3 Reasons Your Toilet KEEPS Running - And The PERMANENT Fix For Each One!, by Roger the Pipe Guy on YouTube. 20 min 52 s.
- Video length
- 20 min 52 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Turn off the water supply valve behind the toilet and flush to empty the tank. Soak up the rest of the water with a sponge and towel.
Lift the tank lid off and set it somewhere safe. Look at the water level: if it reaches the top of the overflow tube, the fill valve or float is the problem.
Check the flapper first. A worn, warped or stiff rubber flapper lets water leak into the bowl and the fill valve keeps topping up the tank.
Unhook the old flapper from the overflow tube and the chain. Take it to the store and buy a matching replacement, or a universal flapper.
Clip the new flapper onto the overflow tube pegs and connect the chain. Leave about half an inch of slack so it lifts freely but seals flat.
If the flapper looks fine, check the fill valve. A stuck or old fill valve keeps refilling the tank. Shut off the water and drain the tank again.
Unscrew the old fill valve from the tank and the supply line underneath. Fit the new valve, tighten the nut by hand plus a quarter turn, and reconnect the supply.
Adjust the float so the water sits about one inch below the top of the overflow tube. Most fill valves have a screw or sliding clip for this.
Turn the water back on and let the tank fill. Watch for leaks around the new parts and check that the water stops at the right level.
Flush a few times and listen. If the water still runs, check the chain for tangles and make sure the flapper drops flat over the drain opening.
Tips and common mistakes
Put a few drops of food colouring in the tank and wait 15 minutes. Colour in the bowl means the flapper is leaking.
Don't over-tighten plastic nuts on the fill valve or they can crack and leak.
Keep the chain short enough to lift the flapper but not so short that it holds it open.
Write down the toilet brand and model before buying parts so you get the right fit.
Questions
How do I know if it's the flapper or the fill valve?
Shut off the water and watch the tank. If the water level drops on its own, the flapper is leaking. If the tank keeps refilling while the flapper is closed, the fill valve is the cause.
Can I fix a running toilet without turning off the water?
You can adjust the float or chain with the water on, but replacing the flapper or fill valve needs the supply shut off and the tank drained first.
How much water does a running toilet waste?
A steady leak can waste many gallons a day, which shows up on your water bill. Fixing it quickly saves water and money.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
