With an ever-increasing demand for portable, readily available, and user-friendly flush installations, there is a greater need for a compact toilet fill valve that eases your family’s bathroom experience. With no mess in its wake and fantastic adjustability, a new valve is all you need to relieve most toilet troubles.
Contents
- 5 Types of Fill Valves
- Comparisons
- 10 Product Reviews – Toilet Fill Valves
- 1. Fluidmaster PerforMAX High-Performance Universal Fill Valve
- 2. KOHLER Silent Fill Valve Kit
- 3. American Standard Champion Flush Valve
- 4. TOTO Adjustable Fill Valve
- 5. Kohler Toilet Canister Flush Valve Kit
- 6. NEXT BY DANCO Chrome HYR270
- 7. Korky 528T Replacement Toilet Fill Valve
- 8. Sloan FlushMate Flush valve
- 9. Korky 4010PK Complete Universal Toilet Repair Kit
- 10. Techo Touchless Toilet Flush Kit
- Read Our Buyer Guide
- Ease of Installation
- One-Button vs. Two-Button Valves
- Adjustability
- Price and Quality
- Other Things to Consider
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict
5 Types of Fill Valves
We listed the five different types of fill valves. Let’s see the differences between the variations.
1. Plunger
Plungers are one of the earliest fill valve designs. They are made with a heavy-duty brass body and provide a quiet operation. Plungers work with a floating ball attached to a pivoting lever, which opens and closes to let the water out. If you have a fill valve such as Mansfield 09, you should replace it because it doesn’t meet current plumbing codes.
2. Ballcock with Brass Body
These types of fill valves have also been around for a long time. The main difference between these valves and plungers is that this option is anti-siphon. Instead, diaphragm-type ballcocks come in a brass body and have a diaphragm that opens and closes to control water flow.
3. Ballcock with Plastic Body
Essentially the same as other diaphragm-type ballcocks, these options are made from plastic, which is more common in newer models. This is what you should be looking for if you want to upgrade or replace a ballcock-type fill valve with another ballcock.
4. Float-Cup Fill Valve
The float-cup fill valve is considered to be a more modern solution. The first model was introduced in the 1950s by Fluidmaster. It has a floating O-shaped cup and is attached to a metal spring clipped to a rod. Water level is controlled by adjusting the position where the rod connects to the cup. These valves are very popular and easy to maintain, making them an excellent choice.
5. Float-less Fill Valve
This type of fill valve is a new innovation, made of plastic. They have a diaphragm pressure-sensing mechanism, originally designed for low-profile toilet tanks in the 90s. These fill valves are affordable, but many professional plumbers will advise you to avoid them due to their reliability issues. They operate underwater, and you will usually find them attached to the bottom of the tank.
Comparisons
This small device makes life a hundred times easier. With its automatic system, it’s both user-friendly and more hygienic.
Valves on the market today come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and ranges. Each has its benefits to offer and its unique design, yet they are all simple to install or replace.
10 Product Reviews – Toilet Fill Valves
Below we reviewed 10 different fill valves to help you decide the best for your toilet.
1. Fluidmaster PerforMAX High-Performance Universal Fill Valve
Fluidmaster 400H has a dual-flush system and a roller-clamp with water flow controls that help improve water usage and cost-efficiency.
This valve is designed to be height-adjustable (between 10 and 15 inches) to adjust to most toilet models. It works best with high-efficiency toilets (models that use 1.28 gallons per flush).
The manufacturers ensure the reliability of the product by offering a 7-year warranty, making it one of the best options on the market.
2. KOHLER Silent Fill Valve Kit
It is designed to be height adjustable to fit any toilet tank. The Silent Fill technology helps provide a quiet refill experience.
This kit has an adjustable fill valve that improves water flow efficiency to help conserve water.
3. American Standard Champion Flush Valve
The American Standard Champion Flush Valve fulfills the American Standard requirements to support a busy lifestyle, ensuring durability and quality.
3174.105-0070A replaces parts 3174.104-0070A, 3174.102-0070A & 3174.002-007A.
4. TOTO Adjustable Fill Valve
This valve has an adjustable height so it can accommodate toilet tanks of different sizes.
This option also has a refill valve to help control the flow of water and refill volume, which reduces water loss. The refill valve can be tweaked according to personal needs.
5. Kohler Toilet Canister Flush Valve Kit
It has a 3-inch canister valve and a 3-inch water outlet that uniquely fits all Kohler Cimarron models. This flush kit is made entirely of plastic.
6. NEXT BY DANCO Chrome HYR270
This technology allows you to choose the amount of water used per flush, which helps save up to 70% of water consumption. .
The HYR270 features a two-button setting. One button is for the quick-flush setting that uses significantly lower volumes of water. The second button is for the full-flush setting, which uses more water to dispose of solid wastes.
The design of this unit is sturdy and well-built to prevent leakage from faulty the flapper chain or handles.
It is chlorine- and chemical-resistant and therefore invulnerable to warping. The excellent quality ensures cost-effectiveness.
7. Korky 528T Replacement Toilet Fill Valve
You can remove your old fill valve or ballcock and replace it with this Korky model. It fits several toilets and is adjustable between 8 inches and 14 inches.
This valve also comes with a 528GT Fill valve, a refill tube, a metal refill tube clip, a mounting nut, a cone washer, a coupling nut, and a tamper-proof key. An instruction manual is included to guide you through the installation.
This unit is designed to replace slow filling, leaking and noisy toilets. It is equipped with an innovative twist-lock adjustment that provides a hassle-free installation.
8. Sloan FlushMate Flush valve
The installation process is quick and simple and can be done by anyone.
The FlushLine cartridge wrench made of poly-pig steel comes with the unit.
9. Korky 4010PK Complete Universal Toilet Repair Kit
The unit consists of a fill and flush valve, flapper, and tank-to-bowl mechanism.
This universal fill valve features a design that is compatible with all brands of toilets. It comes with a 2-inch flush valve that’s easily adjustable.
The 4010PK Repair Kit includes a 528 fill valve, 2001 flapper, refill tube, metal tube clip, a mounting nut, a cone washer, a coupling nut, 4020 flush valve, 464 tank-to-bowl gasket, and a set of hardware. The provided instruction manual has easy-to-follow instructions.
10. Techo Touchless Toilet Flush Kit
It also comes with a screwdriver for adjustment and an easy step-by-step guide to help you install your kit.
The Techno Touchless Flush has reliable motion sensors with an adjustable motion sensing range.
These motion sensors provide sanitary convenience by automatically flushing your toilet when you wave your hand over the sensor within the adjusted detection range.
Read Our Buyer Guide
Buying the right fill valve can be quite tricky. There are a few things that you should keep in mind, so in this section, we will talk about everything related to buying the right fill valve for your toilet.
Ease of Installation
One of the first things that you should consider, especially if you are not a DIY professional, is ease of installation. Thankfully, most fill valves are relatively easy to install, and the fitting of most brands is more or less the same. For example, you would be able to fit a Toto fill valve in a Kohler toilet with no problems.
Further, most fill valves come with a useful user manual that guides you through the installation step by step. The key steps in the process are setting the required height, fixing the valve in the tank, testing the valve, and making any final adjustments.
One-Button vs. Two-Button Valves
This choice depends mainly on the type of toilet you’ll be using with the valve. For example, two-button valves are not a top priority for modern houses. However, these are a good choice for cabins, RVs, and other situations where the supply of water is limited.
Adjustability
Buying a valve from the store is simple. You can walk into a store with a sample of a piece that you want to replace and they will give you exactly the same model. However, buying a fill valve online can be tricky. If you’re planning to make your purchase online, you might want to buy a valve that is adjustable, to be sure that it will fit your toilet.
Price and Quality
Price is often the biggest factor for people when shopping. However, a valve with an expensive price isn’t always the highest quality option, and vice versa. You should always take into consideration the features before making your final decision. For example, you should always buy from a renowned brand, and look for a product that has a warranty and good ratings by customers. When it comes to materials, choose a unit that’s made from durable options like chrome, plastic, or brass. Avoid the options made from silicon at all costs. Finally, look for a unit with as few metal parts as possible. The fill valve is always in contact with water, so corrosion to metal can occur in no time.
Other Things to Consider
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Compatibility
As mentioned, most fill valves are universal, but not all. Different models come in different sizes and shapes, so make sure to get the right description and dimensions that match your toilet model before you buy. Also, check if you should buy a valve that is singular or dual-flush.
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Low Water Inlet Holes
A nice advantage of a fill valve with low water inlet holes is that it consumes less water without compromising the performance. This factor might not seem like a big deal, but you will notice quite a difference after a month’s use.
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Noise Insulator
No one wants to hear any noise that comes from the bathroom. To promote comfort and privacy, modern valves are designed with sound insulation that minimizes any noise. If you notice that your toilet flushes with noise, it could mean that the valve has worn out.
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Refill Rate
The refill rate is the time it takes for the toilet to refill after a flush. This detail is important because it directly affects how long another person has to wait after the previous person has used the toilet. It might not be of great importance for small families, but a quick refill rate is important for larger families and public bathrooms.
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Adjustable Height
When buying a new fill valve, it’s important to be sure that the height is right. However, many new models come with adjustable height, which makes them a good fit for most toilets. Adjustable units don’t cost much more, so you should definitely check them out.
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Durability and Warranty
Obviously, you don’t want to buy a product that is not durable without warranty. However, most fill valves today come with quality materials and, if maintained well, they last long. If a model comes with a warranty, it means that the seller is confident about their product. The warranty can last from one year to a lifetime, but on average, the warranty of a fill valve is around five years.
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Water Intake
Another factor you may want to consider is the water intake adjustability caps or a roller clamp. These features allow you to adjust the water intake, which prevents having to store up large volumes of water after every flush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right valve for your toilet can be tricky due to hundreds of different and unique products available from several manufacturers. Most of these products are designed to be universally compatible with all tanks. However, it’s advised to know the best replacement toilet fill valve for your bathroom unit. We’ve listed some FAQs below to help you buy the perfect fill valve.
What Is the Best Type of Toilet Fill Valve?
It is difficult to stamp a single product as the best toilet water fill valve. Every product has a different functional use that makes it appropriate for an individual customer’s requirements. Though we can’t pinpoint who makes the best, look for fill valves that are reliable, inexpensive, water-efficient, and fit most mainstream tanks.
How Can I Replace the Flush Valve of My Toilet?
Replacing a toilet flush valve is a simple DIY that only takes a few minutes, even for a person with very basic technical skills. You’ll also receive an instruction manual and the required tools with your purchased valve to ease installation as well. As long as you know the fitting match for your toilet, you should be good to go. If you don’t select a compatible valve, you could damage the incompatible flush valve in the installation process. Alternatively, you can always hire a handyman or a plumber to fix or replace your tank valve.
How Long Does It Take for a Toilet to Fill?
The time required for a tank to fill can vary according to the size and design of the tank. Standard tanks can store 1.6 to 7 gallons of water and empty in 10 to 15 seconds with the flushing mechanism. Refilling the tank is done in 45-90 seconds depending on the water in-flow rate and size of the tank.
The perfect toilet tank fill valves allow adjustable flow control, enabling the user to dictate how much water flows in and out of the tank.
Which of the Available Fill Valves Is the Best Valve for Hard Water?
Toilet fill valves usually have a rubber base that can deteriorate or damage over time depending on usage and water quality. Hard water can make the rubber decompose faster due to the presence of decomposing chemicals, which ultimately reduces the lifespan of the valve. To protect against water, look for toilet valves with a rigid, non-corrosive base to avoid faster decomposition.
Final Verdict
A leaky outdated flush valve is an annoying and massive wastage of water resources. Replacing your toilet fill valve with a new one can fix your toilet’s leakage problems and restore it back to the best toilet it can be. It can also help you save money, water, and attain peace of mind.
When selecting your next toilet fill valve, please remember that each model may not fit your specific needs. The valve may require you to evaluate the size of your toilet and the placement and setting of your flush. Therefore, take your time to assess the contents of this guide and make an informed decision.
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