Toilet water supply line recommendations?

[DewGuy]

Our toilet has a old style semi-rigid water supply line that has started leaking and I'd like to replace it with a modern braided line. Looking for recommendations on a replacement line. What type? What brand?

Do I need to use Teflon tape on the connections?

Also, do I need to drain the tank before disconnecting the old line or is turning off the water supply valve and having something to catch the water from the disconnected line sufficient?


Thanks in advance.

[wurm]

When I changed ours out many years ago, I found and used one of these Fluidmaster Click-Seal connector hoses. It took the guesswork out and has been great.

[Gilbert]

You will want to drain the tank in addition to turning off the water before changing the supply lines. The residual water in the tank can be taken up with a small towel or rag and squeezed into the bowl, sink or bucket. It’s always good to keep a towel under the lines as you disconnect them. The ones I have replaced have flared ends which don’t need teflon tape.

If you are able, it is a good time to replace the shutoff valves to quarter turn ball valves if you have stem valves. When we replaced our toilets a few years ago, I ended up replacing the shutoff valves and the supply lines.

[MikeF]

Just be sure to get an all-metal quarter turn shutoff instead of one with plastic parts.

[Cary]

I agree with the posts above - shut off the water, drain the tank, take off the semi rigid lie, and take to the store to match the hose length and fittings sizes. The toilet side is standard, the water supply valve side is usually, but not always, 3/8”.

As far as brands - I’ve used Brasscraft, which HD sells, but I would have no hesitation with Fluidmaster, either.

The recommendation to change the water supply valve to a quarter turn all metal ball valve is a great idea…

[mattkime]

MikeF wrote:
Just be sure to get an all-metal quarter turn shutoff instead of one with plastic parts.

Good idea, although this will likely mean turning off the water to the whole house.

--

I personally prefer the solid lines. They're more elegant. Depending upon the path they need to take, they're not that difficult to install either. ....how is it leaking? From the top?I'm surprised a solid supply line would leak.

[davester]

Ditto what mattkime said. The "modern" braided lines are inferior to the solid copper ones. Their only advantages are that they are cheaper and quicker to install. If I were you I'd figure out why the old one is leaking and fix it unless it's made of something other than copper.

[Acer]

I've not had a braided line fail. The installation is less prone to DIYer error than stiff pipes. It's like attaching a garden hose. I replace them when I replace a fixture that needs them.

The last leak I had associated with a toilet was because the tank was cracked at the bolt holes where the tank attaches to the bowl.

[davester]

Acer wrote:
I've not had a braided line fail. The installation is less prone to DIYer error than stiff pipes.

I've had several of them fail, usually at the crimped end. It is true that they are easier to install but since he already has an installed solid pipe he doesn't need to go through the pipe bending and cutting process if the leak is from the connector and not the pipe itself.

[DewGuy]

davester wrote:
Ditto what mattkime said. The "modern" braided lines are inferior to the solid copper ones. Their only advantages are that they are cheaper and quicker to install. If I were you I'd figure out why the old one is leaking and fix it unless it's made of something other than copper.

This one is old, probably close to 50 years if not older. It's smooth near the ends and the middle of it is "ribbed". The water supply comes up through the floor, so the fill line runs straight up for a bit then turns and runs horizontally for a bit then turns again and goes straight up to the toilet tank. It's chrome plated so I don't know if its copper or not. As far as I can tell it's leaking about in the middle of the horizontal portion. The connector at the tank seems to be dry.