How To Repair A Running Toilet
According to experts at Moffett Plumbing, the culprit behind your non-stop-running toilet is either an oversized refill tube, a leaking flapper, a high float height, or all of the three. Let's find out what those toilet parts do.
First off, the flapper is a small rubber piece inside the toilet's water tank. It is a stopper that prevents the flow of water from the tank to the bowl. On the other hand, the refill tube determines the volume of water that gets into the bowl. And lastly, the float decides the level of water in the tank, per Homedit.
And while plumbing contractors like Metcalf Plumbing warn that a running toilet can waste your water away and significantly increase your water bill, they equally profess that homeowners can fix the problem by themselves without calling a technician. All you have to do is follow the instructions below to troubleshoot your running toilet right now.
1. Reset the floater into position
Sunrise Specialty explains that a toilet tank with an overly high water level will keep water running non-stop by supplying excessive water to the overflow tube. The normal water level for every toilet tank is one inch below the tip of the overflow tube, and anything above one inch could cause a running toilet (per Bailey Brothers).
Measure your tank water level with a ruler. If it's higher than normal, all you have to do is adjust the arm of the floater with a screwdriver until it stops one inch below the overflow tube.
2. Set the flapper right
Remember the flapper inside your water tank that stops the supply of water to the toilet bowl after flushing? The flapper is attached to a chain that controls how tight it seals the hole for water to enter the toilet bowl.
According to American Home Shield, when this chain slacks over time, it could end up in-between the flapper and the hole it is meant to seal. When this happens, water will keep running to the toilet bowl with nothing to stop it. Tighten the chain to solve this problem, or replace the flapper if needed.
3. Repair a damaged refill tube
The refill tube is a vulnerable part of your toilet. As water passes through, debris, dirt, and minerals are deposited inside the walls causing water to force its way through, damaging the walls and leaking out. In this case, the refill tube needs to be replaced.
All City Plumbing also explained that when your refill tube is too long or isn't positioned properly, it pumps water into the toilet bowl non-stop. Luckily, the way to solve this is to unplug the refill tube, cut off the excess, and plug it back in place.