“Hello, is your Toilet Running?”

There are few annoyances around the house worse than a running toilet. They waste water, cost you money, and won’t stop singing that hissing song all night long. Although this is one of the most common toilet problems in households across the US, it’s a fairly straight forward repair. There are normally three main causes of a running toilet. Let’s learn how to fix them.

Identifying the Cause of a Running Toilet

The three main causes of a running toilet are:

• Damaged flapper

• Incorrect Fill Valve Floater Height

• Failed Fill Valve

The best way to determine the cause is by removing the top to the toilet tank and examining the water level. If you notice water is constantly running over and into the overflow tube (Image 1 below), the problem is the fill valve height or its condition. If water drops from the tank into the toilet bowl below the overflow tube, the problem is from the flapper.

Replacing a Failing Flapper

A toilet flapper is a rubber stopper at the bottom of the overflow tube. This is what lifts up allowing water into the toilet bowl when you flush. If the flapper becomes damaged, water will constantly leak through the flapper into the toilet bowl. Flappers are cheap and easy to repair.

Step 1: Shutting off the Water

Shut off the water to the toilet with the shut-off valve on the supply line at the bottom left of the toilet. Most shut-off valves need to be turned to the right to turn off the water. Some valves are shaped like a football while others like Image 2, are a button that pop in and out to turn the water off. Once you turn the water off, flush the toilet and use a towel or shop vac to remove excess water so your tank is completely drained.

Step 2: Remove the Current Flapper

Remove the existing flapper by detaching the chain and disconnecting the two rubber arms connecting the flapper to the overflow tube.

Step 3: Installing the New Flapper

Attach the new flapper arms to the hooks on the overflow tube. Connect the chain to the lever ensuring there is enough slack in the chain to let the flapper sit comfortably covering the flush valve seat (fancy name for hole that flows water from the tank to the bowl).

All done!

Adjusting the Fill Valve Height

An incorrect height for the fill valve will often result in water constantly running into the overflow tube. Test the float cup, attached to the fill valve, by lifting it up and seeing if the water stops. If the water stops when lifting, your fill valve is healthy, but the float needs an adjustment.

Step 1: Use a screwdriver to adjust the height

You’ll see a screw head attached to a long “screw” attached to the float. Using a screwdriver, rotate the screw counterclockwise to lower the float. This will lower the max height of the water in the tank.

Step 2: Flush and Test

Once your float is lowered, flush the toilet and test to see if the water is still entering the overflow tube. If so, adjust the float even lower until the water no longer enters the tube.

Great work!

Replacing a Fill Valve

If neither the float height nor the rubber stopper are the issue, you’ll need to replace the fill valve. Fill valves are fairly inexpensive and often come as a complete kit at hardware stores.

Step 1: Shut off the Water

Locate your water shutoff valve and turn the valve to the right. Once the water is off, flush the tank and use towels/a shop vac to empty the tank of all its water.

Step 2: Disconnect the Water Supply Line

Using channel locks/adjustable wrench, loosen and disconnect the water supply line from the fill valve. There will be water in this line so make sure you empty it into a bucket or towel.

Step 3: Removing Supply Nut

There is a supply nut connecting the fill valve to the bottom of the toilet tank. Grab a bowl or towels and place them under the supply nut to absorb the excess water. Unscrew the nut releasing the fill valve from its upright position inside the tank. Remove the fill valve.

Step 4: Installation the New Fill Valve

Install the new fill valve in the reverse order you removed the old fill valve. Make sure the new fill valve is compatible with your toilet prior to installing the water supply line and turning on the water.

Step 5: Reattach the Water Supply Line

Start reattaching the water supply line to the fill valve by tightening the water supply line nut. Make sure the connection is snug but not overtightened as you can cause damage.

Turn the water back on at the shut off valve, make sure there are no leaks and test the toilet to make sure the problem has been fixed.

Congratulations, no more running toilet!

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