A running toilet is usually a worn flapper, a chain that is too tight or too loose, or a fill valve set too high. Most are fixed with a part that costs a few dollars and no special tools. Arizona's hard water leaves mineral buildup that makes these parts fail sooner, so many Valley homeowners end up doing this repair more than once.
Time: about 30 minutes. Skill: easy.
What do you need?
- A new flapper (take the old one to the store so you can match it)
- A small bottle of food coloring
- A scrub pad and a towel
- A bucket or sponge for leftover water
How do you find the leak?
Take off the tank lid. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and do not flush. Wait 15 minutes. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking. If the water never reaches the bowl but you hear the toilet filling now and then, or water is flowing into the tall overflow tube, the fill valve or float is the likely problem.
How do you fix a running toilet?
- Turn off the water at the small valve on the wall or floor behind the toilet by turning the handle clockwise.
- Flush to empty the tank. Soak up the last bit with a sponge.
- Check the chain. It should have about half an inch of slack when the flapper is closed. Too tight holds the flapper open. Too loose can get caught under it. Move the clip to a different link if needed.
- Wipe the flapper seat, the round opening the flapper sits on. Hard water leaves a crusty film there. Scrub it with a pad until it feels smooth. Often this alone stops the leak.
- If the rubber flapper is soft, warped or slimy, replace it. Unhook the two side ears from the pegs on the overflow tube and unclip the chain from the flush lever. Clip the new one on the same way and connect the chain with that half inch of slack.
- Check the water level. It should sit about an inch below the top of the overflow tube. If the float sits too high, adjust it down using the screw or clip on the fill valve.
- Turn the water back on slowly, let the tank fill, and flush a few times. Recheck the tank and bowl for 15 minutes.
Why does hard water ruin toilet parts?
Valley tap water carries dissolved minerals. When water sits in the tank, it leaves scale on the flapper seat and inside the fill valve, which keeps rubber from sealing tightly and keeps the valve from shutting off cleanly. Do not drop chlorine cleaning tablets in the tank. They can break down rubber parts faster. If you want fewer repairs and spots across the house, a plumber can tell you about a water softener.
What if the fill valve is bad?
Replacing the fill valve is a moderate job. You shut off the water, disconnect the supply line, unscrew the nut under the tank and put in a new valve. Do not overtighten plastic nuts, because they crack. If that sounds like more than you want, there is no shame in handing it off.
When to call a pro
Call a plumber if water leaks around the base of the toilet, the tank is cracked, the shutoff valve will not close, or the toilet still runs after a new flapper and an adjusted float. Here are local plumbers in the directory, with phone numbers:
If you are not sure who to call, ask the helper and it will point you to the right category. You can also browse Phoenix businesses.
Questions people ask
Why does my toilet run on its own every few minutes?
That is often called a phantom flush. The flapper is letting a small amount of water slip into the bowl, so the tank slowly drops and the fill valve refills it. Cleaning the seat or replacing the flapper usually fixes it.
How much water does a running toilet waste?
It can waste a lot over a month, which shows up on your bill. Even a slow leak is worth fixing. The food coloring test tells you quickly whether you have one.
How often should a toilet flapper be replaced?
There is no fixed schedule. Many last a few years, and hard water can shorten that. Replace it when it gets soft, warped or no longer seals.
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