Why is My Toilet Running?

At least once in our lives, we’ve had a toilet that makes that ‘certain sound’.  You know what sound we’re talking about:  the recurrent sound of water filling up the tank of the toilet regardless if it’s in use or not.  This common household issue is called a “running toilet”—we’re sure you’ve heard that term before!

Many homeowners go months, if not years, without having this issue fixed or even looked at by a certified plumber, which can be costly.  What you need to know is that a running toilet is an internal water leak.  Therefore, if you ignore the problem this could increase your water bill due to the gallons of water being wasted daily.

Causes of Running Toilets

After a toilet is flushed, water will refill within the tank and then stop once it reaches a certain level. However, when parts are broken or malfunctioning, the toilet will continue to run for a few seconds to seemingly forever (annoying, we know). If you find that one of your toilets is running with no plans of stopping, there are things you should be checking that will usually solve this plumbing problem.

Things to Check If Your Toilet Is Running

Adjust the Water Level

The tank’s water level is decided by the height of the adjustable float piece. When the float is at too low of a height, the flush will be weak and might not flush all of the waste. However, when the float is set too high, water will constantly pour into the overflow tube and the fill valve won’t shut itself off. Adjust the height of the float accordingly to make sure the water level in the overflow tube is at the water level mark. This water level mark is equivalent to an inch below the critical level mark on the fill valve.

Fix the Flapper Chain

Attached to the flapper is a chain that needs to be a specific length in order for it to open and close during a flush. A flapper chain that’s too long will prevent the flapper from fully opening, shortening the flush. On the other hand, a flapper chain that’s too short will prevent the flapper from fully closing, allowing water to continuously leak into the bowl. Inspect your current chain and make sure it’s in good condition and that it has a small amount of slack when closed. If it doesn’t, adjust the chain accordingly or replace it altogether.

Inspect the Flapper

Each piece inside of the toilet tank should be inspected when the water continuously runs, especially the flapper. When the flapper is worn out or cracked, the result will be the same as if the flapper chain was too short. If there’s any damage associated with the flapper, head to the hardware store and pick up a replacement. You should turn off the water leading to the toilet and bring the flapper to the store to get as close of a match as you can. Once you install the new flapper, make sure it creates a complete seal by giving it a test flush.

A toilet that is constantly running and making noise isn’t just a nuisance — it’s costing you money with each and every water bill your receive. If you can’t seem to stop the water from running and you’re in need of toilet repair, contact the professional plumbers at Len The Plumber.

Give us a call today or schedule service online to have one of our certified plumbers take a look at your running toilet.  We’re here to provide you with Same Day Service, 7 Days A Week!