A common cause of a slow-filling toilet is a waterlogged float ball. The float ball is the–you guessed it!–floating ball that sits at the top of your toilet tank. Its role is to control the amount of water coming into the tank. If it gets waterlogged, it will only allow water to fill very slowly. Fortunately, replacing your float ball is a simple and inexpensive process. You can pick up a float ball at your local hardware store and follow the instructions to remove your old ball from the float arm and attach the new one in its place.
Sometimes the cause of a slow-filling toilet is very simple: your water supply valve just isn’t open all the way. The valve is the little knob located on the wall underneath your toilet. Check the valve and make sure it is turned open all the way.
The fill valve is located on the vertical tube on the inside of your toilet tank. Fill valve tubes can wear down, shift, and/or clog over time, which will cause your toilet to fill very slowly. If your toilet is slow to fill, you may need a new fill valve. Inspect the valve and tube for signs of damage to determine whether that is the likely culprit.
A slow-filling toilet could also be a sign that you have a blockage in your pipes that is preventing water from flowing at full volume. If your toilet is filling slowly and you’ve ruled out other common causes, have your pipes professionally cleaned.
A leak somewhere in your plumbing system can also make a toilet fill slowly because water isn’t able to make it there at full pressure. Having your plumbing system inspected by an experienced plumber will determine whether or not you have any hidden leaks in your pipes.
Need toilet repairs? We’ve got you covered.