If you’re a property owner, then I’m sure you’ve dealt with a leaky or noisy toilet once or twice, if not more. The traditional solution has always been to call a plumber, but what about when your toilet is out of warranty, or you don’t want to pay out of your pocket to call in for the repair?
With all the information available on the web, plus the help of the best complete toilet repair kit, you won’t need to spend a lot to fix your golden throne. The only problem you’ll have to face now is which toilet kit to buy, but don’t worry about that too much; we’re here to help you out with finding the best-rated toilet repair kit! First, look below for some of the most recognized brands, followed by the top 8 best toilet repair kits, before we get into some detailed toilet repair kit reviews and information on knowing which kit is best for the repair you need to make.
Are you thinking of replacing your toilet? Please read our reviews of top-rated toilets.
How do I use a toilet repair kit?
To replace a leaky flapper or damaged fill valve, you’ll want to follow the instructions that come with your toilet repair kit, but in general, the steps will be as follows:
- Turn off your water supply
- Flush the tank to empty all the water
- Make sure the top of the fill valve is set to 3’’ above the overflow pipe
- Adjust the height by twisting the lower shank of the kit
- Replace the fill valve & tighten the lock nut
- Attach the water supply connector & Refill tubes
- Turn on the water and make sure the toilet is functioning correctly
Brands
The top 2 dominating brands in the department of toilet repair kits are Fluidmaster and Korky, with Fluidmaster being the #1 toilet repair brand worldwide. No matter which brand of toilet you have, there’s a high possibility that parts of it are from Fluidmaster. Korky, on the other hand, comes in at #1 for being the first brand to invent the original toilet flapper, made from a premium rubber called Chlorazone.
Other less recognizable brands but equally as high quality to one another are LDR, Danco and Brom4ord. However, in our opinion, the best of these three for performance and quality is Danco. As one of the largest brands with expertise in remodelling supplies, plumbing repairs, and replacement parts, Danco has been evolving and improving in the industry for over 35 years and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
Top 5 Best Toilet Repair Kits
Selected for their performance, ease of use and durability, here at 5 of the top-rated toilet repair kits to help you fix the most common problems with your toilet.
There’s no reason you should have to deal with a leaky toilet for another second, especially when you can pick up this tool-less toilet repair kit for under $10. The kit includes a 400A Fill Valve that is adjustable between 9’’ to 14’’ and a 501 Flapper that fits 2’’ flush valve toilets. The recommended application is for a 3.5 gallon/flush toilet or larger but will also work well with a 1.6 GPF toilet.
In under 10 minutes, the Fluidmaster 400CRP14 can be easily installed so your toilet can go back to functioning at full power and with a smooth and quiet flush. What makes it so great? The materials used and design contribute to its incredible performance, topping all other toilet repair kits on our list.
Highlights:
- Fail-safe option
- Fantastic for almost every make and model
- 5 Year Warranty
- Quick installation
Downsides: The flapper is slightly tricky to install and does require a bit more attention to get right. Also, although this toilet repair kit is durable, many reviewers commented that using metal parts in the design would have made this product more durable and able to hold up for a more extended period.
Are you looking to restore the overall performance of your toilet? This model 400AKRP10 is the best All-in-One complete toilet repair kit and is labeled as an Amazon’s Choice item! Ideal for toilet repairs involving replacing the fill valve, flushing mechanisms or other hardware inside and out, including the handle. Ideal for 1.6 + gallon/flush toilets. If your toilet needs a bit of a facelift, this is the ultimate kit to make your toilet run like it’s new again.
The trusted and built-for durability Fluidmaster 400AKRP10 is designed with a performance at the top. The PerforMAX 2 Flapper has a water-saving design, allowing it to adjust to the maximum water usage set for each flush. In addition, the 400A toilet fill valve guarantees a quiet and efficient flush with every use.
Highlights:
- Easy to follow instructions
- It fits most models with a 2-inch flush valve
- Best for toilets with a 1.6 or 3.5 GPF rating
- 5 Year Warranty
Downsides: If you are using this kit with a Kohler toilet, you will be better off purchasing a separate low-profile gasket specific to a Kohler model rather than using the ones included. Also, this kit only comes with two bolts rather than three that are typically needed for Kohler model toilet replacements.
Arguably the best Korky universal fit toilet repair kit, the Korky 2003BP is designed to repair corrosion or take care of deposits on plastic or brass flush valve seals. With a flapper that’s made from the longest-lasting rubber material on the market, when it comes to flapper construction, the Korky 2003BP is easy and quick to install. Then, in roughly 15 minutes, you can repair and seal the job!
This is the best toilet repair kit for helping to repair plastic flush valves and fixing leaks at the drain of the tank. Fitting a standard 2’’ valve, this kit will be ideal for many designs and models.
Highlights:
- Constructed from materials that resist bacteria and chlorine
- Seals with confidence
- Simple to follow instructions
- 5 Year Warranty
Downsides: We don’t have any deal-breaker cons to list for this one. However, some reviewers complained that the seal didn’t hold well, and their toilet continued to leak. It appears that none of these reviews had cleaned the area before the fill to clear corrosion or particles before applying the repair kit and seal; this is most likely why they had a sealing problem.
The best Korky universal fit toilet repair kit is the model 4010PK. Compatible with most brands of toilets on the market today, this kit is the most comprehensive toilet repair kit available. So if you need to troubleshot a noisy toilet, deal with running issues or problems with refilling, this kit will not disappoint.
The kit includes a rubber flapper that is resistant to bacteria and chlorine, meaning that it will last longer and won’t contribute to a dirty tank. Also, in the kit, you’ll find the flush valve, fill value and several tank-to-bowl components.
Highlights:
- Fill valve with a smooth and quiet operation
- Adjusts well to various toilet designs
- Can help regulate the flush value
Downsides: Comments agree that the fill valve is slower to fill than with other kits. Performance is excellent if you don’t mind this minor annoyance.
With incredible reliable performance and durable construction, the Danco 80816 is considered the best complete toilet repair kit by many. Great for single flush applications, this universal kit is one of the best-rated toilet repair kits based on Amazon reviews. The kit includes the flapper with adapter, spring, ballcock with refill tube, and float with the rod. The Danco 80816 fits most toilet models and brands and is an excellent kit for fixing multiple toilet problems.
Highlights:
- Durable metal arm and plastic attachments
- 1 Year Warranty
- Comprehensive Kit
Downsides: The instructions are not overly clear when connecting the plastic hose into the bowl fill pipe. Toilet repair kit reviews suggest that checking the YouTube instructions on the product as they are much easier to follow.
According to Amazon reviews, if you like this kit, check out the Danco HydroStop, the best flapper-less toilet kit by Danco.
What To Consider
The toilet kit you’ll end up buying will be the one that solves the problem your toilet has. With that said, to find the equipment for you, you’ll need to diagnose your toilet to find the culprit. You can do this by following these steps:
- Flush the toilet to empty the tank
- Shut off the water supply
Then, check for…
- Corrosion or mineral accumulation; a build-up can be the cause of leakages
- Loose fittings and metal components, and weak valve seals
- The proper condition of the floater ball
Not every problem your toilet faces will need to be fixed with a toilet kit so let’s share a little secret with you now.
A simple cleaning of the inside of the tank and around fittings and other components can solve the problem in some cases.
Typical Toilet Problems – Common Culprits
The three most common toilet complaints are a weak flush, phantom flushes and a runny toilet; take a look below at what causes these problems.
Weak Flush – Damaged Flush valve or Air filter on the fill valve.
Phantom Flushes -Problems with the Flapper Ball or Flapper. If the flapper is the problem, the toilet will keep filling. In this case, the flapper value would need to be re-fitted. The seals or gaskets may also need to be replaced.
Runny Toilet – Malfunctioning Flush valve. If the malfunction is not fixed by cleaning, the valve will need to be replaced.
Tips to Repair
- Check if your tank and components are compatible with silicone; if not, the parts you’re fixing may not seal correctly, or there may be a harmful interaction between the sealant and the actual toilet.
- Before replacing any seals or gaskets, make sure to lubricate them.
Leaks Are Gone – Conclusion
When selecting the best complete toilet repair kit, the first thing you must remember is to diagnose your toilet to identify the problem. Second, once the issue is diagnosed, check for a kit that has all the components you need to repair. Third, head back to our list of the best toilet repair kits to find the kit for all your needs. Although the Fluidmaster toilet repair kit, model 400CRP14, is the most impressive, any of our top 5 will handle the job you plan to tackle, especially our second favourite brand, the Korky universal fit toilet repair kit. Whichever you choose, you can have confidence knowing the job will get done; we’ve selected our top toilet repair kits for their performance, ease of use and durability and are proud to bring the selection of top models to you, allowing you to fix the job without needing to call in the plumber.
