A running toilet is typically caused by the overflow tube, flush valve, or fill valve. Check the water in the tank to determine if it is running into the overflow tube. If the water is running into the overflow tube, the water level might be too high, or the overflow tube might be too short for the toilet.
No need to worry, a running toilet is usually a simple fix. 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. The first thing you will need to do is turn off the water feeding into the toilet.
If your toilet randomly runs off and on for a few seconds, it is likely due to a broken flapper. While the flapper is supposed to drop down and re-seal the tank when enough water has gone through, a cracked or decaying flapper will allow water to keep flowing through and run periodically.
The True Cost of a Running Toilet
For minor toilet leaks, your water bill won't be as drastically high; however, it will be higher than normal. A moderate toilet leak will generally waste about 6,000 gallons of water per month and can cost you an additional $70 per month-- $1,000 per year in waste.
If you've tried replacing the toilet flapper but the toilet still runs, the flush valve seat is probably rough or pitted. You can replace the entire flush toilet flapper valve, but it's a big job.
If you suspect your toilet keeps running because of a major leak or damage to the bowl, gasket, flushing mechanism, or pipes, call a plumber right away. Be wary of easy, DIY solutions that might make problems worse, costing you more time, stress, and money in the long run.
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.
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 toilet that cuts on and off by itself, or runs intermittently, has a problem that plumbers call a "phantom flush." The cause is a very slow leak from the tank into the bowl. This problem is almost certainly caused by a bad flapper or flapper seat.
Running noises when no one flushes could mean a variety of things: The valve in the tank allows water to escape into the bowl. The flapper chain in the tank is too tight and prevents the valve from shutting all the way. The float in the toilet tank is set to a high mark, causing the toilet to run constantly.
If your toilet is still running after replacing parts or adjusting, a clogged toilet could be the culprit.
According to SFGate, flushing the toilets accounts for a whopping 30% of the average household's water usage. Therefore, reducing the amount of water flushed away every time you visit the bathroom is an effective way to lighten the load on your wallet.
Since the water flows down the sewer, leaking toilets don't necessarily leave any signs of a leak, until you get the bill. The average leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water per day. That's over 6,000 gallons a month ($70.06*) for just one leaking toilet!
Your toilet does not require any electricity to operate. It can run even if the power is off. With that in mind, a toilet does require water to function properly – which could leave you in a bind if your water is temporarily turned off.
More often than not, the flapper valve could need adjustment, or you may need to replace the toilet fill valve. Both are relatively small fixes that most homeowners can usually handle without calling in a professional plumber or having to remove the toilet and then having to install a new one.
If the water is overflowing or close to the rim of the toilet bowl while the water is running, or after you have fixed what you thought was wrong, you may want to turn off the water valve to the toilet and call a plumber.
“One of the biggest reasons why changing out toilet flappers is absolutely necessary is due to the fact that faulty toilet flappers are the main cause of running toilets,” says Ryan Thompson, a residential plumber in Florida. “This causes you to waste water, which increases your water utility bill.
For example, the toilet wax seal may give out at about the 20-year mark. The toilet's flush valve will typically last 6-7 years. A toilet fill valve might only last four to five years. In general, you should expect to replace the parts in your toilet every so often while keeping the actual bowl in place.
To replace the flush and fill valve on a toilet cistern, a plumber would typically charge between £80 and £120. The job should take 1-2 hours to complete.