Toilet keeps running
A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons a day. The cause is almost always inside the tank.
Take the lid off and look
- Flapper not sealing. If water keeps trickling into the bowl, the rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank is probably warped or dirty. Replacement flappers are inexpensive.
- Chain too short or tangled. A chain with no slack holds the flapper open slightly. Adjust it so there's a little slack.
- Water level too high. If water spills into the overflow tube, lower the float on the fill valve.
- Fill valve worn out. Hissing or constant refilling usually means the fill valve needs replacing.
Quick leak test
Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking.
When to call a plumber
If the shutoff valve behind the toilet won't turn or leaks when you touch it, or water is seeping around the base, a plumber can replace the valve or reset the toilet on a new wax ring.