How to DIY Fix a Running Toilet

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If your toilet is constantly running, it’s difficult not to think about the water—and money—you’re wasting. Fortunately, you can learn how to fix a running toilet without needing a licensed plumber in Nassau County. Fixing a running toilet might take some troubleshooting, but once you get to the root of the problem, you can wave a noisy toilet and high water bills goodbye.

Before we dive into DIY fixing methods, you’ll want to get familiarized with the parts of your toilet that control the water. When you remove the lid to your toilet tank, you will find the fill tube, fill valve, and flush valve. Now that you’re aware of these essential components let’s discuss our first DIY fix for running toilets.

Fix the Float

If you want to understand how to fix a running toilet, first turn to your toilet’s ball float. A ball float set too high will force the water level to exceed the height of the overflow tube. If the ball float is to blame, you’ll want to adjust it to stop the toilet from running.

Fortunately, adjusting the float is a fairly simple DIY fix for running toilets. You will need to turn a screw attached to the float ball arm. Once you’ve adjusted it, flush the toilet to see if the tank fills correctly.

Replace the Flapper

Another DIY fix for running toilets is replacing a worn flapper. The purpose of a flapper is to release new water into the toilet after you press down on the flush lever. This way, the toilet will replace the water you’ve flushed away.

However, if your flapper has started to fail, water might be leaking into your toilet when it shouldn’t be. Before you replace the flapper, shut off the water to your toilet. After you successfully turn off the water, flush the toilet to drain it.

Most hardware stores carry a wide range of flappers, so ensure that you’re choosing the right one for your toilet. Once you’ve replaced it, turn the water supply back on and let the tank fill back up. If the toilet still won’t stop running, you might need to try a different flapper.

Check the Fill Tube

Did a new flapper not fix the issue? If you’re still wondering how to fix a running toilet, there might be a problem with the fill tube. The fill tube connects the overflow tube and fill valve to fill the toilet bowl with fresh water. If there is an issue with the fill tube, the bowl won’t receive any water.

You can try reattaching the fill tube. Afterward, flush the toilet and ensure that the water correctly travels through the overflow tube.

Inspect the Fill Valve

If you’ve checked other potential causes and still have a running toilet, it might be time to replace the fill valve. This DIY fix for running toilets will require you to purchase a new fill valve.

You will first need to shut off the water supply to the toilet and drain the tank. Once you’ve done this, disconnect the fill valve from the supply line and unscrew the lock nut connecting the fill valve to the tank.

After purchasing a new fill valve, follow the instructions to install it. Return everything to its previous place, turn the water back on, and check to see if this fixed the problem.

Contact Us

Your toilet has many parts, so it can be challenging to understand why your toilet keeps running. Now that you know how to fix a running toilet, you can solve the problem once and for all.

However, if you prefer professional help instead of a DIY fix for running toilets, Gold Star is here to help. Contact us to schedule a toilet repair with one of our expert plumbers in Nassau County!