Is Your Running Toilet A Problem?

Not only is it annoying when a toilet runs, but it is also a big problem. A running toilet can squander hundreds of gallons of water each day, and cause issues with your plumbing, floors, and walls. A leaking faucet may waste less water, however, it can still add up with time and result in damage to septic systems and pipes in your house. So if you’re tired of paying way too much for water bills or having to call the plumber out, it’s time to fix your toilet yourself.

How Do You Fix a Toilet That Keeps Running

What are the Three Top Reasons for a Running Toilet

There are a variety of reasons that your toilet might be running. Here are the 3 most common:

1. The float ball is stuck in the up position. This is most typical with toilets that utilize a float ball to operate the fill valve. If the float ball is stuck, it will permit water to fill the tank past its normal level. When the float ball falls back down, it will cause the refill valve to turn on and refill the tank. This can lead to an endless cycle of filling up until you fix it.
2. The flapper valve isn’t sealing adequately. The flapper valve lies near the bottom of your toilet tank, where it seals against a rubber gasket when you flush your toilet. Over time, this rubber gasket wears. To ensure proper functioning again, it needs to be replaced with a new one.
3. There’s too much stuff in your bowl! Often individuals do not notice how much stuff can get caught in their toilet bowls – particularly if they have kids or pets who love to play in them! If there’s too much stuff obstructing the flow of water through your pipes, then this could cause them to run longer than normal while waiting for water pressure to build enough to push it through.

Here are 4 Solutions to Stop a Running Toilet

The list of things that can go wrong with a toilet is long. But there are 4 common issues that you can repair yourself, and they’re all fairly simple to troubleshoot. Here are four ways to stop a running toilet yourself.

1. Inspect the fill tube. The fill tube is the pipe that connects the tank to the bowl. If this is not sealed adequately, water will leak into your home. This is normally caused by loose hardware or rusting connections.
2. Examine the float. Toilets have a float valve that regulates when water enters the tank and when it stops flowing into the bowl. If this is not working adequately, it can cause your toilet to run constantly. Check and clean your float valve frequently to ensure its proper operation.
3. Check the handle. If you have an older-style toilet, there might be an issue with worn-out parts. Your flapper valve mechanism or handle assembly being worn out can cause it to run constantly when flushed. Luckily, changing these parts yourself is relatively simple and inexpensive! 
4. Examine the flapper. A toilet that continually runs can be caused by a faulty flapper or chain. If the flapper does not seal properly, water will continue to flow out of the tank and into the bowl even though you’ve flushed it. You can easily fix this problem by changing the flapper with a new one from your neighborhood hardware store or plumbing supply store.

Toilet Troubles? Don’t Panic, Call A Pro!