Most times people may not need toilet repairs for months in their new homes. With time, even the toughest material wears off. Toilet parts are no exceptions. Apart from proper installation, the use of genuine materials can prevent frequent toilet problems. But you will have to encounter an inevitable malfunction after a certain period of time.
For me, when a minor defect arises, for example, a faulty fill valve overflowing my toilet or the flush handle not working, I often feel relaxed because it's likely an issue that I can fix easily with a toilet repair kit. Also, I had some bad experiences with low water pressure that couldn't flush a small piece of waste or toilet paper. The smell was very embarrassing until I flushed with a bucket of water. Later, with a toilet replacement kit, I could solve the problem easily.
If you want to bag the best toilet repair kit out there, check for all the necessary sealant, design, filter in the package along with the price. Let's find out other necessary factors to consider before grabbing the top deal on the market.
Why you should trust us
The ToiletsGuide team consists of a group of visionary plumbing engineers and interior designers who are passionate about bringing innovative solutions to bathroom fittings and fixtures in household and public buildings. Our decade-long dynamic professional experience honed our ability to detect the right components and accessories for the right kind of toilet system. We share our cumulative knowledge on a wide range of bathroom fittings with our readers through our how-to blogs and elaborate product reviews that you may find on this website.
We do our homework before writing reviews. We literally handpick each of our top choices after conducting vehement online market research. The best part is the field-test session where we test our reviewed product units under a simulated environment. That seals our authenticity.
However, we are not affiliated with any brand or manufacturer for monetary benefits. Instead, we keep our research-backed findings open for everyone to see and have a clear picture of a product before making an informed buying decision.
How did we pick these products?
The ToiletsGuide team adapted a scientific approach in order to create the final list of top toilet repair kits. When we started our journey we came across an overwhelming number of products and it took us about 30 hours of extensive online research to single out initial 25 kit models with the highest number of user ratings and positive feedback.
Then we ran a field-testing session where our team members and a group of volunteers created a simulated environment to examine each repair kit. We closely monitored how the actually performed in real-life situations in a wide range of flush toilets. We mainly focused on 3 major points apart from the building materials of the kits--
- Gasket and O-ring sealant
- Fill valve and flapper assembly
- Durability
All the data received from the testing session helped us narrow down our list to 10. Then we arranged interviews with top industry experts and celebrated plumbing engineers of the country and their insights contributed to ranking the final 10 kit models in accordance with their specialty of features. The products you can find in our top picks are superior to regular models and a careful reading of this review would suffice to make the right buying decision.
Our Top 10 Best Toilet Repair Kit
So, what is the best toilet repair kit? In the section below we've tried to answer that question. Remember that our top picks of 10 repair kits have high-profile designs. All of them come with complete accessories and enjoy the recommendations of plumbing experts. It's not enough to focus on the product label of each replacement kit. Generally, the rule of the thumb when it comes to choosing any replacement kit is to test it. We have done that for all buyers and expect you to make wise decisions when you shop.
Why use toilet repair kits?
A weak flush could be annoying, especially when you are using someone else's toilet. Usually, these are little issues that require urgent attention when they pop up. You might never know until a plumber comes to check the cause of dysfunction. However, understanding the problem can help you decide if it needs a DIY fix or professional services.
1. Phantom Flush or Immediate Running problem
The floater ball or flapper mechanism are common causes for your toilet's phantom flushes, and it is because either of these toilet guts fails to read water levels. When the level of water in a toilet tank rises, the flapper shuts supply automatically.
However, you'll need the repair kit to fix the flapper valve, gaskets, and seals. When you experience immediate running problems, it's a sign your seals and gaskets need some lubrication to overcome this issue.
2. Non-stop water drain
When you encounter a non-stop water drain problem, it's a sign telling you to change the fill valve. A malfunctioning fill valve causes continuous flow. It might be a slow trickling of water down the bowl that your toilet's ball-cock and float fail to stop. Also, the fill valve could have been clogged by impurities from tap water. With this condition, buying repair kits is a waste of money. Simply clear the impurities from the affected parts with vinegar and a wire brush. Otherwise, get toilet replacement kits for all the affected components. And, don't forget to use a top-quality toilet fill valve in the first place.
3. Incomplete or weak flushing
The waste evacuation process of a sanitary unit requires a high-pressure flush. It's an eyesore to have toilet papers and tiny parts of waste floating above water lines inside the bowl. Usually, weak flushing issues indicate faulty flush-valve cartridges or air inducers/filters. You'll find these components on the fill valve in your toilet tank, and they are often affected by hard water. Simply apply a generous quantity of vinegar on the wire brush and scrub the affected parts. However, these affected components might have been damaged, and you'll need a cistern fixing kit to fix them.
For conventional or modern designs, it's necessary to ensure a consistent level of water to have a functional flushing commode. Also, hard water sediments can clog internal toilet parts. However, this review will guide you through getting the right replacement parts.
Toilet repair kit: buying guide
Before you buy a wc fixing kit, conduct an assessment on your water closet to know the real issue. So, flush and empty the toilet's tank, and shut its source of water. Commodes with water flow problems can lead to bigger issues if they are not fixed on time. Here is a rundown of some basic factors that buyers must consider before picking one.
Enclosure
Generally, water closets come in nice shapes and sizes. Their tanks usually hold between 5 to 7 liters of water on average. And these tanks are enclosed with flush handles or knobs by their sides and tops respectively. The tank's trip levers connect with internal mechanisms that control water flow and pressure.
Compatibility
You have to consider your bathroom's dimensions to decide where to position your toilet's waste outlet. Also, the user's weight must be compatible with the commode. A commode with a capacity for one hundred pounds will not support anyone that weighs higher than that for a long period. Additionally, the subfloor of your bathroom should be reinforced to bear your commode's weight. It's important to buy a repair kit that contains complete components. These compatibility factors of replacement kits can make or mar your bathroom experience.
Quality
A high-quality water closet model conserves water and has a lower flow rate than older models. Usually, homeowners save between 3,900 to 4,500 gallons when their toilet design comes with a flow rate of 1.28 GPF. Buyers should also insist on picking replacement kits' components with good quality. However, a high-quality kit is more expensive than regular products.
Ease of Use
A Toilet repair kit should be easy to install and replace. After you discover the problem, make sure you get the right replacements kits that can fix it. Also, buy a product that matches your toilet’s design.
Price and warranty
When you have replacement materials that are of the highest quality, they should come with a warranty. This document is a policy statement from the replacement kit's manufacturer that buyers can return defective products before a specific date. Also, the price of a universal repair kit might vary from regular brands in the market. Usually, toilet repair components with high-end features are durable, and these factors can impact the price of your choicest product.
Toilet repair kit vs. professional plumber
When buying a toilet repair kit, DIY homeowners have the confidence of using some simple skills to stop incessant leaks. A simple malfunction might not require calling a plumber. Instead, it's an opportunity to use a repair kit that contains all the necessary components to solve the problem. Additionally, efficient toilet tank parts can save water, money and the environment with every flush.
When problems with our water closet get too big to handle, folks without great plumbing skills should request for the services of a plumber. Instead of rushing to their local shops to buy a flush kit, DIY homeowners might complicate these toilet issues if they fail to handle it. What unprofessional brains find unfathomably difficult might be a 20-minute job for a plumber. However, the services from your plumber will determine the cost of fixing. It could be expensive in the end, but ensure that it brings convenience in the long run. So, you'll need a plumbing expert for complicated conditions.
When you install a flapper mechanism, it saves a lot of stress and embarrassment a defective flushing system may cause. More so, you need to stay healthy by maintaining the air quality in your home. Solid waste remains should be evacuated properly. Usually, it's not every flush system that can evacuate 1,500 grams of solid waste with every flush. This number is the average daily weight of human waste that goes to the septic tank.
Remember that flush systems with great water flow rates are better than substandard models. However, our recommended universal toilet repair kits can handle commode designs with flow rate capacities of between 1.6 GPF to 3.5 GPF. It's inevitable to have toilet problems; some might require DIY fixes, and others might need the services of a professional. A simple toilet upgrade might need repair tools.
Final thoughts
When shopping for a complete repair kit package, the toilet model and the nature of the malfunction need to be considered. Also, the components in a repair kit package must be compatible with your water closet. It will save you the stress and time of returning toilet tank rebuild kits after buying them.
We recommend the Fluidmaster 400AKRP10 Universal as the best toilet repair kit for DIY homeowners. This repair package comes with a complete line of accessories. It gives them a range of options to make timely repairs. However, ensure to check for flapper balls that have adjustable chains when buying this Fluidmaster 400AKRP10 kit.
The Plumbcraft 7029000 is a great model too! It has seven color-coded water flow adjustment caps for saving water consumption when you use the toilet. This product from Plumbcraft is a smart way of cutting costs on utility bills. Usually, manufacturers think of buyers with high tastes when they make products.
Our HydroRight Universal Water-Saving Total Repair Kit HYR460 from NEXT BY DANCO is an exceptional package. This kit package comes with a toilet-leak detection system that alerts the owner when there's an issue. With this detection technology that uses a soft-touch button, it's easy to install flush valves that can eliminate leaks.
Much to our surprise, we discovered that no model from a few reputed brands like Everbilt, Glacier Bay, 3D Plumbing Products, Delta, Gerber, Crane Plumbing, and Jacuzzi could earn a spot on our final list. It was not like that these products were poorly made, they just didn't match our benchmark and we had to omit them midway of our selection.
Hopefully, this review will help buyers make the right decision. I'll be happy to read your feedback after using any of the selected items on our top picks.
