Toilet Keeps Running? Causes, Fixes & When to Call a Plumber
A toilet that keeps running is more than an annoying sound at night. It can waste 200 gallons of water a day and add real money to your Indiana water bill. The good news: most running toilets have one of five causes, and several are quick fixes.
1. Worn flapper
The rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank seals water in until you flush. Over time it warps or gets coated in minerals and no longer seals. Drop a few drops of food coloring in the tank; if color appears in the bowl without flushing, the flapper is leaking.
2. Float set too high
If the water level in the tank is above the overflow tube, water constantly drains into the tube and the fill valve keeps running. Adjust the float screw or clip so the water sits about an inch below the top of the overflow tube.
3. Failing fill valve
A fill valve that hisses, sputters, or never shuts off has worn internals. Replacement is inexpensive, but if you are not comfortable with the tank plumbing, our toilet repair team can handle it on a same-day visit.
4. Chain too short or tangled
A chain that is too short holds the flapper slightly open; one that is too long can get caught under the flapper. Adjust so there is about half an inch of slack.
5. Cracked overflow tube or flush valve
Cracks in the flush valve assembly let water leak into the bowl continuously. This repair requires removing the tank and is a job for a plumber.
When to call a plumber
If you have replaced the flapper and adjusted the float and the toilet still runs, or if you notice water around the base, call A Good Plumber. We provide toilet repair and replacement across Indiana — from Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to Evansville — with upfront pricing.