Advice From a Plumber
Does your toilet suddenly keep refilling itself even though no one has flushed it recently, or will it not stop filling? If so, that’s a sure sign that your toilet tank is slowly draining water into the toilet bowl.
A toilet that keeps filling is not only annoying, but it can also increase your home’s utility bills if left unrepaired. In our 39+ years in business, we’ve seen many homeowners experience this issue. In this article, I’ll show you some tips and tricks you can try before calling a plumber.
The Toilet Flapper Is Worn Out
Inside your toilet tank, there is a mechanism called a “toilet flapper” that acts as a valve, allowing water to flush into the toilet bowl when you press the toilet handle. As the toilet flapper ages, the plastic and rubber parts that seal the toilet tank can start to harden, weakening the flapper’s ability to create a seal around the hole at the bottom of the toilet tank. When this happens, water can seep past the seal, slowly leaking into the toilet bowl.
Signs of a failed toilet flapper include:
- The toilet runs or refills on its own
- You hear a quiet water trickling sound
- The bowl water moves slightly even when the toilet has not been flushed
- The flapper looks old, warped, or cracked
The Chain Is Too Tight or Tangled
The chain connects the toilet handle to the flapper. When the handle is pressed, the chain lifts the flapper, allowing the toilet tank water to enter the toilet bowl. If the chain is too tight, it may prevent the flapper from fully sitting flat against the tank opening. Even a small gap can let water leak into the bowl.
- If the chain is tangled, too short, or caught under the flapper, the toilet may keep refilling.
- There should be a little slack in the chain when the toilet is not being flushed.
The Handle Is Sticking
Sometimes, the issue can be as simple as the toilet handle sticking and not returning to its original position. When this happens, it can pull on the chain, keeping the flapper slightly open and allowing water to flow into the toilet bowl. Jiggle or lift the handle to ensure it returns to its original position smoothly.
The Water Level Is Too High
Inside the toilet tank, the float controls the water level by signaling the fill valve when to shut off. The overflow tube acts as a safety feature. If the water rises too high, excess water drains into the overflow tube and flows into the toilet bowl instead of spilling out of the tank. If the water level is set too high, or if the fill valve is not shutting off properly, water may constantly drain into the overflow tube, causing the toilet to keep running or refill on its own. With the toilet tank lid removed, watch as the water rises and ensure that the water level stops before it reaches the top of the overflow tube.
Is a Running Toilet an Emergency?
A toilet that refills every 10 minutes is not always an emergency, but it should not be ignored.
Call for plumbing service sooner if:
- The toilet is leaking onto the floor
- The toilet will not stop running
- The shutoff valve is stuck or leaking
- You have already replaced the flapper, and the problem continues
- The toilet is older and has multiple worn parts
- You are seeing higher water bills.
- The toilet is clogged and backing up