toilet valve won't hold water

You can install a new toilet faster than you can re-seal it.

O.K. everything being equal and taking 'stop gap' measures will only delay what has to be done - sometime. I did delay (about one yr. - I figure)but last month, took the big plunge and took out the old seal and putting in a new old.

Took my sweet time and gathered all the info./ plus necessary parts. Then sent to DW shopping and slowly took the toilet apart. Laid out the new parts and again s-l-o-w-l-y reassembled everything following the plan provided by the manufacturer.

3 hours of s-l-o-w-l-y doing what is required and all's well. Good to go!

p.s. Sending the DW off shopping and not looking at me work was a big help.

I have the same ques as Wyo. I thought that my plumbers grease carried a silicone label.

Where do you look in Home Depot for silicon grease?

ernie1 wrote:
Only use silicone grease on rubber type seals. Regular plumbers grease is a petroleum product like vaseline and, when first applied, seems to work well but over a period of time will swell the gasket and render it unusable. Used plumbers grease for years and after having stuck or hard to use valves, switched to vasoline which was suggested by a rep from Valterra, continued to experience the same issues. Use silicone grease which is not a petroleum product and is available at Home Depot.

Not sure what plumbers grease you used. Mine is silicone based.

TenOC wrote:
Vinegar will work as well (only slower) than any of the more expensive lime remover.A cup each month or so (for a full timer) and left over night will work wonders.

If you can sleep in the same area with the smell. :)

Vinegar will work as well (only slower) than any of the more expensive lime remover.

A cup each month or so (for a full timer) and left over night will work wonders.

CLR.......pour some in toilet bowl. Let soak. Then get down and dirty with your hands and clean seal (top/bottom/sides) and the surface of ball valve. Flex the seal back and forth with your fingers. Then scrub it down
Toothbrush and wooden tongue depressor work great.
Clean it up, rinse clear.....wipe it down and then rub olive oil or veg. oil on seal. Work it in good.

Only use silicone grease on rubber type seals. Regular plumbers grease is a petroleum product like vaseline and, when first applied, seems to work well but over a period of time will swell the gasket and render it unusable. Used plumbers grease for years and after having stuck or hard to use valves, switched to vasoline which was suggested by a rep from Valterra, continued to experience the same issues. Use silicone grease which is not a petroleum product and is available at Home Depot.

My manual says to use plumbers grease on the ball and gasket. Home Depot or hardware store has it. I shut my water off and grease ball and valve well. Should be cleaned first though. Harbor freight has pretty good rubber gloves.

I have a Sealand toilet. At about 2 yrs it would not hold water. Took it apart, cleaned the rubber seal, lubed it with Pam (per Sealand), put it back together and it held water for several years.
Same problem this year but cleaning did not work. Had to replace the hardened rubber seal.
On mine there is a metal band something like an oversize hose clamp that holds the top half of the toilet to the bottom half. Loosen the band and the top half lifts off. No need to remove the bottom half.