How to Stop a Running Toilet

Go a stronger flush—and a lower water bill. Find out how to fix things if your toilet keeps running.

Introduction

Learn the simple four-step strategy that solves 95 pct of toilet flush problems. Finish water from constantly running, requite a wimpy flush a boost, and solve other mutual bug chop-chop and easily.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Replacement fill valve
  • Toilet flapper

Video: How to Set up a Running Toilet

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Overview

Toilets haven't changed much in the terminal 80 years. After a flush, water still fills a tank, lifting a bladder that shuts off the water when it reaches a sure level. A lever however opens a flapper to crusade the flush, falling back into place when the h2o level drops. So it'due south no surprise (nor any consolation) that we face the aforementioned flush problems today that our grandparents did. Sometimes the affluent is also wimpy, sometimes the toilet keeps running, and sometimes the basin doesn't refill.

Our ace plumbing consultant has a elementary 4-step strategy to solve 95 per centum of these issues. You tin complete the commencement three steps in 5 minutes. That'll solve nigh problems. The fourth step is commonly like shooting fish in a barrel too, but non ever. More on this afterwards. These steps piece of work for most toilets but not for pressure-assist models. Here'south what to do if your toilet won't stop running.

Project stride-by-step (4)

Stride i

Check the Fill Tube

Check the toilet fill tube diagram

For a toilet overflow tube problem, remove the tank hat and find the fill tube. It's a small flexible tube that runs from the fill valve to the toilet overflow tube. While the tank refills, this tube squirts plenty water down the toilet overflow tube to refill the bowl subsequently the completed affluent. If this tube falls off or the water stream misses the overflow tube, the bowl won't fill and your next flush volition be wimpy (that is, won't develop a strong siphon).

Reattach the make full tube and push button information technology firmly onto the fill valve. Make certain it perches about i in. to a higher place the rim of the overflow tube and that thefill tube sends water into the toilet overflow tube. Affluent the toilet and watch the h2o stream to make sure it goes downwards the toilet overflow tube.

Step 2

Adjust the Fill up Height by Checking the Float

Adjust the toilet fill height by checking the float

The h2o level in the tank is controlled by an adjustable bladder. A float that'due south ready likewise depression produces a weak flush; if it's prepare besides high, water spills into the toilet overflow tube and the fill up valve won't shut off. The toilet keeps running. To learn how to fix a toilet that won't flush, look for the fill level mark on the inside back of the tank and mark it on the toilet overflow tube so y'all can come across it more than hands. If yous tin can't find it, measure down most 1 in. on the overflow tube and brand a marking.

Then flush the toilet and run into if the water reaches and stops at that mark. If not and the toilet keeps running, adjust the toilet tank bladder up or downwardly. If y'all have an old toilet, you'll have to bend the contumely rod that connects to the float brawl to make adjustments. Only with newer toilets, you usually turn a spiral or slide a clip along a rod. Flush the toilet subsequently each aligning. Go on adjusting the float until the h2o shuts off at the proper level.

Also, make sure that the water level is at to the lowest degree an inch below the C-50 (disquisitional level) marked on the fill valve. You can adjust the meridian of many valves to heighten or lower the C-Fifty. Occasionally the fill up valve simply won't shut off, which means that information technology's defective. If so, plough the h2o supply off at the shutoff nether the tank. Buy a replacement valve. You lot don't have to match the one-time i; many, similar the one shown, fit about toilets. It'south a 15-minute change-out.

Buy a replacement valve on Amazon.

Step iii

Arrange the Flush Handle/Flapper Concatenation

Adjust the Flush Handle/Flapper Chain in toilet diagram

A chain that'due south besides short or tangled won't allow the flapper to close and water volition go on to leak into the basin. This causes the fill valve to wheel on and off to refill the tank. A chain that's also long, or a affluent rod that hits the tank lid, won't open the flapper wide enough to stay open for the full affluent. You lot'll find yourself having to hold the lever to complete a good flush.

To avoid depression h2o in the toilet bowl and other problems, adjust the linkage in the concatenation to exit only a slight scrap of slack when the flapper is closed. Cutting off the excess chain at the rod to leave only near an inch extra to reduce the potential for tangles. Then put the tank lid back on and make sure the flush rod doesn't strike the lid when you press the lever. If it does, curve it down slightly and readjust the chain.

Footstep 4

Supplant the Flapper

how to replace a toilet flapper

If you've completed the commencement three steps and your toilet keeps running, chances are y'all have a worn-out flapper. To learn how to stop a toilet from flood, turn off the water, remove the quondam flapper and take it to the store to find an exact replacement. (Hardware stores oft carry a wide variety.) Most flappers snap over ears on the overflow tube. Others accept a ring that slips over the tube.

Now here's the catch. Yous may not find an verbal lucifer. The range of flapper styles has mushroomed over the last fifteen years, and you lot may observe xv to 20 flapper options on the store shelf. Some packages include specific make and model information (so annotation yours before you leave abode). Others have a "universal flapper" label. If yous tin't find an exact replacement, effort the closest 1 and pick up a universal blazon as well. They're cheap, and the actress one just might save you a second trip to the shop! (Avert the "adjustable" types unless you lot're replacing an adaptable one.)

Purchase a universal flapper on Amazon.

Install the new flapper and make sure it opens and closes freely. Then exam information technology. If the toilet keeps running or runs intermittently, you're not getting a adept seal. Try a dissimilar flapper if the toilet won't stop running.

If you just tin't find a flapper that seals, consider replacing the unabridged toilet overflow tube/flapper. On nearly toilets (two-slice), this ways removing the tank. It'due south not difficult and you don't need special tools. Information technology'll take yous about an hr, and yous'll avoid that expensive plumber service call.

These tips will aid you lot replace a toilet faster and with fewer bug.

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Originally Published: Dec 19, 2018