A constantly running toilet is one of the most frustrating and common household plumbing problems. It wastes water and can lead to higher water bills.
A little bit of maintenance can prevent this problem from occurring in the first place. Here are four reasons your toilet may be running:
Flapper Valve
If you’ve noticed that it takes longer and longer for the hissing sound to cease after you flush your toilet, then it’s time to check out your flapper valve. This part is located inside the tank and easily visible once you remove the lid. The flapper is a large round valve that opens and closes to send water into the bowl with each flush. When this valve becomes clogged with grime or simply worn out, it can cause the toilet to continuously run.
It’s not uncommon for the flapper valve to wear out over time and start leaking. This can cause a constant flow of water and is usually the first sign that it’s time to replace the valve. A flapper replacement costs only a few dollars and can be installed with ease.
Another common reason your toilet is constantly running is that the chain connecting the flush handle to the flapper is too short. If this chain is too short, it can prevent the flapper from closing properly and establishing a water tight seal. It can also get caught underneath the flapper and create gaps in its closing position. If this is the case, then simply adjust the chain length to give the flapper a little extra slack to help it open and close more effectively.
The refill tube can also be too long, which can cause the fill valve to continuously run. If this is the case, then simply shorten it by pulling out the refill tube from the overflow tube and holding it just above the opening of the overflow tube. Trim it off precisely with cutting pliers and then clip it to the side over the overflow tube to keep it in place.
Old flappers and tank balls don’t create the same strong seal that new ones do. This can result in a continuous flow of water into the toilet and can eventually lead to a leaking tank or a faulty fill valve. In most cases, replacing the old flapper valve or tank ball will resolve the issue. This is a fairly easy job that can be completed in about 10 minutes without the need to drain the toilet or shut off the water supply.
Broken Flush Handle
A constantly running toilet is not only a nuisance, it can also cause serious water damage to your home and cost you hundreds of dollars in hefty water bills. While it may be tempting to try and save money by tackling this problem on your own, professional plumbing services are the best way to prevent costly repairs.
There are a few simple steps that you can take to troubleshoot the issue and fix it like a pro. First, shut off the water supply valve located under or behind your toilet. Then flush the toilet to remove any excess water from the tank. Once the water in the tank has been emptied, you will be able to see all the components that make up your toilet’s system.
You will notice that the handle is attached to a long arm, which in turn is linked to a chain that lifts the flapper during a flush. This chain can get loose and not lift the flapper, causing your toilet to run. In order to repair this, you will need a pair of pliers and a wrench to open the tank and remove the handle.
Once the handle is removed, you will need to unscrew the metal nut inside the tank that holds the arm in place. Most of these nuts have left-handed threads, meaning that you will need to turn them counterclockwise in order to loosen them. Once you have unscrewed the nut, remove the arm and chain. You will then be able to replace the handle with a new one from your local hardware store or home improvement center.
When replacing the handle, you will need to ensure that it is a proper fit for your toilet. There are many different types of handles, so it’s important to read the label carefully to ensure that you’re getting the right part. If you’re having trouble finding the correct part, a quick search on Google can help you find it more easily. You can also ask for assistance at your local hardware or home improvement store, or from great plumbers like the Winston-Salem plumbers.
Low Float Height
There’s a good chance that your toilet is constantly running because the float in the tank isn’t at the right height. The float in your toilet is what controls how often the fill valve opens to refill water into your bowl, and it’s important to have it at the right level to keep water from flowing continuously.
To check if your float is the problem, remove the tank lid and drain any excess water from the toilet. Then look at the float, which is usually a plastic ball attached to a long arm on top of your fill valve. Make sure the float isn’t obstructed and that the arm on the float is at the correct length, which should be directly above the water line in the tank.
If the float is too high, it will cause your fill valve to stay open and run continually until the overflow tube is full. To test the float’s position, you can try raising or lowering it in small increments while flushing to see what happens. If you can’t get the float to stop at the proper level or if it continues to run, call a plumber.
Older toilets often have a brass rod that connects the float to the overflow tube, so you might need to bend the rod carefully if your float isn’t in the right position. Newer toilets typically have a screw on the top of the fill valve that you can turn to adjust the float. Simply turn it clockwise to raise it and counterclockwise to lower it. Be careful not to over-tighten or loosen the screw, and always make one full rotation at a time to avoid affecting the float’s accuracy.
Some floats have a release clip you can squeeze to slide up or down along the rod, but most use a screw that’s easily turned with a pair of pliers. Once you’ve adjusted the float to the right height, drain the toilet and flush again to make sure everything is working correctly. It shouldn’t take too long to figure out what’s wrong with your float and fix it without the help of a professional.
Overflow Tube
The overflow tube does exactly what it sounds like, directing water into the toilet bowl so that the tank doesn’t overflow and dump onto the floor. Without this tube, the overflow valve would never cut off, which results in thousands of gallons of wasted water each day. It’s important to keep this tube in good condition so that it continues working properly.
One way to do this is to make sure it isn’t too long, which will cause it to get in the way of the overflow. This can be easily fixed by pulling it out of the overflow, holding it above the opening, and trimming it off precisely with cutting pliers. After that, just clip it back in place to continue keeping it positioned correctly.
Another way to make sure the overflow tube is in good shape is to adjust it to be slightly lower than the float height. This is a simple adjustment that you can do with just about any tool you have at home, such as a screwdriver or a set of channel locks. Simply turn the screw a few times until it’s about an inch lower than the overflow tube’s rim, which is where it should be in order to avoid continuously running your toilet.
When you turn the supply valve on, water comes in through it, causing the float to rise up and shut off the overflow valve once it’s reached the right level. A small amount of this water then goes down the refill tube and into the overflow tube, which then empties directly into your toilet bowl. This raises the water level in your bowl, which provides protection from sewer gases and gets your toilet ready for your next flush.
The refill tube is one of the smartest toilet pieces in your tank, but it can sometimes cause the overflow tube to be a little too low. If that’s the case, it’s easy enough to correct by pulling out your refill tube from the overflow and trimming it down to be an inch or two above the overflow opening. Then just clip it back in place to keep it in the best position for optimal functionality.