The sound of a constantly running toilet is more than just an annoying background noise. Over time, that steady trickle of water can waste hundreds of gallons of water and lead to surprisingly expensive utility bills. Fortunately, you do not need to call a professional plumber or spend a fortune to resolve this issue.
In most cases, a running toilet is caused by a few simple, easily replaceable parts inside the tank. With a little patience, you can diagnose and fix the problem yourself in less than half an hour. The first step is to peer inside the tank to identify the culprit.
Carefully remove the porcelain lid and set it somewhere safe. Flush the toilet and watch the mechanism. The most common cause of a running toilet is a faulty flapper, which is the rubber seal at the bottom of the tank.
If the flapper is old, warped, or covered in mineral buildup, it will not form a tight seal, allowing water to constantly leak into the bowl. Try pressing down gently on the flapper with a long tool. If the running stops when you apply pressure, you need to replace the flapper.
Replacing a flapper is incredibly simple. Start by turning off the water supply valve located behind the toilet near the floor. Flush the tank completely to drain the water.
Disconnect the chain connecting the flapper to the flush lever, then pop the old flapper off its pegs. Take the old part to your local hardware store to ensure you buy the correct replacement size. Install the new flapper by clipping it onto the pegs and attaching the chain.
Make sure the chain has just a little bit of slack; if it is too tight, the flapper will not close, and if it is too loose, the lever will not lift it properly. If the flapper is not the problem, check the water level and the fill valve. If the water level is too high, it will constantly drain into the overflow tube.
You can adjust the water level by turning the adjustment screw on the float arm or sliding the float clip downward. This lowers the height at which the valve shuts off the incoming water. Once you have made your adjustments, turn the water valve back on and let the tank fill.
With these quick steps, your bathroom will be quiet once again, and your water bill will return to normal.