Better catch it!

Are you wondering how to fix a toilet that keeps running?

Toilet maintenance can be a relatively simple chore that will prevent you from flushing your money and water resources down the drain. In this blog, we explain some common causes for your toilet to be running and how to prevent them with toilet maintenance and repair tips.

Without checking for these issues regularly, you could be costing yourself thousands every year (in dollars and litres).

If you hear water running, firstly check the toilet flapper, located in the tank of the toilet. The flapper is a small device in the tank that provides the seal for the toilet flush valve and helps control the water supply in the toilet bowl. When this seal is broken or misaligned, water can leak through or prevent the bowl from draining properly. This issue can be caused by sediment building up around the seal or becoming brittle over time with wear. 

Faulty flappers are a common problem, so check this before you assume there is an issue with the water flow. As part of your regular toilet maintenance, you should replace the flapper as required. 

While you’re here, check the chain. If it’s too long then it can get caught under the flapper. On the other hand, if it’s too short, the flapper won’t seal properly.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, examine the float in the tank. Depending on the toilet make, it could be a ball float or a cup float. These indicate how much water should reenter the tank when it’s refilling. It also forms part of the mechanism that controls the water level in the bowl. 

If it’s broken or cracked, it will sink to the bottom leaving no indicator telling the toilet to stop filling with water. In this case, the float ball can be replaced. Alternatively, the refill volume could be set too high, consistently causing the toilet to refill at a higher level than it can hold. Unfortunately, this adjustment can only be done by a professional.

The toilet fill valve is also located in the tank and sits below the float adjustment screw. This valve can get blocked by debris or particles over time which prevents it from closing and causing the bowl to continue filling past full. This can be fixed with a DIY attitude and a new washer or fill valve.

Do you know what’s okay to flush and what’s not okay to flush? We’ve written a blog on the topic, but as a reminder, toilet paper and human waste are the only matter that should be flushed through your toilet system. Unless you want to block water to the toilet and clog your system, do not flush baby/’flushable’ wipes, cotton pads, sanitary products, or paper towels.

If you’ve been through this guide and you still have issues with running water and a toilet that won’t flush properly, it’s time to call the experts. Troubleshooting yourself is a good place to start if your toilet is constantly running, but there might be an internal water leak or a bigger problem at hand. 

Contact us at Chiswick Plumbing; we can diagnose and advise of the most economical way to fix your running toilet- preferably for the long term. We can help you decide whether your toilet system just needs repairs or replacing.