A running toilet isn’t just an annoying sound—it could be wasting gallons of water a day, silently driving up your water bill. The good news? You don’t need a plumber just yet. With a few simple steps, you can tackle this issue yourself and save water (and money) in the process.
Here’s Proper Plumbing’s expert guide to fixing your running toilet in 5 easy steps.
Replace The Flapper
When you open the lid of your toilet tank, you’ll notice the small rubber disk connected to a chain covering an overflow tube—that’s the flapper. Your toilet’s flapper is one of the first components to give in to damage.
Over time, this rubber component can warp or deteriorate causing the water to leak into your bowl slowly. Luckily, flapper replacement is fit for a DIY task. Turn off your toilet valve and drain the tank, then simply detach the disk from the chain and unclip it from the pegs holding it in place. Insert the replacement in the reverse process of removing the worn-out part, then fill the tank and test its seal.
Adjust The Float
If your flapper seems to be working just fine, move forward to check the float. It’s your toilet’s water regulation mechanism, either in the shape of a ball or cup. If it’s a ball float, it is attached to the lever arm, while if it’s a cup float, it should encase the fill valve.
If your float is set too high, it can lead to water overflow at the overflow valve. Adjust the float so the water level remains half an inch below the valve. This is the idea level to avoid leaks by overflow.
Examine The Overflow Tube
Another vulnerable component inside the tank is the overflow tube. This vertical pipe is responsible for preventing flooding when the tank fills too much. Over time, this tube deteriorates or develops cracks, causing the water to escape continuously to the bowl.
Luckily, you can replace it with a new part from your local hardware store. However, you may have to detach your toilet tank first to access the nut securing it to the tank unless it can be removed from the top. Some toilets’ overflow tubes are also integrated into the flush valve assembly, which requires replacing the whole flush valve system. If this is too much for you, you can always book a professional toilet repair from your trusted plumber.
Tighten The Flapper Chain
Sometimes, an issue with the flapper can be blamed on a tightly adjusted chain. When you push on the flush lever, this chain opens up the flapper, allowing the water to come out of the tank. But when it’s tightly adjusted, it can slightly lift the flapper even without initiating the flush, causing an improper seal that lets water continuously escape.
If the chain is too short, reattach it at a lower link until it plugs the leak. But don’t lengthen the chain too long, as it can lead to entanglement that can also cause the flapper to seal poorly.
Replace Tank-To-Bowl Gasket
A toilet leak is more noticeable and bothersome if it floods your bathroom floor. If water pools at the base of your toilet bowl, you should inspect the tank-to-bowl gasket. It’s the foam or rubber seal that ensures a watertight connection between the toilet tank and bowl.
When this seal is worn or cracked, it’ll cause the water to flow to the floor. Buy a new gasket and snug it in place of the old one, following the specific instructions in the buyer’s guide.
Don’t Have Time for A DIY Repair? Ask Proper Plumbing for Fast Assistance
Tackling a DIY toilet repair is straightforward with the right tools and guides, but we understand that sneaking this task into your busy schedule can be a hassle. Additionally, it is not advisable to prolong the solution to your running toilet, as it’ll only incur further water loss and higher utility bills.
For that, you can let Proper Plumbing do the work for you. Our experts will restore your toilet to its top shape quickly while you go about your busy day. We guarantee durable, affordable, and mess-free toilet repair. Call us for professional plumbing done the proper way!
