How to Fix a Running Toilet

October 29, 2018
Best Plumbing Blog

Is a running toilet driving up your water bill and keeping you awake at night? It’s a common issue that homeowners will likely encounter at some point. The simplest explanation for this annoyance is that, for one reason for another, the flapper (which controls the flow of water from the tank into the toilet bowl) is not closing properly, so water is continuously leaking from the tank to the bowl. This can be caused by one of several different problems inside your toilet’s tank. Fortunately, it is usually a simple and inexpensive fix. Here are a few issues that could cause your toilet to run continuously:

A Problem with the Flapper

The first thing to check in a running toilet is the flapper. Over time, flappers can become warped, dirty, or damaged so that they don’t function properly and allow water to leak from the tank. If your flapper looks discolored, warped, or broken, it is probably time for a replacement.

A Problem with the Float Position

Your toilet may have a plastic balloon attached to the pump, floating on top of the water in the tank. This float tells the pump when the tank is full so that it will stop filling with water. However, setting the float too high will result in a running toilet. To adjust, there will be a small screw on the rod that connects the balloon to the valve. Turn the screw clockwise to lower the balloon hight setting.

A Problem with the Chain

If someone recently worked on your toilet and you soon notice it running afterward, it’s probably a case that they reattached the chain incorrectly. When you open up the tank, you’ll see a chain connecting the rubber flapper to the flush lever. When you push down on the lever to flush the toilet, it is meant to lift the chain which then pulls up the flapper, allowing water to rush from the tank to the bowl. However, if your chain is too short, the flapper will be raised and will not to stop the water from leaking from the tank. To fix, unhook the chain, press the flapper completely down, reattach the chain and voilà! No more running toilet.

Need help figuring out why your toilet keeps running? Call the Best Plumbing team at (206) 785-2551! We’ll take a look, make a fix, and ensure that your toilet is functioning properly. Visit our website to learn more about our wide range of plumbing services.

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