If the toilet keeps running or runs intermittently, you're not getting a good seal. Try a different flapper if the toilet won't stop running. If you just can't find a flapper that seals, consider replacing the entire toilet overflow tube/flapper. On most toilets (two-piece), this means removing the tank.
Solution 1: Replace the Flapper
Use a sponge to clean up any leftover water and then unhook the flapper and replace it with a new one. Turn the water supply back on and test. If the toilet randomly runs or the tank starts filling by itself, it's a sign that the flap is failing.
Most commonly, something is preventing the flapper from closing completely. Therefore, it is always letting a small amount of water out of the bowl. Then, once the toilet tank is empty, the fill valve is triggered, and it refills the tank. That's what you hear when your toilet runs for a few seconds—the tank refilling.
Among the most common problems for a running toilet is caused by a fill valve issue. This is when the water level is too high and water spills out of the top tank and into the overflow tube then down into the toilet bowl. This happens when there is excess water in the top tank.
A constantly running toilet also presents an increased risk of flooding. This risk can come in a few forms. When you have a septic tank, excess water can go over the tank's capacity, which can lead to sewer backups and basement flooding.
A toilet makes a hissing sound when the chain prevents the flapper from closing or when the chain is so long that excess chain gets caught under the flapper. A chain that is too short will keep the flapper in a slightly raised position, allowing water to pass out of the tank—creating a toilet hissing sound.
Some drop-in bowl cleaners are also hard on the rubber component of a flapper. As the flapper deteriorates it allows leakage. Although it is not something many of us think of as needing replacement on a routine basis, in general, a toilet flapper should be replaced every three to five years.
Will a running toilet stop eventually? As fresh water enters the tank, a mechanism eventually shuts off the water flow and the toilet will stop running. However, when things go wrong with the valve, flapper or overflow then it's best to get it sorted.
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.
You can expect to pay between $50 and $400 to repair a running water issue.
According to Fixr, the average toilet valve repair cost is between $75 and $200 to replace a flush valve or up to $400 to fix a constantly running toilet.
A leaking flapper allows water to leak into the bowl of your toilet, which is wasteful, and can waste hundreds of gallons of water per year if not fixed. Fixing a damaged or worn-out flapper is a job that just about anyone can do, and we strongly encourage homeowners to do this repair on their own.
Here are the average prices of the parts that you may need to fix your toilet: Flappers: $10 – $30. Fill valves: $12 – $60. Wax ring: $3 – $25.
Because a hissing toilet has different reasons for issues that might be wrong, there is a range of costs for fixing it. On average, it costs between $130-$310 dollars to fix the toilet.
This means that the water is continuously going down the refill tank and running up your water bill. If the water level looks perfectly fine and you still hear the hissing sound, the issue could be with the water supply to your toilet, an issue further back in the plumbing, or even the presence of air in the system.
This is often an issue with the refill valve. Either it's clogged with debris, or it needs to be recalibrated or replaced. You're likely hearing a hissing noise associated with a slow fill because the refill valve only allows a little water into the tank instead of shutting off as it should.
Your toilet may be constantly running because of a faulty flapper seal. One of the most common causes of a flapper seal breaking is improper installation. Human error is often to blame for this issue, but some design flaws in older toilets can cause the same problem.
Among the most common causes for a running toilet is overflow water leaking down into the bowl from the tank via the overflow tube. This happens when there's too much water in the tank. You can adjust the water level by adjusting the height of the float.
Many toilets really do leak only at night; that's because people use much less water during these hours and in many municipal water systems, the water pressure rises considerably during this time.