Constantly Running Toilet? Common Issues You Can Check Yourself
A running toilet can be more problematic than you may realize. When a toilet is allowed to continually run, it can cost you a lot of extra money on your water bill each month. Fortunately, it is rather simple to repair a running toilet once you know what the problem is.
Some common issues cause a toilet to run constantly. The following are some things you can check to identify the source of the problem.
Bad Toilet Handle
Over time, a toilet handle can wear out and break. You may have noticed that sometimes your toilet handle will stay in the lower position after you flush. If the handle remains in this position, the water will continue to run in the tank. The malfunctioning toilet handle is something that happens over time and typically happens as the handle gets old and stiff. This is a common problem, particularly for toilets that are older.
Bad Fill Valve
A toilet's fill valve can develop a leak over time. This results in water constantly running in the toilet. You can easily check the function of this valve yourself. Flush the toilet while you lift the float arm as the tank refills. The water should stop. If the water keeps filling the tank and moves into the overfill valve, chances are the fill valve is bad and needs a replacement.
Bad Flush Valve
One of the most common causes of a running toilet is a bad flush valve. If you have an older toilet, you may have a flapper seal. Newer toilets use a flush valve. Either part can go bad and cause the toilet to run.
No matter which part your toilet uses, the seal around either the flush valve or the flapper seal can fail over time. This valve failure can result in the lack of a good seal, which causes the water to constantly run in the tank.
You can check your valve to see if it is the cause of the problem. Place some food coloring in the toilet tank. Wait a couple of minutes, the dyed water may end up in the bowl of the toilet without flushing it. If this happens, it means you have a bad flush valve and you need a replacement.
Bad Flapper Chain
The flapper chain is the chain in the tank that opens the flush valve or flapper seal, depending on the age of your toilet. Upon initial installation, it is possible the flapper chain may not have been the correct length, which prevents the seal from closing all the way. This allows the water to run constantly.
When a chain is too short, the seal will never close completely. If the chain is too long, it can get in between the seal which means the water will keep running. If either of these issues is the problem, you can easily adjust the length of the chain.
The water will also continue to run if the flapper chain breaks. If the chain is broken, you can replace it rather easily. Be sure to replace the chain at the correct length so your toilet will have a tight seal.
Once you identify the problem, you can call a plumber and explain what the problem is so they can more quickly fix it. If you can't determine what the problem is, call a plumber to check the toilet for you. You do not want to allow the running water to continue, it is not ideal for your water bill or the environment.
We at O'Fallon Sewer Service are happy to help you figure out this problem, as well as any other issues you have with your plumbing.
