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are all flush valves the same size

by Domenico Morissette Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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A flush valve is a part inside the tank of a toilet that moves the water into the bowl. Toilet flush valves come in different sizes ranging from 2 to 4 inches, depending on the toilet design. If you are thinking of buying a new toilet, pay attention to the type of flush valve it has.

Full Answer

What size do toilet flush valves come in?

Toilet flush valves come in different sizes ranging from 2 to 4 inches, depending on the toilet design. If you are thinking of buying a new toilet, pay attention to the type of flush valve it has.

How to choose the best flush valve to buy?

While replacing your flush valve, you will need to buy the exact size or else you will be left with a valve you can’t use. The best flush valve to buy is an original replacement from your toilet tank manufacturer. Get your toilet model number stamped inside your toilet tank and use it to order a flush valve

Should I replace my toilet flush valve?

While replacing the flush valve, it is a good practice to also take the opportunity to replace the toilet tank bolts, tank to bowl gasket and toilet flapper. Toilet tank repair kits are available and cheaper than buying one part at a time. A new kit can serve you for the next 5 or more years.

How do I know what size flush valve I Need?

You discovered there are some differences in flush valve systems and that toilets sizes can vary. An easy reference is to look at the size of the flush valve drain opening in the bottom of the tank. If it’s about the size of an orange or baseball, you need a 2 inch seal.

What is a standard flush valve?

What is a flush valve?

What is a 3 inch tower flush valve?

Why does my toilet tank refill?

How many gallons per flush for a toilet?

How long do lead pipes last?

Do you need a flush valve for a toilet?

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How do I know what size flush valve I need?

Look at the flush valve drain opening at the bottom of your tank. If the opening looks about the size of a baseball or orange, you need a 2″ flapper. If the opening looks about the size of a softball or grapefruit, you need a 3″ flapper.

What is the standard flush valve size?

The standard 4-inch flush valve is intended for toilets with a tank-to-bowl opening of about 4 inches—a bump in size that provides a more powerful flush as the flow of water into the toilet bowl increases.

Are flush valves universal?

All though there are many different types of flush valves most flush valves are interchangeable and depend on the size of the ceramic flush hole that is bored through the tank by the porcelain manufacturer.

Are toilet bowl valves universal?

Most toilet fill valves are compatible with valves of the same type—if they're labeled “universal.” For example, universal float cup valves will fit the tanks of most toilet brands as long as they contain a similar valve. However, replacement ball cock valves won't fit tanks with float cup valves and vice versa.

How do I know if my toilet uses a 2 inch or 3 inch flush valve?

An easy reference is to look at the size of the flush valve drain opening in the bottom of the tank. If it's about the size of an orange or baseball, you need a 2 inch seal. If it looks more like the size of a grapefruit or softball, you need a jumbo 3 inch seal.

What are the different types of toilet flush valves?

The five most common toilet fill valves types you may find in your home include:Plunger/ Piston Type Fill Valve.Diaphragm Type Fill Valve (brass body)Diaphragm Type Fill Valve (plastic body)Float Cup Type Fill Valve.Float-less Type Fill Valve.

How do you replace a toilet flush valve?

InstructionsShut off the Water. ... Remove the Toilet Tank. ... Remove the Tank Bolts. ... Remove the Old Flush Valve. ... Install the New Flush Valve. ... Install the New Tank Bolts. ... Set the Tank Onto the Bowl. ... Connect the Water Supply.

What is a 2 inch flush valve toilet?

2 inch and 3 inch Flush Valves are valves that flush using a flapper valve to release the water. The designation 2 inch and 3 inch describe the drain opening along with the corresponding size of the flapper that covers the drain opening.

How much does it cost to replace a flush valve?

between $75 and $200According to Fixr, the average toilet valve repair cost is between $75 and $200 to replace a flush valve or up to $400 to fix a constantly running toilet. This includes the cost of the plumber's time for the toilet repair and the cost of the toilet parts.

How often should you replace toilet fill valve?

How Often to Replace a Fluidmaster Toilet Fill Valve. The manufacturer recommends replacing either the entire valve or parts every five years to avoid flooding that could damage your home.

Why do toilet fill valves fail?

0:111:58How to Know When Your Fill Valve on a Toilet Needs Replacing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow a lot of times what happens is either the bottom washer ends up deteriorating and causing a leakMoreNow a lot of times what happens is either the bottom washer ends up deteriorating and causing a leak or the toilet fill valve just won't fill anymore.

Why does toilet whistle when flushed?

The fill valve is a float that rises and falls with the level of water, thus regulating the water entering into the tank after flushing. When the fill valve gets old, the pieces and bits holding it together start deteriorating, and as a result, your toilet produces a whistling sound after flushing.

What is a 2 inch flush valve toilet?

2 inch and 3 inch Flush Valves are valves that flush using a flapper valve to release the water. The designation 2 inch and 3 inch describe the drain opening along with the corresponding size of the flapper that covers the drain opening.

What is the standard toilet supply line size?

Typically they are 3/8” in diameter, but toilet supply line size can vary in length, usually anywhere from 9” to 20”.

What size is my water shut off valve?

Shut-off valves come with different-sized outlet ports. The two most common are 3/8- and 1/2-inch compression or male pipe thread. Faucets connectors aren't completely standardized, but most have 1/2-inch male pipe thread connectors.

What size thread is a toilet fill valve?

Thread x 7/8 Ballcock Thread, 20-Inch Length.

What does a flush valve do?

The flush valve’s job is to move water from the tank into the bowl for each flush. The valve sits inside the hole at the bottom of the tank. Over the valve is usually a rubber flapper that creates a water-tight seal that keeps water in the tank when not in use. When the toilet handle is lifted, the flapper is raised for a few seconds to allow the water into the tank. The flapper then lowers to shut off the flow of water.

What is a 3 inch tower flush valve?

3-inch tower flush valve – Similar to the previous type of flush valve, this version is wider for a more powerful flush. The difference is that this flush valve uses a tower design where the seal moves vertically instead of using the flapper. Since it doesn’t have a hinge which blocks a small amount of the valve opening, even more water can be directed into the bowl during a flush.

What does pushing the toilet handle up do?

With many of these valves, pushing the toilet handle up will result in a half flush (appropriate for flushing just liquids) while pushing the handle down enables a full flush (better for solids). This type of flush valve allows you to save a significant amount of water every year.

Is a toilet a never ending job?

Being a homeowner can seem like a never-ending job. There’s always something to upgrade, update, or repair. When some items break or stop working, you can take your time fixing them. The toilet is not one of them.

Can you replace a toilet flush valve?

Replacing the flush valve. Many parts of a toilet can wear down and break. Thankfully, they can be simple to replace and a good DIY project. When installing a new flush valve in your existing toilet, pay careful attention to the size of the current valve so you can find a suitable replacement.

What is a flush valve?

What is a Toilet Flush Valve? A flush valve is the toilet part at the bottom of the tank through which water flows from the tank to the bowl during flushing. Most toilets have a 2-inch flush valve but a few high-performance ones have a 3 or 4-inch flush valve. Flush valves are attached to the toilet tanks by a lock nut from underneath the tank.

How many pegs does a toilet flush valve have?

The flush valve has 2 pegs where the toilet flapper ears are hooked. It therefore provides a medium for hinging the flapper.

What are the two mechanisms of a toilet?

A toilet has two mechanisms: the flushing mechanism and the refill mechanism . The flushing mechanism involves the toilet handle, toilet handle arm, lift chain, toilet flapper, flush valve, bowl and toilet trap. With refill mechanism, the process starts with the fill valve then the toilet float, refill tube and the overflow tube.

How much water does a toilet flush use?

Almost all toilets had a standard 2-inch flush valve. Back then the toilets used 3.5 gallons of water per flush so even with a small flush valve your toilet would still flush well.

Why do toilets not need a tank?

Remember the reason you have a tank is because water in most buildings do not have sufficient pressure to flush a toilet.

Where is the canister flush valve on a Kohler toilet?

Canister flush valves are mounted in the middle of the of the toilet tank. They are especially used by modern Kohler toilets like the Kohler Cimarron. A cylindrical canister valve with a rubber seal/gasket at the bottom is attached to a chain which is in turn connected to the flushing handle.

Where is the overflow tube in a toilet?

The overflow tube is the large tube in the middle of the toilet tank. It is connected to the flush valve. The refill tube is clipped on top of the overflow tube. It sends some water at the bottom of the bowl which acts as barrier for sewer gases.

What size hole do you need for a flush actuator?

The flush actuator mount hole can be a little tricky sometimes because there are two commons sizes, 5/8″ and 3/4″ square , which will also vary a little due to the same manufacturing tolerances. Most flush actuators, whether lever handle or push button, will have a removable rubber collar that will accommodate both sizes. All of our kits have this collar arrangement unless otherwise specified. In extreme cases where the hole is a little smaller than 5/8″, the plastic shoulder of the flush mechanism may need to be sanded or filed slightly. Then on the other extreme, where the hole is slightly larger than 3/4″, the rubber collar may need to be shimmed with tape or other suitable material to enlarge it further for a tight fit.

What size is a standard toilet?

Toilet Sizes . . . Most common standard toilets are generally considered to be either “2-inch or 3-inch” by naming convention. This refers to the INSIDE pipe diameter within the toilet and down through the floor drain.

How to tell what size toilet you need?

Note that in most cases, the toilet size can be determined by measuring the lip of the flapper valve base. If the flapper lip is roughly 1 7/8″ to 2 3/8″ in diameter, that indicates a 2-inch toilet. If it is more in the 3″ range, that is most likely a 3-inch toilet. See our illustration of measuring the flapper valve base lip over on the Products > Help Me Choose tab.

What does it mean when a toilet is bigger?

Since the toilet size refers to the inside pipe diameter, this means the drain hole cut-out inside the tank will naturally be larger. How much larger depends on the initial hole cut-out and the after-cure tolerance of the ceramic or plastic composite during manufacturing.

What is a floatless fill valve?

The floatless fill valve is made of plastic and is a newer innovation in anti-siphon fill valves. These fill valves use a diaphragm pressure-sensing mechanism rather than any kind of float device to control the inlet valve. Originally designed for low profile/ low flow toilet tanks of the 1990s, these fill valves are usually inexpensive but the design has been known to have a spotty record of reliability. Many professional plumbers avoid them in favor of float-cup fill valves.

What is the fill valve on a toilet?

The fill valve is arguably the most important part of the standard gravity flush toilet. This is the component that controls the water filling the holding tank, the part that opens the water flow as the flush cycle empties the tank, and shuts of the water supply once the tank has refilled to the proper level. ...

What is the difference between a ballcock and a plunger?

They can come in a cast brass body or plastic body construction. Rather than a plunger stem with a washer that seals against the water inlet port, this type of ballcock has a diaphragm seal that opens and closes to control water flow.

What is a ballcock toilet?

Plunger or piston style fill valves ( ballcocks) are among the earliest style of toilet tank fill valve designs. They are made of a heavy duty cast brass body that provides quiet operation. This style of ballcock uses a characteristic bottom-fill water discharge tube and is designed with a hinged lever assembly above the ballcock, which often use thumbscrews at some hinged joints to allow adjustment of the lever arm movement. These fill valves work by means of a floating ball attached to a pivoting lever that opens and closes a plunger stem fitted against a water inlet port—hence the name ballcock .

Why should I replace old style fill valves?

If you have one of these old-style fill valves they should be replaced because they do not meet current plumbing codes calling for anti-siphon protection.

Is a toilet fill valve a ballcock?

At this stage in the evolution of toilet fill valves, the device no longer qualifies as a true ballcock, since the floating ball has now been replaced by a different mechanism. To this day, though, toilet fill valves of all types are often referred to as ballcocks .

Where are the valves on a tank?

You will find these valves attached to the bottom of the tank, since they operate underwater.

Choose from the following options

Learn how to find the correct size toilet flapper - Video and step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1

Check out the video to learn more about 2 inch and 3 inch flapper and what's right for your toilet.

What is a standard flush valve?

Most toilets have a standard flush valve. This is just a basic 2-inch flush valve and flapper that lifts up when you push the toilet handle down. Standard flush valves may be found on low-flow toilets and on some older toilets with large tanks.

What is a flush valve?

A flush valve is a part inside the tank of a toilet that moves the water into the bowl. Toilet flush valves come in different sizes ranging from 2 to 4 inches, depending on the toilet design. If you are thinking of buying a new toilet, pay attention to the type of flush valve it has. In most cases, larger valves move water faster, ...

What is a 3 inch tower flush valve?

Like the 3-inch flapper-style flush valve, the 3-inch tower flush valve has a 3-inch opening in the tank where the water goes into the bowl. But while a flapper partially obstructs the valve opening, the tower-style valve allows for water to leave the tank unrestricted (360-degree flow), which can produce a faster flush.

Why does my toilet tank refill?

Rather, it’s a case of your toilet tank refilling due to loss of water through the flapper. “Ghost-flushing” occurs because the toilet tank flapper is no longer creating a water tight seal with the flush valve and water is leaking into the toilet bowl.

How many gallons per flush for a toilet?

There are some great toilets using only 1.28 gallons per flush with a 3-inch flush valve. Replacing a 3-inch valve is the same as replacing the standard flush valve; it is just a larger valve. Several manufacturers offer 3-inch universal flush valves that should work well. Tower-Style 3-Inch Flush Valve.

How long do lead pipes last?

Lead pipes can last a century — but not without leaching into the drinking water. Replace all lead pipes to comply with modern safety standards. Before the 1960s – cast iron drain pipes were common. Minerals in the water cause these pipes to slowly corrode, making interiors rough and jagged and leading to clogs.

Do you need a flush valve for a toilet?

If you have a running toilet and have replaced the flapper, but this did not stop water from leaking out of the tank, your toilet may need a new flush valve. 3-Inch Flush Valve. Having a larger flush valve means getting the water into the bowl and down the drain more quickly.

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What Does A Flush Valve do?

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The flush valve’s job is to move water from the tank into the bowl for each flush. The valve sits inside the hole at the bottom of the tank. Over the valve is usually a rubber flapper that creates a water-tight seal that keeps water in the tank when not in use. When the toilet handle is lifted, the flapper is raised for a few seconds to al…
See more on epshawaii.com

Replacing The Flush Valve

  • Many parts of a toilet can wear down and break. Thankfully, they can be simple to replace and a good DIY project. When installing a new flush valve in your existing toilet, pay careful attention to the size of the current valve so you can find a suitable replacement.
See more on epshawaii.com

Standard and Other Sizes of Flush Valves

  • The standard size of a flush valve is 2 inches. This size is what you’ll likely find at a home improvement store and should work on most toilets, including low-flow and older models with larger tanks. If your flush valve is not the standard 2-inch version, you may have one of these other sizes. 1. 3-inch flush valve– Some toilet manufacturers use a...
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