What to Do If Your Toilet Won’t Stop Running

There’s little in the world more annoying than a toilet that won’t stop running. What’s worse is that many homeowners don’t know what to do, and they’re left feeling helpless. But there are easy steps you can take to identify why a toilet won’t stop leaking — and to fix that problem.

Why Wont My Toilet Stop Running?

A toilet that won’t stop running can’t hold a stable water level in the tank and the bowl. The problem could be due to several possible issues, including a leaky flapper, a float that’s not set correctly, or a faulty fill valve. Many of these issues are fairly easy to troubleshoot yourself.

Here are four simple steps to take when you’re wondering what to do if your toilet won’t stop running.

1. Remove Lid: You won’t be able to see or do anything until you remove your toilet’s lid. This is the easy part. Simply lift it off the top of the toilet’s upper portion and set it somewhere out of the way.
2. Check Fill Tube: You’ll see several tubes and valves inside your toilet. Find the fill tube, which runs out of the overflow tube (the open-topped tube) and into the fill valve, which is the larger of the two vertical tubes in your toilet. The fill tube is thin and flexible. Make sure this fill tube is connecting the fill valve and overflow tube, and that it’s sitting just about an inch below the overflow tube’s rim. If it isn’t, this may fix your problem. If it is, move on to the next step.
3. Check Fill Height: Any toilet includes a float that’s connected to the fill valve. This float may be set too high, which means the water will just run and run. Or it may be set too low, which means your toilet won’t flush very well. The water should stop about an inch short of the overflow tube’s rim. If it doesn’t, adjust the float. If the float continues to be a problem, it may be time for a replacement — which you can get at any hardware store.
4. Check Handle and Flapper: If your fill valve and fill height are just fine, move on to the handle and flapper. If the chain that connects your handle to the flapper is too short or becomes tangled, the flapper won’t close and the water will continue to run. Adjust the chain to give it a little more slack — enough that the flapper closes without letting the handle hit the lid of the toilet when flushed. If adjusting the chain doesn’t work, you may need to replace your flapper. Again, find a replacement at any hardware store.

Are you still having trouble with a running toilet? Call on the experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater Syracuse. We’ll send a licensed plumbing professional to your home who can identify the problem and deliver the solution. Life’s too short to live with a toilet that is annoyingly running without pause. Let us help in these situations, and with any plumbing-related issue at your home.

Contact us today about running toilets at your Greater Syracuse home by requesting a job estimate online or calling us.