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Why Does My Toilet Keep Running?
There's nothing more frustrating than a toilet that won't stop running. Not only can it waste a surprising amount of water, it can also significantly drive up your water bill. Did you know that if you hear your toilet keep running, it’s most likely the sound of water filling the tank? We’ll discuss some potential problems that could be causing your toilet to not stop running.
How To Fix a Toilet That Keeps Running
If your toilet runs non-stop, whether you’ve recently flushed or not, you might have one of the following problems:
1. A Bad Flapper
Your toilet flapper is a round, rubber seal that releases water into the bowl when you flush. The connected chain lifts the flapper up when the toilet handle is pressed down, allowing water to pour into the toilet bowl.
But that flapper can deteriorate over time, preventing it from creating a perfect seal. This results in a slow water leak from the toilet tank, forcing your toilet fill tube to slowly and constantly fill the toilet tank.
If your flapper is not sealing or looks broken, it’s time to replace it.
2. A Flapper Chain That’s Too Tight
Your flapper is connected to the handle on your toilet by a chain. But if that chain is too tight, the flapper can’t close completely. This also causes a slow leak and forces your fill tube to refill the toilet tank constantly.
Make sure there is enough slack in the chain to allow the flapper to completely seal the small hole in the bottom of your toilet tank. If the chain is too tight, you can adjust it by removing the pin from the chain and placing it a couple of rungs lower on the chain.
3. The Water Level in the Toilet Tank is Too High
The fill tube is responsible for refilling the tank with water after every flush. This tube is connected to your main water supply. As the water level in the tank rises, a float lifts and eventually shuts off the water. Your float can be adjusted to shut off water flow at different levels.
If your float is too high, water will constantly drain into the overflow tube, which can make it sound like your toilet is constantly running.
Take the lid off the toilet tank and watch the overflow tube. If water flows up into the tube after a flush, lower the float until the problem is resolved.
4. The Fill Valve Isn’t Working Properly
The fill valve is responsible for supplying water to the tank. If it's leaking or not otherwise functioning properly, water will continue to run. Problems with the fill valve can be caused by a number of factors, including a leak in the valve or a build-up of sediment.
In most cases, the problem can be resolved by simply replacing the fill valve. However, if the leak is severe, it may be necessary to replace the entire toilet. Either way, it is important to identify and fix the problem as soon as possible to avoid wasting water and increasing your water bill. If you're not sure how to fix the valve yourself, you can always call on our plumbing service for assistance.
Call Us for a Toilet that Keeps Running!
If you still need help fixing a toilet that keeps running, contact the Aztec Plumbing & Drains team today at (239) 232-2012. We’ll send over a plumber and get your toilet back to normal operation in no time.