When the toilet stops working, no matter the reason, the first step you need to take is always the same – shut off the water supply. However, the shutoff valve is not something you care for daily and it might go years before you need to close/open it, in most cases, the shutoff valve might turn out not not working at all.
This adds up to more work for your planned toilet fix. But it doesn’t need to be a huge issue, especially if you know what to do, and for that, we are here to help.
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Fixing a Shutoff Valve
There are a few reasons why a shutoff valve is not working, and depending on the issue we have a few easy solutions you can follow.
1. Stuck Valve
One of the most common issues homeowners come against is a stuck valve. There is a simple solution for this issue – just spray WD-40 and let it sit for a few minutes. After that try to check if you can turn the valve. To prevent such problems in the future you can spray the valve periodically with the same WD-40 so that it doesn’t get stuck.
2. Valve Partially Closing
If the valve is not rotating fully, and you can only rotate it to some point unfortunately you won’t be able to fix it. You’ll need to get a new valve and replace it.
3. Valve Leaking
You might notice that the valve is leaking even after you shut it off. This means you have a faulty seal. In that case, tighten the fitting around the valve to see if that fixes the problem. If the issue persists, take the valve apart and replace the seal. In the worst-case scenario, you will need to buy a new valve and replace the old one.
4. Broken Shut Off Valve Handle
If the issue is just a broken shutoff valve handle there might be a chance to just replace it so that you avoid a full valve replacement. But before you buy a new handle you have to make sure that the valve stem works.
Now that the handle is off the valve use pliers and start twisting the stem to check if you can close/open the valve all the way. If it works then just replace the handle. But because there are many different types of valves and handles the best thing is to get a universal handle.
Water Supply Line – Turning Off
Locate the Shutoff Valve
Where the shutoff valve is located depends on how old your toilet installation is – how old the toilet is. Also, the valve usually looks like a small ball. So the shutoff valve can be found either at the rear of the toilet (if it’s a new toilet) or you might not even find one (older installations).
If it’s an older one then you might need to turn off the main water supply to the house. Stay tuned as we will explain both processes.
Newer Style Toilets
Step 1 – Rotate Valve Clockwise
Rotate the valve clockwise until it stops. It shouldn’t be hard, so make sure not to force it or it might break. Don’t forget, if it’s stuck you can apply WD-40 so it can turn easier.
Step 2 – Check if the Water is Off
After shutting it off don’t rush into fixing your toilet. First, make sure it’s really off. To do this just flush the toilet. If it’s off then the tank won’t refill and it will stay empty.
In case the toilet is clogged and you can’t flush it then just lift the float lever in the tank, press it down. If the water line is off, the tank will stay empty.
Step 3 – Turn the Water Back On
After you took care of the main toilet issue that made you shut off the valve it’s time to open it. To do this just rotate the valve counterclockwise. Wait a minute and see if the tank starts to refill again. If you didn’t flush the toilet the first time, then flush it now and wait to see if the tank starts to refill. If it starts then it means you did a great job!
Older Style Toilets
Main Shutoff Valve – Turning Off
Turn it clockwise as far as it can go. Be prepared that turning off the main water supply will turn off all the water lines in your home.
Turn it back on by rotating it counterclockwise. Rotate the valve until it stops – avoid over-tightening the valve.
Fixing a Leaking Valve
Fixing a valve that is leaking is actually pretty simple. The only tools that are required for this operation are a screwdriver and slip-joint pliers. By fixing the problem yourself, you will save a decent amount of cash compared to hiring a plumber.
To start, locate the packing nut on the valve. Tighten it by a ⅛ turn clockwise and it should form a seal that will prevent water from going out. You might also need to wrap a cloth on the jaws to prevent damaging the nut. Although it won’t cause serious damage, it can scratch the finish which doesn’t look nice. Also, don’t press too hard to prevent damaging the waterline. Don’t forget what we mentioned previously, in most homes, the valves might not be touched for years, which can cause stains and make them difficult to turn on and off.
An excellent way to check if a valve is leaking is by using toilet paper. Since your hands may be wet, simply take a piece of toilet paper and use it to touch around the valve. If the paper stays dry, you’ve done an excellent job of stopping the leak.
Valve Still Leaking After Replacing Damaged Parts
If you notice that the leaking continues, use groove joint pliers and tighten the nut. If that doesn’t solve the issue, you might need to replace the nut. However, before you replace it, make sure to switch off the main water supply line.
Then, disassemble the valve. First, remove the handle and the nut. Then remove the stem too.
After disassembly, wipe the parts down and the pipe. Don’t use plastic tape on the stem threads. Lastly, assemble the valve and turn the main water supply. If it’s still leaking you’ll need to replace the shutoff valve with a completely new one.
Replacing a shutoff valve
Before replacing a shutoff valve you need to know that there are 3 basic options for replacing it.
- A SharkBite valve
- A compression valve
- Traditional soldering or ProPress method
Both SharkBite and Compression Valves are easy to do on your own, but the ProPress method is more of a professional method, that’s why we are going to discuss just the first two ways.
SharkBite Valves
This type is push-to-connect plumbing. Which means you won’t need a soldering torch and plumber’s puffy. SharkBite’s valve filing has a retainer ring something like “teeth” it secures the piping so well that once it’s connected it can’t be pulled apart.
Installation
- Use an emery cloth to clean the surface of the pipes that you plan to connect to the valve. This will clean out any sharp edges. Sharp edges can damage the valve). Also, a smooth and clean surface – free of debris, paint, etc. will ensure a good connection.
- Before you push the pipe into the valve determine how far you need to push for a good connection. Because if it’s not pushed in properly then the pipe won’t hold the valve. The pipe needs to sit at the shoulder of the SharkBite valve joint. So in order to see how far you need to push do this: lay down the pipe next to or on top of the valve joint. Then with a marker mark the pipe to where the valve ends.
- It’s time to push the pipe into the valve. Make sure not to push at an angle, but straight.
Tip: if you need to remove this type of valve you’ll need to either use a SharkBite remover tool or pillars. Once you have one of these tools provide downward pressure on the end of the SharkBite valve. When you compress the plastic piece the teeth will release the grip on the pipe.
Compression Valves
This valve is a tighten-to-connect fitting that relies on a plumber’s putty, ferrule(ring), and nut. The pressure between the ferrule and pipe will create the perfect water-tight connection.
Installation
- As before, make sure to clean the pipe with an emery cloth.
- By hand, unscrew the compression valve nut from the valve.
- Now remove the ferrule (ring) that’s within the nut.
- Place a nut on the pipe you need to connect to the valve.
- Slide the ferrule on the pipe. For now, keep it a bit far away from the end of the pipe to give space for the valve.
- Push the valve on the pipe.
- Paint the ferrule with Plumber’s puffy.
- With the ferrule, that’s compressing on the valve base, take the nut up over the top of the ferrule and then tighten the nut on the valve by hand.
- Use two pliers, with one holding the base of the valve, and with the other holding the nut and tightening it securely.
Tip: if you need to remove a compression valve use 2 pillars on the nut and the base of the valve, loosen the nut then remove it. Wipe off any plumber’s puffy from the ring, the ferrule. Use pliers to remove the ferrule so as not to get stuck because this is a compression valve connection.
A damaged shutoff valve can delay you from fixing the main toilet issue, but fixing the valve or replacing it in the correct way will also protect your home from any future flooding and issues. So make sure to follow our guide when you do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the Valve is Turned Off But the Toilet Still Refills?
If that happens, it means that your shutoff valve is not performing well. Turn off the main water supply line and pull the float lever in the tank. It will stop the tank from refilling. However, this approach is just a temporary solution, and you should fix the valve as soon as possible.
What Do I Do if I Turn off the Water Supply to the Toilet but Still Hear a Trickling Sound?
The trickling sound shows that you have a problem with either the flush or fill valve. In that case, you need to either fix or replace them.
In What Direction Do I Rotate the Valve to Shut It Off?
The valve needs to be rotated clockwise, which will tighten it and prevent the water from reaching the toilet.
How Long Do Shutoff Valves Last?
Most homes nowadays have compression valves that don’t last too long. On average, a compression valve will only last about ten years.
Our Opinion
Repairing or replacing a shutoff valve might seem a challenging task at first, but actually, it should be a skill that any homeowner should have. Because this is not just about preparing for toilet repair. Shutoff valves can save you from many water incidents that can happen at home because even other small leaks over time can become a major issue. We believe that if you follow the DIY guide we have here will help you tackle shutoff valve issues without any problems.