Flushing your toilet is like a mini waterfall. You’ve probably never noticed it because the water sound drowns out all other noises, but you can tell that there’s running water in the background when you flush- and sometimes this will happen for more than 30 seconds after flushing!

This is the process of the toilet tank refilling with water.

A toilet is meant to refill its tank after a flush, otherwise it might overflow and cause leaks. If your toilet keeps running without the water being siphoned off into the bowl then you have an issue with your plumbing system or sealant that needs fixing as soon as possible!

Because the water just keeps running, this means that you are paying for that! This could be costing you up to $70.00 a month on your water bill!

If you have a running toilet, it’s important to get that fixed as not only will the problem likely worsen if left untreated but also because of how much money it can save in the long run.

4 Possible Reasons Why Your Toilet Keeps Running

There are 4 common reasons why this is happening:

  1. The flapper chain is too tight
  2. The level of water in the tank is set too high
  3. The flapper has gone bad
  4. There’s a problem with the fill valve

How To Fix Each Of These Problems

Flapper Chain – This can certainly be an easy fix. Just adjust the flapper chain in the toilet tank so that it’s a bit looser. You may have to adjust it a few times before you get the right length.

Water Level – The float in the fill valve of your toilet tank controls the level of water in the tank. If you can lower the float, you will then lower the water level in the tank.

Bad Flapper – This is also an easy fix, simply take the old flapper to the hardware store and purchase a new one. Replace the old one with the new one and the problem should be resolved.

Here are the steps to replacing the toilet tank flapper:

  1. Shut off the water valve which shuts off the water to the toilet. This is usually located near the base of the toilet on the wall.
  2. Flush the toilet and hold the handle down so that almost all the water in the toilet is gone.
  3. Remove the old flapper. There are different style flappers and each one has it’s own method of removal. The folks at your hardware store should be able to help or you can see if there’s a video on Youtube to show you how it’s done.
  4. Install the new flapper.
  5. Turn the water valve back on and test your toilet flush.

Fill Valve Problem – Again, another easy solution if you believe that your fill valve (fill tube) is the issue is to replace it. This can be a bit more complicated than a flapper so if you don’t feel comfortable doing this, contact your plumber.

What If You Have A Button Flush Toilet?

Working on a single button or double button flush toilet is a bit more complicated and may require the need for a professional plumber but generally speaking, here are the steps involved:

  1. Again, shut off the water valve to the toilet.
  2. Remove the top of the toilet tank.
  3. If the water level is above the overflow tube – then you know that you need to replace or adjust the water level valve. This may require the skills of a plumber.
  4. If the water level is not an issue then you will want to twist off the flush valve tube (this is what includes the one or two buttons on the top of the tank). At this point, the water in the tank should flush down the pipe.
  5. If you notice any worn out washers or other components in your tank then those will need to be replaced.
  6. Check the pipe where the flush valve tube connects to – you want to ensure that it’s clear of any debris.
  7. Twist the the flush valve tube back on until it locks into place.
  8. Turn the water valve to your toilet back on and test the flush.

Again, we recommend that you seek the help of a plumber to work on these issues if you feel, in any way, uncomfortable performing any of these tasks.

If you have any questions about your toilet or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.