- 1). Examine your leaking refill valve, and attempt to repair it only if you determine that it includes an anti-siphon valve. Otherwise, replace it with a new one.
- 2). Unscrew the ball on the end of the lever arm and shake it. Replace it if there is water inside, then screw it back on and adjust the arm so that it stops the refill valve when the tank is full. If the valve still leaks, you should replace the washer on the end of the plunger.
- 3). Turn off the water to the toilet and flush the toilet to drain the tank. Unscrew the nuts or screws on the top of the leaking valve to remove the plunger. There may be two wing nuts that you loosen by hand, or three Phillips screws that you loosen with a screwdriver.
- 4). Lift out the plunger and remove the washer on the bottom by unscrewing the screw holding it. Slide off the washer around the body of the plunger. Replace either or both of them if they are worn. It's best to take the whole plunger assembly to the hardware store to be sure you get the correct washers.
- 5). Look at the valve seat inside the body of the valve. If it has a square or hex (hexagonal) hole, remove and replace it with a seat wrench, which is available at the hardware store. If it has a round hole, you can't replace it, but you can flush it to remove debris by turning on the water for a couple of seconds before replacing the plunger.
- 6). Screw in a new valve seat, if you are replacing the old one, then slide the plunger back in place and replace and tighten the screws that hold it. Turn the water back on.
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