Why Does My Toilet Keep Running?

A toilet that keeps running is losing water from the tank into the bowl, and the fill valve keeps replacing it. There are only a few parts involved.

The flapper is the most common. Rubber hardens and warps with age until it no longer seals against the flush valve. A quick test: add a few drops of food colouring to the tank and wait twenty minutes without flushing. Colour in the bowl means the flapper is leaking.

The fill valve is next. If water is running into the overflow tube, the fill level is set too high or the valve is not shutting off properly. Adjusting the float often fixes it; a worn valve needs replacing.

Also check the chain. Too short and it holds the flapper slightly open; too long and it can slip under the flapper and prevent the seal.

These are inexpensive parts. The reason to deal with a running toilet promptly is simply the volume of water it wastes while you get used to the sound.

Need help with this in Brampton? Call (647) 493-0759 during service hours of 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM, or request plumbing service.