When it comes to plumbing problems, a toilet that won’t stop running can be among the most annoying. Toilets don’t run for no reason, though. In most cases, there’s a problem with the tank’s internal mechanisms, but sometimes the problem can lay a bit further down the drain.
You might be able to fix a running toilet on your own, but it’s best to contact a professional plumber to save yourself from damaging your toilet or creating an unhelpful mess!
Common Reasons Why a Toilet Won’t Stop Running
A running toilet is a common household issue that can be one of the most annoying and frustrating problems to deal with. It can lead to wasting gallons of water every day, as well as increasing your water and sewage bills. Fortunately, it's usually pretty easy to detect and resolve the issue.
Here are some of the most common reasons why toilets don’t stop running:
- The fill valve is stuck open: This is the most common cause of a running toilet. A malfunctioning fill valve may not close completely, allowing water to constantly flow into the bowl and out through the overflow tube.
- The flapper isn’t sealing properly: If your toilet’s flapper isn’t sealing the tank properly, water will continue to run out of the tank into the bowl. This is often due to a worn-out or damaged flapper.
- The float needs adjusting: If your toilet’s float is set too high, it won’t stop the fill valve from delivering more water than necessary into the tank and the bowl. On older toilets, this could mean you need to lower or adjust the float arm manually; on newer models, you may need to replace or recalibrate an adjustable-height style float.
- There’s a broken seal in the flush valve: If there are cracks or breaks in your toilet’s flush valve seal, water will continuously flow into the bowl. Over time, seals can become brittle and break, allowing water to bypass the flapper altogether.
- The toilet is clogged: In some cases, a running toilet can be caused by an underlying clog in the pipes. If your toilet seems to keep running even after you flush it multiple times, there’s a chance that something is blocking water from draining properly from the tank.
By troubleshooting and identifying the cause of your running toilet, you can take steps to repair or replace any faulty parts before it becomes a bigger problem down the line!
Need more help? Contact Thompson Family Plumbing & Rooter today for help fixing your toilet when it won’t stop running!