The guts of your toilet need to be properly installed to avoid a cross-connection between the water in your toilet tank and the water you drink. If you’re selling a house in Minneapolis and don’t have this little detail correct, the city will require repair as part of their Truth in Housing program. But it’s not just a Minneapolis thing; it’s also required by the Minnesota State Plumbing Code, Table 603.2. It’s also required in the International Residential Code under section P2712.4 Flush valves in flush tanks.
While this is a common defect, the repair is usually quick and easy. The most common fill valve used today is the Fluidmaster 400A, and the diagram below shows the proper height.
To get this right, the C.L. mark must be at least 1″ above the top of the overflow tube. In most cases, this can be corrected by adjusting the height of the fill valve. If the overflow tube is too high, that can also be cut down.
You have the same requirement on older toilets equipped with a ball-style fill valve, called a ballcock (don’t look at me like that).
The C.L. mark must still be installed at least 1″ above the top of the overflow tube. Those fill valves don’t have adjustable height controls, so the fix is either cutting down the overflow tube or replacing the fill valve.
If you have an older clamshell-style fill valve at the bottom of your toilet tank, the only acceptable repair is to replace it. Thankfully, it’s a pretty simple project.
