How to Fix a Running Toilet: Everything You Need to Know

It happens to all of us at some point in our lives: our toilet is running continuously (or, in some cases, on and off) and we’re not sure why. It can be annoying to deal with, especially when it comes to your utility bill. So you probably wondering how you can fix the issue, or at least identify what is causing this to happen.

There are multiple steps that you can take to determine what is causing your toilet to run and you don’t need to be a professional to figure it out. Toilet technology has largely remained the same since the early 1900s and it is simple enough to where anyone can diagnose the issue.

The flapper is the rubber mechanism inside the tank of your toilet that releases water into the bowl. The flapper over time tends to become less effective due to natural deterioration. This means that water is seeping through the seal and into the toilet bowl.

What you can do to determine if you have a defective flapper is push it down and, if your toilet immediately stops running, then you need to replace the rubber piece. For this, you will need to turn off the water supply to your toilet and drain all the water from the boil by flushing it. Now you can begin removing the flapper and replacing it. There are several kinds of flappers so you will find the piece that fits into the bottom of your tank. Take your old flapper to the department store so that they can help you find the correct replacement.

Your replacement flapper will come with instructions that you will want to closely follow. You will need to add or remove links in the connecter that lifts your flapper via the flushing arm. If the chain connecter is too long or short, then you will have issues flushing your toilet.

What you can also do to diagnose the issue is when pressing down on your flapper, check to see if the water continues running. If this is what’s happening, then this could be because your fill tube is not working correctly. The full tube is a small plastic piece that connects the fill valve and the overflow pipe. The fill tube drains excess water when the tank begins to overflow. What you may need to do is reconnect the fill tube to the fill valve or the overflow pipe.

There are two types of floats inside the tank of your toilet: the ball float and the cup float. If the ball float is set too high inside your tank, it will cause the water level to rise above the overflow pipe, which will result in a running toilet. To fix the ball float, all you need to do is bend the arm of the device. For a cup float, you will need to adjust the device by sliding the float down the central tube. Side note: ball floats are more commonly found in toilets than cup floats.

By the process of elimination, you have determined that it’s time to replace your fill valve. To do this, you will need to drain the water in your tank and then unscrew the water line supply from the outside of your toilet. This will free up the valve so that you can remove and replace it. We advise that you take your old valve to a home improvement store so that you can acquire the right replacement. When you get home, install the new valve and adjust the water inside your tank to the appropriate levels.

If you wait too long to do anything about your running toilet, then you are opening the door to bigger problems down the road which you can easily avoid. Fixing the issue is relatively easy to do and it won’t take long. You also eliminate the annoyance of that noise produced by the running water.

Repairing your running toilet will reduce the risk of flooding. A running toilet should worry you because if you wait too long to fix it, then it could eventually begin flooding. This is something that you need to avoid at all costs. The water flooding from your toilet could seep into your walls, ceilings, and flooring, and the excess moisture will cause moldy growths to breakout.

With a running toilet, there is also a greater risk of a blockage or obstruction to emerge in your plumbing. Your toilet probably won’t be able to flush properly when it is experiencing issues with running water, which will increase the likelihood of waste materials becoming lodged in your pipes. The buildup and blockage can also lead to flooding and potential leaking. This will be very costly and tedious to fix for a plumber.

Higher water bills are also a likely outcome of a running toilet. The running water that you hear from inside your bathroom? Yea, you’re paying for that. The wasted water can increase your water bills dramatically, so you should check out the issue and have it resolved as quickly as you can. If you neglect to fix your toilet, then the financial consequences can be severe.

If you do not feel confident in your ability to repair the issue, then call a plumbing expert to sort things out. The last thing that anyone wants is to make an issue worse than it already is, so you can avoid all the hassle and headaches of the repair work by hiring a trained plumber. Calling a professional now is better than putting it off for an extended time.

Many of the problems discussed above are fixable, but in some cases, your toilet is outdated and no matter how many repairs you perform, more repairs keep arising. There are many modern options to choose from when selecting a new toilet, including a new low-flow design which helps you conserve water and save money on your utility bills.

Even if you are certain that a replacement is a perfect choice for you, we advise that you consult a plumber to determine if this is the best choice for you. There are several factors that you need to take into account when making this decision. For example, the age and compatibility of your home is something that you need to consider when deciding to invest in a new toilet.

Overall, repairing a running toilet is not a daunting task, but if you do not want to risk making things worse, then go ahead and call a professional. You can also call us today and talk to one of our technicians if you want to learn more about what you can do.