As a plumber in Westchester, we get many calls from county residents about running toilets. While this may seem like a small thing, a running toilet can waste thousands of gallons of water per week. Hearing the water run can be annoying; especially when you’re trying to sleep. There are several issues that cause a toilet to run. And honestly, this is something that you can fix with our help in this DIY blog post.
Below is a list of things that cause a toilet to run and what can be done to fix them:
- A misaligned float: When the water fills just below the overflow pipe the toilet is full. If it fills higher than, the float for the pump could be too high. To fix this, bend the rod connecting the float to the pump so that it is positioned lower.
- A disconnected or chain that’s not fit properly between rubber flapper and flush lever. One of the most common instances is the chain can become dislodged from one end. Reattaching it is pretty simple. The chain should be tight so that when the lever is pushed it lifts the flapper. Now don’t go and make it too tight; because the flapper may not be able to close.
- Broken fill tube or valve. Like any equipment in your home, parts of your toilet can wear down and break overtime. If water continues to fill the toilet after the flapper is closed, the issue is the fill tube. If the float and fill tube aren’t the issue, the fill valve likely is.
- A broken flapper. Overtime, your toilet’s flapper will become deformed and the hinges will wear down and break. It’s impossible for it to seal and prevent the water from staying in the tank. When you look in your tank if the flapper is discolored or not entirely intact. A new flapper should fix this issue and isn’t that hard to replace.
A running toilet can be easily solved by any homeowner. If your toilet’s issues aren’t due to any of these causes, it may be time to call in the professionals. We serve all of Westchester County, commercial and residential plumbing and heating. As a Westchester plumber, we are happy to offer a complimentary estimate that’s realistic, yet fair to all County residents. Call us at (914) 207-8901.
