How to Stop a Toilet from Running

Do you hear the sound of a running toilet? It doesn’t only keep you up all night but it can also cost you a lot in the future. Whether it’s just a slow trickle or a constant cycle of turning on and off, it’s still a useless waste of water and can cause:

• A higher water bill
• Potential flooding
• Damage to your septic system

To avoid all of that, take the appropriate actions on time. So let’s not waste any more time and learn how to stop a toilet from running.

Flushing mechanism of a toilet

Before you start any repairs, it’s crucial to understand better what you are up against. Have a look at the different parts of the toilet:

• Handle or dual flush button
• Fill valve
• Float
• Overflow tube
• Flapper/Flush valve flapper
• Lift rods

The flapper lifts and releases the water through the flush valve to the bowl. Once the cistern is empty, the flapper closes, forming a seal in the cistern until the next time the handle is pushed. The fill valve turns on and brings water into the cistern. Water flows through the base of the valve, and the refill tube goes to the overflow tube. As the water rises in the cistern, the float ball rises. The float ball shuts the valve off and stops the water once it reaches the fill line.

There are different types of flushing mechanisms, depending on the toilet’s model and design. Here you can see more about them and the toilet cistern.

What causes a toilet to run?

After you’ve gotten familiar with the parts of the toilet, it is easy to identify the issue. Most of the time, a constantly running toilet is caused by one of the following common faults:

• A bad flush valve flapper. Frequently the flapper wears out because of mineral deposits, wear and tear, and because it’s constantly submerged in water. As a result, water goes through it, causing the toilet to run continuously.
• Out-of-line lift rods. The lift rod is not above the flapper opening. Thus, the flapper won’t go down all the right way, and the water won’t stop running.
• The water level is too high. The water is going into the overflow tube. And that means the water level in the cistern is too high. The lower the float ball is, the lower the water level will be.
• A bad water-logged float. If there is water inside the float, the float will sit in the water at a lower level than needed. This will leave the float valve open.
• The fill valve needs cleaning or seal replacement. The float doesn’t rise whenever the water in the toilet cistern is rising, or the fill valve is leaking.

How to stop a toilet from running?

Now that we’ve explained how the toilet mechanism works and determined the common faults, it’s time for the next part. Most of the fixes require no special tools and equipment. However, we recommend you save some time and frustration by picking up some tools and materials before you start.

Tools and materials required:

Every drip is wasting water and it needs to be fixed. Let’s roll up our sleeves and check out step-by-step on how to fix a running toilet. All you will have to do are a few simple fixes:

Turn off the water supply

The shut-off valve is located near where the toilet is. Turn the valve all the way to the right until it stops. The toilet will not refill when you flush it.

Check the fill valve

Take the lid off the cistern so you can see what’s going on inside. Even if the problem is not there, it’s good to inspect and clean the fill valve washer (diaphragm) located on the top of the fill valve. Take it off carefully and wash it with warm soapy water. Keep in mind how it goes back. If the seal is old or damaged, it will have to be replaced.

Turn the water back on. If it still leaks, then it is best to contact a professional.

Check the lift rods and the float arm

It should be straight and allow for a smooth up and down, opening and closing operation of the flapper. If not, adjust it until the flapper falls straight down into the opening. Also, make sure the float does not touch the side of the tank wall. Try to bend the arm to the correct position or replace it with a new one if necessary.

Set the fill height by examining the float

Check for a hole in the float that might cause it to fill with water. If it looks good, the next thing you need to do is adjust the float. A general rule of thumb is that the water level in the cistern should be anywhere from 2.5 to 5 cm below the overflow pipe. There’s a little adjustment screw on the top. To lower the float turn the screw to the left. That will lower the float and, in essence, also reduce the water in the toilet cistern.

Check the toilet flapper

Shut off the water supply again for this step. Make sure the flushing valve seal is good. Clean it well or switch the whole flapper out with a universal one or choose a model compatible with the brand of your toilet. If you replace the flapper and the toilet continues to drain down, then the whole flush valve will probably have to be replaced. This action will definitely stop the constantly running toilet.

How to prevent a toilet from running

There are a couple of things that you can do to prevent your toilet from running: