Take a crescent wrench to the ``bonnet'' of the new shut off, the little nut behind the handle, loosen that then loosen the handle, the guts of the shut off will come Out. Toss the metal body you won't need it. Repeat this process on your shutoff valve behind the toilet. Then tighten it back down, close the handle.
The three most common causes are a broken or dirty flapper, too long or too short of a chain between the flush lever and the flapper or a float that is out of position.
Lower the float
One of the most common causes of a running toilet is when overflow water is leaking down into the bowl from the tank through the overflow tube. 'This tends to happen when too much water is present in the tank,' says Matthew Jenkins. 'You can adjust the water level by changing the height of the float. '
The most common toilet leak is caused by a deteriorated flush valve (flapper) at the bottom of the toilet tank. If the flapper does not seat properly, water will leak into the toilet bowl. Often this leak will occur without being heard.
Such a refill sound is usually alerting you that your toilet is losing water, either internally (if there's no water on the floor or exterior of toilet) or externally leaking if you see water outside the toilet.
If a toilet fill valve won't shut off, the toilet will run continuously and waste many gallons of water. There are a few reasons this can happen. The valve may be old, dirty, rusty, or damaged. A broken valve can leak and be unable to close.
A continuously running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day or more depending on the volume flow down the drain. This can cause a terrible increase to a family's typical water use, so fix toilet leaks as soon as possible. Some leaks are easy to find, such as a dripping faucet or running toilet.
Generally, it's a good idea to consider replacing the toilet fill valve every 4 to 5 years.
Fixing a Stuck Water Shut Off Valve
We recommend putting a cloth over the handle and using your hand to slowly rock the stuck valve back and forth to loosen it. Keep doing this until the valve can be completely opened and closed. If the valve won't turn after trying this, grab a pair of Channellock pliers.
Use of the Day: Keep valve stems and faucets rust-free by spraying them with WD-40.
Check Handle and Flapper: If your fill valve and fill height are just fine, move on to the handle and flapper. If the chain that connects your handle to the flapper is too short or becomes tangled, the flapper won't close and the water will continue to run.
Fixing a toilet fill valve (once referred to as a ballcock) is relatively easy to repair if you have a standard Fluidmaster brand valve. Often, a fill valve is repaired by simply replacing the entire fill valve, but Fluidmaster fill valves can be corrected by just replacing a seal inside the unit.
Wiggle the Valve: If the shutoff valve turns only partially, it won't completely stop the flow of water. Try moving the valve clockwise and counterclockwise. Wiggling it back and force may eventually allow you to turn it smoothly. Use Hot Water: Cold metal parts may be more difficult to move.
2. The Flapper Is Leaking and Needs Replacing. Perhaps the most common reason for a running toilet is an old flapper that needs to be replaced. When flappers get old, they don't seal the way they should, and this allows water to pass constantly from the toilet tank into the bowl.
Also, small water leaks can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars on your bill, so be sure to fix leaky faucets as soon as you see them. If you live in an apartment or condo, a running toilet may also cause your electric bill to go up.
Adjust the flush handle/flapper chain
A chain that's too short or tangled won't allow the flapper to close and water will continue to leak into the bowl. This causes the fill valve to cycle on and off to refill the tank.
A call during regular business hours for a plumber to visit is likely okay. Emergency response is warranted if your toilet is gushing water or the leakage is intense, no matter where it's coming from. When large volumes of water are released, flooding and water penetration into walls and flooring happen rapidly.
Worn Out or Warped Flapper: Over time, the rubber material of the flapper can deteriorate, become brittle, or warp. This wear and tear can prevent the flapper from creating a proper seal, allowing water to leak continuously into the bowl.
1: Toilet is Running (Phantom Flushes)
This problem is almost certainly caused by a bad flapper or flapper seat. The solution is to drain the tank and bowl, check and clean the flapper seat and then replace the flapper if it's worn or damaged.
Perform a Dye Test
Add a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank and wait for about 30 minutes without flushing. If you see the colored water seeping into the toilet bowl, your fill valve is likely the issue.
Ghost flushing, or phantom flushing, occurs when your toilet tank refills independently without anyone pressing the handle. Water leaks from the tank into the bowl, causing the fill valve to activate periodically to refill the tank. It's similar to your toilet flushing itself, but it's just refilling.