That sound. You know the one. The toilet finishes flushing, but it doesn’t stop. Water keeps running. And running. And running. You jiggle the handle. Maybe it stops for a minute. Then it starts again.
It’s annoying. It keeps you up at night. And worst of all, it’s wasting water and money every single day.
According to the EPA, a running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. That’s thousands of gallons a month going straight down the drain. Your water bill feels it. The environment feels it. And you definitely feel it every time you hear that constant trickling sound.
The good news? You might be able to fix running toilet problems yourself without calling anyone. Most of the time, it’s a simple issue inside the tank. With a few basic tools and about thirty minutes, you could have it sorted.
Here’s how to do it in five easy steps.
Step 1: Take Off the Tank Lid and Look Inside
First things first. Lift the lid off the back of your toilet and set it somewhere safe. Those lids are heavy and can crack if you drop them.
Now take a look inside the tank. You’ll see a few main parts:
- The fill valve, which refills the tank after each flush
- The flapper, which is the rubber seal at the bottom that holds water in
- The float, which tells the fill valve when to stop adding water
- The overflow tube, which prevents the tank from overflowing
Most running toilet issues come from one of these parts. Once you know what you’re looking at, the fix usually becomes obvious.
Step 2: Check the Flapper
The flapper is the most common culprit. It’s a rubber piece that sits over the drain hole at the bottom of the tank. When you flush, it lifts up and lets water flow into the bowl. Then it drops back down and seals the hole.
Over time, flappers wear out. They get warped, cracked, or coated with mineral buildup. When that happens, water leaks past them constantly.
A worn flapper is responsible for most running toilet problems. To check it, press down on the flapper with your hand while the toilet is running. If the water stops, you’ve found your issue.
Replacing a flapper is cheap and easy. You can find them at any hardware store for a few dollars. Just unhook the old one and snap the new one in place.
Step 3: Adjust the Float
If the flapper looks fine, check the float next. The float controls when the fill valve shuts off. If it’s set too high, water keeps running into the overflow tube instead of stopping.
Look for the water level in the tank. It should be about an inch below the top of the overflow tube. If it’s higher, water is constantly draining into the bowl.
To fix this, adjust the float. On older toilets, you can bend the metal arm down slightly. On newer models, there’s usually a screw or clip that lets you lower the float position.
This small adjustment can often fix running toilet issues in minutes.
Also read: How to Find the Best Plumber in Staten Island?
Step 4: Inspect the Fill Valve
Sometimes the fill valve itself is the problem. If it’s old or damaged, it might not shut off properly even when the float tells it to.
Listen closely. If you hear water constantly hissing into the tank, the fill valve might be stuck open.
You can try cleaning it first. Shut off the water supply, remove the cap on the fill valve, and rinse out any debris. Sometimes mineral deposits clog things up and cause problems.
If cleaning doesn’t help, replacing the fill valve is the next step. It’s a bit more involved than swapping a flapper, but it’s still doable for most people with basic DIY skills.
Step 5: Check the Overflow Tube
If everything else looks good, check the overflow tube. This is the vertical pipe in the center of the tank. If it’s cracked or damaged, water can leak into the bowl continuously.
A damaged overflow tube usually means you need to replace the entire flush valve assembly. That’s a bigger job. At this point, calling a professional for running toilet repair might save you time and frustration.
When to Call a Professional?
Not every fix is a DIY project. If you’ve gone through these steps and the toilet still runs, there might be a deeper issue. Maybe the toilet itself is old and worn out. Maybe there’s a problem with the water supply line. Maybe the parts inside just don’t fit right anymore.
Toilets typically last 15 to 20 years, but internal components wear out much faster. If your toilet is older and constantly giving you trouble, it might be time to consider a replacement.
A professional plumber can diagnose the problem quickly and recommend the best solution. Sometimes spending a little on running toilet repair now saves a lot on water bills later.
Call RK Plumbing & HVAC Services LLC If Your Toilet is Running
At RK Plumbing & HVAC Services LLC, we handle toilet repairs every day. We’ve seen it all. From simple flapper replacements to complete toilet installations, our team knows how to get things working right.
We show up on time. We explain what’s wrong in plain language. We give you honest pricing before we start. No surprises. No pressure.
Your bathroom should be a place of comfort, not frustration. That constant running sound isn’t just annoying. It’s costing you money every single day. And the longer you wait, the more water and cash you’re flushing away.
You’ve already tried jiggling the handle. You’ve already hoped it would fix itself. It didn’t. It won’t.
Stop losing sleep over a problem that can be fixed. Call RK Plumbing & HVAC Services LLC today. Let’s fix running toilet issues for good and get your bathroom back to normal.
