Why Is My Toilet Running? Common Problems and Solutions

There’s nothing more annoying than a running toilet. Not only is the noise unsettling, but the water being wasted adds up quickly. There are some instances where people might not realize that their toilets are running right away, only to get an unusually high water bill and then realize that something must be wrong. Regardless of which way you go about it, though, the solutions are the same.

The right fix depends on the issue causing the toilet to run. Here’s what you need to know.

Cause #1: Broken Flapper

The rubber flapper is what stops the tank water from flowing into the bowl, allowing the tank to refill after the toilet flushes. If the rubber flapper is broken or damaged in any way, it will not properly secure the connection to the toilet bowl, which will cause the toilet to continue running, thinking that it needs to continue filling the tank endlessly. Replacing the flapper is a fairly simple fix.

Cause #2: Broken Chain or Incorrect Chain Length

The chain that connects the lever on the outside of the toilet tank to the flapper on the inside needs to be the right length. If it’s too short, it won’t allow the flapper to fall back into place and create the seal that makes it possible to fill the tank. If the chain is too long, the flapper won’t be lifted properly in the first place, causing the toilet to run because it’s trying to flush.

Cause #3: Float or Flapper Out of Position

Another common cause is if the flapper or the float (the plastic piece that literally floats at the top of the water), has trouble identifying the fill point for the toilet tank. If the float is out of place, the toilet will continue to run because it doesn’t realize that the tank is full. The same goes for the flapper. If it’s misplaced, it can be letting water back into the tank which causes the toilet to run until the flapper is moved into the correct position.

These are a few of the most common issues that cause toilets to run, and they’re fairly simple to fix. In some cases, you may need a complete replacement of the flapper and the float component—this might be best done by reaching out to Elk Grove Village Sewer & Plumbing to ensure that your toilet running issue is resolved properly.