cap or somewhere near the bottom of the fill valve?
Thank you so much! You saved me big time!
You are incredible at giving instructions - especially with outlined Roman Numerals! Thank you, on behalf of the INTPs of the world 😊
I don't know why all these wing dings are crying, this was the easiest video I found on this subject. No problem and I got the mechanical skills of a cro mag.
Hey Craig. Thanks a million. Exactly what was wrong with my toilet valve. Family staying over Christmas did nothing but complain about it. It was especially exhilarating to watch your toilet fill up and read your troubleshooting instructions while listening to Beethoven's Fifth.
Ugh. Thank you! I’m a woman who has a “Tim the tool man” husband 😩 so I had to take matters into my own hands. This was literally the most straight forward video without having to even give verbal instructions. Oh and great music and funny too!
i followed the instructions, yet when i turn on the water valve after putting the cap with the new seal back on, more water than before starts rushing out from under the cap (the cap was replaced securely; i made certain). oh well. thanks for the help anyway. i must have another issue?
Hi thanks a lot for the demo and saving us a hundred bucks! Sean from New Zealand
It's pretty common for the nipple to break lose from the disk. But even if the old valve-seal looks okay, it should still be replaced if you're having this problem. What often happens is the rubber that forms the body of the seal contracts from age and exposure to cold water and is no longer able to effect a complete sealing of the valve.
@ignite2excite what valve do you recommend instead of the fluidmaster?.... than
this is my favorite model american standard cadet toilet .
it said 62 so this toilet is now 52 years old
thats an american standard cadet toilet its from the 60 s
Thanks to your video, I was actually able to just CLEAN the washer/seal, and the VERY loud screeching noise completely disappeared! You saved me not only a call to my plumber, but I didn't have to spend a dime, or even leave the house. The whole thing took me less than 10 minutes. Really appreciate it.
😂. Insert joke Thanks for the video!
Very nice review. Thanks for sharing.
You saved me some $$$. The seal on the fill valve was worn. $2.45 for the part and 2 minutes to replace. Awesome!!
Great guide! Turns out my valve was fine and my nipple was nice and rigid. I think it just needed flushing out, used hot was as well to clear excess grime.
Thanks a lot
This just helped me figure out what's wrong with my toilet that's leaking on the fill valve, now I just have to wait for the nearest lowes to open lol, thanks for the helpful video
This video was more helpful than Fluidmaster's website. Thank you for helping me fix my toilet! :)
Excellent video showing how to fix it. Thanks for your support...