Calls for plumbers due to constantly running toilets are widespread. It’s no wonder, too, because the water continually running is wasteful and potentially costly, and the noise can be annoying too. Or, you might not realize the toilet has constantly been running until you see a big jump in your water bill.
There are quite a few common causes for a constantly running toilet, and here are a few of them.
Float is Overly Elevated
The float is the bobbing plastic bulb attached to the fill tube on the arm. This is what is attached to the flusher outside the toilet. The float setting determines the water level in the upper tank – if the float is set too low, you’ll have a weak flush. If the float is set too high, your toilet will, worst-case scenario, overflow, or it might just leak into the tank, causing the endless cycling of water.
This is an easy fix and only requires resetting the height of the float. Often there is a fill line in the tank to guide you. If you remove the cover on the back of the toilet and flush, you’ll see the water recede and come back; then, you’ll be able to tell if the float is the issue.
Flapper is Leaking
When you press down on the flusher, a chain moves up and pulls a rubber flapper that acts as the drain of the upper tank. Over time, the flapper can wear down or break and lose the ability to create a perfect seal, allowing water to flow through continually. This is very easy to replace, and some universal flappers can work for almost any toilet.
The issue with the flapper could also be the chain. The chain attached to the flapper allows the plug to lift and fall with the water level. If the chain is too taught, it won’t allow the flapper to drop and reseal the drain. The chain can be cut for repair, or you can buy a new shorter one.
Faulty refill tube
The refill tube does just what it sounds like; it refills the toilet after a flush. This tube is the gatekeeper for the whole system since it dictates how much water the overflow tube should let in.
When the refill tube is too long or in the wrong position, it will pump water into the toilet. The tube can easily be shortened or repositioned to shut off automatically.
Before replacing a faulty refill tube, the water should be turned off. Like flappers, there are also universal refill tubes at the hardware store.
Taking on toilet repair alone can be a complicated situation. There are many parts, and you can run into issues where there is water pumping out. More importantly, more significant problems could be the root cause of why the toilet is constantly running. Contact a professional plumbing company like Icon Plumbing to get all the best help on your plumbing problems.