How to fix your running toilet

7/15/20244 min read

A running toilet is one that continues to run after you flush it. This can be annoying and wasteful, but it's also something that you can fix yourself without too much difficulty. The cause of this problem is usually clogs in your pipes or tank and bowl, which are easily cleared with some simple tools and techniques. If you have a running toilet, don't worry: we'll show you how to fix it!

Diagnosing the Problem

To diagnose your toilet problem, you'll need to check the flapper. This is a rubber or plastic piece that sits at the bottom of your tank and opens when you flush your toilet. If it's not working properly, water won't be able to get into the bowl when you flush.
Checking the flapper is easy: Just lift up on it from inside the tank (you may have to remove some screws first) and see if it moves freely. If not, replace it with a new one! You can also test whether or not your flush valve needs replacing by putting food coloring in your tank; if there's still color coming out after 10 minutes or so then this could be an issue too!
Finally, inspect any refill tubes that might be attached--if they're cracked or broken then they need replacing too!

Repairing the Flapper

The flapper is the rubber part that sits at the bottom of your toilet tank. When you flush, it opens to allow water into the bowl and then closes again to seal off any remaining water after you've flushed. If your flapper isn't working properly, it can cause problems with both filling and draining cycles.
If your toilet keeps running after you've flushed it, first check to make sure that there's no debris caught in between the flapper valve and seat ring (the part of your toilet where you sit). If there isn't any obstruction, try adjusting or replacing your chain--this might solve things!
If adjusting doesn't work and replacing doesn't sound like an option either (because who wants another trip back home depot?), then consider calling a plumber instead!

Testing the Flush Valve

To test the seal, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If you see color in your bowl after flushing, you may need to replace your flush valve.

Inspecting the Refill Tube

Inspect the refill tube to ensure it's not too long. If it is, you'll need to adjust or replace it.

Adjusting: To adjust the length of your refill tube, first remove its cap by unscrewing it from the end of your tank. Then, using pliers or another tool with a flat surface on one side (like an adjustable wrench), squeeze down on both sides of the plastic piece inside until you feel it snap into place. This should shorten your refill tube by about 1/2 inch each time you do this--enough so that water doesn't pool in front of your overflow pipe anymore but not so much that water stops flowing into your bowl when someone flushes!

Other Causes of a Running Toilet

You can troubleshoot your running toilet by checking for other causes.

Leaky fill valve: This is one of the most common causes of a running toilet, and it's easy to fix. The fill valve is located at the bottom of your tank and regulates how much water enters it when you flush. If this part isn't working properly, it will cause an overflow when flushing because too much water enters the tank at once. You can replace this part yourself or hire a plumber to do so; however, if you're comfortable with DIY projects then replacing this part should be fairly simple as long as you have access to tools like wrenches and screwdrivers (and maybe even pliers).
Faulty float: A faulty float could also cause your toilet bowl not only to run constantly but also to overflow onto floors because there isn't enough room for everything inside your bowl--so make sure all parts are functioning properly before moving on!

Preventing a Running Toilet

There are several ways to prevent a running toilet. The first is regular maintenance, which includes replacing parts regularly and cleaning the tank.

Tips for Fixing a Running Toilet

If you're trying to fix a running toilet, there are a few things you should know before getting started. First, make sure that all of the necessary tools are available and ready for use. This includes an adjustable wrench or pliers (for turning off the water supply), a plunger (to clear any clogs in the pipes), and some protective gear such as gloves and goggles.
Next, turn off your home's main water supply valve--this will stop any more water from flowing into your house until you're done working on this issue. Then go ahead and remove any debris from inside or around your toilet bowl using either paper towels or rags soaked in vinegar; this will help prevent further blockages later on if there's anything left behind after flushing once again!

Finally: once everything looks clear inside both bowls (not just one), try plunging away at whatever might be causing problems with each flush until everything runs smoothly again...and voila! You've got yourself fixed up nice-and-smoothly!

Conclusion

Now that you know how to fix a running toilet, it's time to get started. You'll need to make sure that your toilet is not overflowing and then remove the lid from the tank. Next, locate the float ball inside of your tank and check for debris on it or inside of it. If there is any debris present in these areas, remove them with tweezers or another tool before replacing everything back into place again.
If none of these steps worked for you and your problem persists, contact us today! Our team can help diagnose any issues that may be causing running toilets in your home so they don't continue plaguing you any longer than necessary

FAQs

What causes a running toilet?
A running toilet is caused by the flapper valve being worn out or broken, which allows water to flow into the tank without stopping. This can happen over time, or it can be caused by an installation error.
How do you fix a running toilet?
To fix a running toilet, first try replacing the flapper valve with one that has been designed for your specific model of tank and bowl combination. If this doesn't work, check for other issues with your plumbing system (like clogs) before trying anything else!