Fixing a running toilet

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Michael Foster
Date
March 14, 2024
Theme
Plumbing
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8966
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The toilet will keep running if water is dripping from the toilet tank or if a part inside the toilet is leaking. Typically, a leaky flapper, a broken fill valve, or an overflow pipe that is the wrong size is to blame. This post will lead you through the fixes for each of these problems, which are not only easy to implement but can also save you money on your subsequent water bill right away.

Understanding the Way a Toilet Works

Learn how a toilet works before trying to fix a running toilet. Most people are aware that water enters the toilet tank and is released into the bowl when the toilet is flushed to push trash and wastewater toward the drain line. However, the typical person frequently is unaware of the precise mechanics of how this happens.
Using the fill valve tube, water travels up the water line and into the toilet tank. The flapper, a sizable gasket that rests at the tank's bottom and is normally fastened to the flush valve's base, keeps the water in the tank.
The float rod or float cup must rise as the tank fills with water. The fill valve shuts off water flow into the tank when the float reaches a predetermined level. If the fill valve on the toilet is broken, water may continue to rise until it overflows into the overflow tube, which is meant to stop unintentional flooding.
The lever or flush button, which pulls on a chain to raise the flapper when the toilet tank is full, can be used to flush the toilet. The water then rushes through the holes equally placed around the rim of the toilet bowl and out of the tank with enough force to keep the flapper open. In order to boost flushing power, some toilets also incorporate a secondary entry point known as a siphon jet.

What causes toilets to continually flush?

You shouldn't hear any sound of running water unless the toilet has just been flushed. If you're hearing these noises frequently or continuously, it could indicate a more serious problem with your toilet. The reason behind your toilet's noise? Either the toilet flapper chain is broken, the float cup is not set up correctly, the flapper seal or the fill valve has to be changed. Rarely, a running toilet may be caused by a crack in the toilet tank, but you should be able to see this since water may collect around the bowl or underneath the tank and you can see it physica
  • Check the flapper chain
It can become trapped in the flapper if it is excessively long, impeding a firm seal. Additionally, if the chain is too short or becomes tangled up with something inside the tank, water may start to flow continuously.
  • Check the flapper
Find the flapper in the tank's bottom and gently press it with your palm. Your toilet needs to have the flapper replaced if doing so causes it to stop running.
  • Check the water level
The overflow tube's top should be 1 to 1.5 inches below the water level in the toilet tank. Water will continuously flow from the fill tube into the overflow tube when the water level is too high, creating a running sound.
  • Look at the float ball
The float ball adjusts the water level. Once the tank is full, flush the toilet to see if the running stops.
Finally, resolving a running toilet as soon as possible minimizes unnecessary inconvenience and saves water and money. You may quickly identify and resolve the problem by using the procedures listed, which will help create a more effective and long-lasting home plumbing system.