Why is My Toilet Running: Four Common Plumbing Culprits

There is nothing worse than walking into the bathroom after a long day, and listening to the sound of a running toilet. Not only is the sound annoying to our ears, but it can mean you?re wasting unnecessary gallons of water, that is just going to run up your water bill, and contribute to annual plumbing problems.

If you are unsure why your toilet?s been running so much, we have a few ideas on why things aren?t working as they should.

Your Toilet Flapper is Cracked

This is one of the most common reasons why a toilet runs for a period of time. Your toilet flapper is the device that seals water into your tank, and every time you flush the toilet, the flapper is raised, allowing water to enter and exit the bowl.

If the toilet flapper happens to be cracked, it won?t be able to regulate how much water enters your bowl. Water will keep coming in, which means your toilet is going to run. The longer it runs, the higher the water bill – and that minor bathroom repair can become more costly.

If you notice that your toilet flapper is cracked or broken, simply switch off your water supply by turning the cut off valve which is usually located behind the toilet at the base and is connected to a hose. From there, you?ll be able to flush the toilet, clearing out additional water, and replace the flap with ease.

The Chain Might be Caught

If you didn?t already know, your toilet has a chain that connects to your flapper. Sometimes, the chain gets caught against the rubbery material, which causes your toilet to spend additional time running.

If you open up the top of your toilet and notice the chain getting caught, simply untangle the chain and test it once more. If needed, remove extra links, so it won?t create friction against your flapper.

How are the Water Levels?

Every toilet has a water level that has to be maintained. The key component to maintaining your toilet’s water level is an overflow tube – this is what removes additional water. However, sometimes your float cup (which is connected to your flapper) can get dislodged. When this happens, your overflow tube can get filled with water, which then causes your fill valve to run more often because it thinks your tank needs more water.

In order to get things back to normal, you can adjust the fill valve using the valves rod clip, located alongside the rod. Once it looks level, simply flush, and see if your water hits at the right level.

Your Fill Valve Might Need a Replacement

Sometimes, like a flapper, the fill valve becomes worn down. It won?t let your tank?s water supply shut off, therefore it constantly runs. You can easily replace the fill valve by shutting off the valve, removing the water hose, and swapping out the new valve for the old one.

However, if you experience difficulties doing these jobs, or still encounter a running toilet once you?re done with these minor repairs, it?s time to call in the experts. Don?t delay and hope the problem will go away on its own – search for ?a plumber near me? to fix the issue, the first time around.