RELIABILT Plumbing Parts & Repair
RELIABILT plumbing repair parts including wax rings, toilet bolts, flappers, fill valves, and sealants.
RELIABILT plumbing repair parts are essential maintenance items for toilet, faucet, and pipe repairs, priced from $2 to $20. The line includes wax rings (with and without flange), toilet mounting bolts, flapper valves, fill valves, flush valves, supply line connectors, Teflon tape, pipe sealant, and plumber's putty. These are universal-fit parts that work with all standard toilet and faucet brands.
Most-Needed Parts
| Wax Ring | Seals between toilet base and floor flange. Replace when resetting a toilet or if you smell sewer gas. $3-6. |
| Flapper Valve | Rubber seal inside toilet tank. #1 cause of running toilets. Replace every 3-5 years. $4-8. |
| Fill Valve | Controls water refill after flush. Replace if toilet runs constantly or fills slowly. $8-15. |
| Teflon Tape | Thread seal tape for pipe connections. Use on all threaded plumbing joints. $1-3 per roll. |
How to Choose Plumbing Repair Parts
Toilet repairs: The three most common toilet repairs are flapper replacement (running toilet), fill valve replacement (slow fill or constant running), and wax ring replacement (sewer smell or water around toilet base). For a complete toilet reset, buy all three plus new supply lines and toilet mounting bolts.
Wax ring selection: Standard wax rings work for most installations. A wax ring with a built-in flange (horn) provides a better seal when the floor flange is slightly below floor level. Wax-free rings (foam or rubber) are reusable and less messy but cost more. For a first-time DIYer, a wax ring with flange is the safest choice.
Universal fit: Most RELIABILT repair parts are universal fit. Flappers fit 2" and 3" flush valve openings (2" is standard in most toilets). Fill valves are adjustable height and fit nearly all toilet tanks. Always verify compatibility with your specific toilet model if it is non-standard.
Sealants: Teflon tape is essential for threaded pipe connections. Plumber's putty seals drain assemblies (sink strainers, tub drains). Pipe joint compound provides additional sealing on threaded gas and water connections. Keep all three in your home maintenance kit.
Toilet reset kit: When removing and resetting a toilet (for flooring replacement, wax ring replacement, or flange repair), buy a complete reset kit that includes a wax ring, mounting bolts, bolt caps, and a supply line. Buying these individually costs more and risks missing a component mid-job.
DIY difficulty: Flapper replacement is a 5-minute job with no tools. Fill valve replacement takes 15-20 minutes and requires pliers and a bucket. Wax ring replacement requires lifting the toilet off the floor (40-80 lbs) and is a two-person job for safety. All three are well within DIY capability with basic instructions.
Issues and Fixes
| Toilet running constantly | The flapper is the most likely cause. Shut off the water, flush the tank, and inspect the flapper. If it is warped, hardened, or discolored, replace it. If the new flapper does not stop the running, the flush valve seat may be pitted and needs replacement or sanding with emery cloth. |
| Sewer smell around toilet | A failed wax ring allows sewer gas to escape. The toilet must be removed, the old wax scraped off the flange and toilet horn, a new wax ring set on the flange, and the toilet reset. Replace the mounting bolts at the same time, as corroded bolts are difficult to reuse. |
| Toilet fills slowly | Sediment in the fill valve restricts water flow. Remove the fill valve cap, flush debris by briefly turning on the water, and reinstall the cap. If the valve is more than 7 years old, replace it entirely. A new fill valve takes 15 minutes to install. |
| Leak at sink drain | Plumber's putty under the sink strainer may have dried and cracked. Remove the strainer, clean old putty from both surfaces, apply a fresh rope of plumber's putty around the strainer flange, and reinstall. Tighten the locknut underneath until putty squeezes out evenly. |
| Toilet wobbling on floor | A wobbling toilet has loose mounting bolts or a broken floor flange. Tighten the toilet bolts alternately (left, right, left, right) until the toilet is snug. Do not over-tighten, as this can crack the porcelain base. If the bolts spin freely, the floor flange is broken and needs a flange repair ring before resetting the toilet with a new wax ring. |
Most toilet repairs are straightforward and require basic hand tools. The key is diagnosing which component has failed. A running toilet is almost always a flapper or fill valve. A leaking base is almost always a wax ring. A wobbling toilet is almost always mounting bolts or flange.
Long-Term Care
Flapper replacement: Replace toilet flappers every 3-5 years. Chlorinated water degrades rubber flappers faster. If you use in-tank chlorine tablets, check the flapper annually. A slowly leaking flapper wastes 200+ gallons of water per day and increases your water bill noticeably.
Fill valve: Fill valves last 5-7 years on average. Replace when the toilet takes more than 60 seconds to refill after flushing, or if the valve makes a loud hissing or whining noise. Fill valves are inexpensive ($8-15) and easy to replace.
Wax ring: A wax ring should last the life of the toilet installation (10-30 years) unless the toilet is disturbed. Any time you remove a toilet for any reason, install a new wax ring when resetting it. Never reuse a wax ring.
Water bill monitoring: A running toilet can waste 200+ gallons per day, adding $30-50 per month to your water bill. If you notice an unexplained increase in your water bill, check all toilet flappers first. Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if color appears in the bowl within 15 minutes without flushing, the flapper is leaking.
Sealant shelf life: Teflon tape has indefinite shelf life. Pipe joint compound lasts 3-5 years before drying out in the container. Plumber's putty lasts 2-3 years in an opened container. Replace sealants that have hardened or dried. Stock up on pipe fittings and valves for a complete repair kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my toilet needs a 2" or 3" flapper?
Most standard toilets use a 2" flapper. Newer high-efficiency toilets (1.28 gpf) often use a 3" flapper for faster flush valve opening. To check, shut off the water, flush the tank, and measure the drain opening at the bottom of the tank. If it is roughly the size of a tennis ball, it is 2". If it is roughly the size of a softball, it is 3".
Can I use silicone instead of plumber's putty?
Silicone caulk can replace plumber's putty for drain assemblies but has a disadvantage: it bonds permanently and is difficult to remove for future repairs. Plumber's putty never hardens and can be peeled away cleanly. Use plumber's putty for drain assemblies that may need future service. Use silicone only on surfaces where putty stains are a concern (natural stone countertops).
Do I need to shut off the main water supply to replace a toilet flapper?
No. Shut off only the toilet's supply valve located on the wall behind the toilet. Turn it clockwise (or lever to perpendicular for quarter-turn valves). Flush the toilet to empty the tank, then swap the flapper. If the supply valve does not shut off fully, replace the valve first.
Pair repair parts with new supply lines when resetting a toilet, as it is the perfect time to replace aging lines. See all RELIABILT plumbing products.
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