A quick fix for a sticking Fluidmaster toilet valve.

Sticking Fluidmaster Toilet Valve.

Last Updated on 6 months by Christopher G Mendla

I don’t have the time to replace the valve right now but this quick hack worked.

The problem – a sticking float valve

The toilet valve at the shore home was sticking. When you flushed, it intermittently wouldn’t drop and refill the tank. That meant that you had to remove the cover and tap it. That got old fast. 

Lubricate or add weight

I didn’t want to work on it during the peak of the season. I tried WD-40 but that didn’t help. Imagine something that couldn’t be fixed with WD-40 or Duct Tape. Another alternative was to glue some weight on the top of the float. I wasn’t sure that would work. 

Adjust the chain and/or float arm

I ended up re-adjusting the connection between the float and the valve  arm. It seemed that a small adjustment figuring that would be enough.

Remove the slime and rust

Spraying the post that the float slides on with Kaboom Mold and Mildew remover seemed to be a logical idea. My thought was that any slime on the parts might be making it stick. As you can see it is a bit rusty so I followed up with some white vinegar after flushing it. (You don’t want to mix clorox based cleaners with other chemicals). The vinegar should help remove any rust/calcium deposits between the float and post. 


Sticking Fluidmaster Toilet Valve.

SUMMARY

It worked for now. I kicked the can down the road and can deal with it by replacing the valve at the end of the season. Or, if it is working OK, let it go till spring. If that doesn’t work, you can try a new Fluidmaster valve.

About the author Christopher G Mendla

I am a full stack web developer, IT Manager, Project Manager, Educator, Technologist and someone who maintains a keen interest in life and the world around me.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}