Toilet Keeps Running? Causes, Fixes & When to Call a Plumber
A toilet that keeps running is one of the most common plumbing complaints we hear across California, and it is also one of the most expensive to ignore. A continuously running toilet can waste 200 gallons or more per day, which shows up fast on a California water bill.
Why your toilet keeps running
The three usual culprits are a worn flapper that no longer seals the flush valve, a fill valve that never shuts off, or a float set too high so water spills into the overflow tube. Less often the flush valve seat is corroded or the chain is tangled and holding the flapper open.
Quick checks you can do
Lift the tank lid and watch a flush. If water trickles into the overflow tube, lower the float. If you hear a hiss and the flapper looks warped or has mineral buildup, it probably needs replacing. Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank; if color appears in the bowl without flushing, the flapper is leaking.
When to call a plumber
If a new flapper and float adjustment do not stop the running, or the toilet is old, cracked or constantly clogging, it is time for professional toilet repair — or a water-saving toilet replacement. A running toilet can also hide a slow leak at the base; our water leak repair team checks for that on every call.
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