A few reasons your toilet keeps running.
We’ve all experienced a toilet that keeps running and it can be very annoying. A constantly running toilet could be caused by several different issues, such as a leaky flapper, a float ball that hasn’t been set correctly, or a faulty fill valve. These problems are typically easy to fix, though you may need the help of a plumber if you can’t figure it out yourself.
Our goal today is to give you a little bit of insight into why your toilet is constantly running, how to fix it, and why the problem shouldn’t be ignored.
Why It’s Important to Fix Your Toilet
Let’s take a quick look at just a few reasons why it’s important to fix a constantly running toilet as soon as possible:
Greater Risk of Flooding
Although it doesn’t happen in too many instances, the greatest threat of a constantly running toilet is flooding. This can happen if you have a septic tank because the excess water can lead to saturation and failure of the drain field. If this sounds bad, that’s because it is. This type of problem can lead to a very expensive plumbing bill.
Huge Waste of Water
As you might expect, a toilet that keeps running is going to waste a lot of water. That’s because problems with a flapper or floater will result in water being drained between flushes unnecessarily. Since toilets contribute quite a bit to the average home’s water usage, a constantly running toilet is a big problem. In fact, you could end up wasting many gallons of water in a very short period of time.
Huge Waste of Money
As you might also expect, a toilet that keeps running could end up costing you money. If you ignore the problem, you could find yourself paying for gallons upon gallons of wasted water. What’s funny is that many homeowners will ignore a running toilet and end up with a huge water bill, despite the fact that replacing defective parts is relatively inexpensive. A plumber is cheaper, too.
Potential Blockages
Constantly running water also results in your toilet having a weaker flush. This means that not enough water will be sent down your pipes, thereby increasing the chances that they’ll be blocked by waste. Not only could this lead to a very unpleasant odor, but the cost of fixing the problem may be quite high. It’s better to fix your toilet long before this has a chance of happening.
What to Do When a Toilet Keeps Running
Now that you understand why it’s important to fix a constantly running toilet, here’s what you should do to rectify the problem:
Remove the Toilet’s Lid
The easiest part of the process is to remove the toilet lid. This is something that most people have done many times, even if it was simply to put in a toilet cleaner rather than fix something.
The toilet’s lid isn’t attached at all. Simply lift the lid off the toilet tank and set it somewhere. It isn’t too fragile, but make sure you don’t drop it because it can break.
Check the Fill Tube
Inside the back of the toilet, you’ll find several tubes and valves. The fill tube is thin and flexible and runs out of the overflow tube (the one with the open top).
The fill tube should connect the fill valve and overflow tube. It should also be sitting approximately one inch below the overflow tube’s rim. If not, you may have discovered your problem.
Check the Fill Height
It’s possible that your toilet’s float may be set too high, which will cause it to run constantly. Or it may be set too low, which will cause flushing issues. If the water doesn’t stop approximately one inch below the overflow tube’s rim, it needs to be adjusted. If it continues to have a problem after you’ve adjusted it, then it’s time to replace the float.
Check Handle and Flapper
In most cases, the fill tube or fill height will be the problem. But if neither is the case with your toilet, you need to check the handle and flapper. It’s possible that the chain connecting the two may either be too short or have become tangled.
This will prevent the flapper from closing and cause the water to continuously run. In most cases, you can adjust the chain to fix the problem. If not, the flapper may need to be replaced.
Contact Richard A. Smith Plumbing for All Your Plumbing Problems
Richard A. Smith Plumbing can assist you with a toilet that keeps running and any other plumbing issue in your home. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, give us a call at (813) 930-0419 today to schedule a free consultation with a plumber in Clearwater.