Have you noticed that your toilet is taking longer to refill after flushing? This is a frequent toilet problem with several possible culprits. Luckily, none of them are major concerns or costly to correct. Follow this guide to get your slow toilet working efficiently again.

How to Fix a Slow-Filling Toilet

Learning why your toilet is slow to fill is step #1 for fixing it. Keep in mind these possible reasons and how to handle each one.

Partially Closed Water Supply Valve

Look behind the toilet for the water supply hook-up connected to the wall. You’ll find a valve attached to it, which enables you to shut off the water during toilet repairs and replacements. Examine the value to ensure it is fully open.

Trouble with the Fill Valve or Tube

The fill valve, which can be found connected to the top of a vertical tube device in the toilet tank, manages the water level flowing into the tank. A toilet fill valve may degrade, clog or shift out of alignment after years of use, hindering the tank from filling appropriately. Follow these tips to adjust, clean or fix the fill valve:

Locate the fill valve: Lift the toilet tank lid and find the fill valve inside. It’s normally secured on the left side with a tailpiece extending through the bottom of the tank and connecting to the supply tube and shut-off valve.
Adjust the fill valve: Be certain the fill valve is secure and evenly attached to the tube. Modify the fill valve height if necessary by turning the adjustment knob (typical to newer toilets) or find a flathead screwdriver and loosen the adjustment screw (required for older toilets). Then, check that the water level is roughly one inch below the top of the overflow tube.
Wash the fill valve: To eliminate mineral buildup and other dirt from the valve, first shut off the water in the rear of the toilet and remove the fill cap. Right after that, slowly turn the water back on, cupping your hand over the valve to avoid getting sprayed. Let the water flow for 15-20 seconds to flush out dirt. Next, scrub away mineral buildup from the fill cap. If you notice cracks or substantial wear and tear, replace the valve.
Clean the valve tube: Debris inside the valve tube could also be to blame. Shut off the water supply and take off the valve hardware. Afterward, run a slim wire or bottle brush into the tube. Open the water supply slightly to flush away the leftover residue. Reconnect the valve hardware and confirm if the toilet fills faster now.

Waterlogged Float Ball

The float ball in older toilet models rises with the water level, closing the fill valve whenever the tank has filled. If the float ball takes on water, it blocks the tank from filling correctly.

Pull up the tank lid and look inside. A partially sunken float ball may be waterlogged. Before running out to buy a new ball, look at the float arm it’s connected to. If the arm is directed too low in the tank, bend it up a little bit to elevate the ball’s height.

If that fails to solve the issue, then it might be time to just replace the component entirely. But it's worth remembering that this is an older toilet design, so it might possibly be better to upgrade the existing tank components or change out the toilet entirely.

Blocked Plumbing Vent

Your home plumbing system includes vents that enable air to enter the pipes. If they end up being clogged, pressure may build within the pipes, stopping the water from flowing. This can, in turn, make your toilet slow to fill or even cause the bowl to overrun.

You need to get on the roof to look for clogged plumbing vents. Search for long, vertical PVC pipes poking up from the tiles. Clear away any animal nests, deep snow or other obstructions you notice to ensure your plumbing works properly.

Leaky or Blocked Pipe

If there's nothing apparently wrong with the water supply valve, fill valve and tube, float ball or plumbing vents, the slow toilet problem could stem from your supply pipes. A water line leak could stop your toilet tank from filling correctly. It’s best to hire a licensed plumber to handle these issues.

Schedule Toilet Repair with Service Experts

When all else fails, turn to Service Experts for reliable toilet repair in the U.S. We can figure out the reason why the water flow is so slow and perform a budget-friendly repair. If the fixture has reached the end of its typical life span, our company can propose high-efficiency toilet replacement in the U.S. We’ll help you pick out the replacement model and install it for you. You can relax knowing that every job we perform is protected by a Service Experts Guarantee! To schedule a visit from us, please call Service Experts today.