Skip to main content
Replacement fill valve for a running toilet.

Being a homeowner has many perks and some required maintenance. As a homeowner, the hope is that those perks far outweigh the necessary maintenance projects. Unfortunately, there are many cases where items in your home will break down or malfunction. This is typically due to normal wear and tear. If you are noticing some issues regarding your toilet running consider a few possibilities. Why won’t my toilet stop running? You likely need to replace the rubber flapper or the fill valve located in the tank.

Let’s take a look below at the best way to troubleshoot this project.

What Do I Need

Like with any project, there are tools and possible replacement parts needed. If your toilet will not stop running, you are likely going to need the following items to fix this.

A new replacement fill valve for your toilet tank.
A replacement fill valve.

What Should I Do

Believe it or not, there are a few simple ways to determine what is causing your toilet to run and how to stop it from running. Let’s take a look below at what those simple steps are.

  1. Remove the tank lid – removing the tank lid allows you to see if there is damage to the fill valve, rubber stopper, toilet handle, or even if the chain has disconnected.
  2. Flush the toilet – flushing the toilet removes the water from the tank and allows you to determine which parts are working properly.
  3. Turn off the water – turning off the water supply keeps the water from refilling the toilet tank after the water has flushed from the toilet bowl. Now there is no water in the toilet or the thank and you can work freely
  4. Check the fill tubing – you will notice the fill tube is connected to the toilet overflow tube and the fill valve. The thin tube is thin and flexible. Check to ensure that this tube is connected between the tube and valve and sits about an inch below the overflow tube’s rim.
  5. Check the fill height – you might need to adjust the float. This float is adjusted to allow water to flow freely into the tank when a refill is needed. If the float height is not set properly, then the fill valve may continue to run. Adjust accordingly so that the water stops an inch below the overflow tube’s edge.
  6. Rubber flapper or handle – if the rubber flapper isn’t sealed tightly after the tank was flushed, then water will continue to flow into your tank and make the tank believe it still needs to run to fill. You might also notice the flapper chain that raises the flapper is no longer connected to the handle or is not long enough to allow the rubber flapper to close and seal properly. Adjust the chain so that the flush lever successfully releases the rubber flapper.

Also, head out to your local hardware store and purchase a replacement flapper, flush valve, and possibly a float ball.

A worn-out rubber flapper that needs to be replaced.
Replace this rubber flapper.

What Does It Cost

The national average cost to get the toilet parts replaced ranges from $100 to $300. This cost involves professional labor and materials. Also, keep in mind that not fixing a running toilet could end up costing you around $100 a month in extra water usage. This could amount to $2,400 a year in extra water bill charges.

Other Recommended Maintenance

Now that you have read up on how to stop your toilet from running, begin to understand the best ways to unclog a toilet. Leaving a toilet clogged for too long can cause substantial damage to your plumbing system.

Next, continue to gain an understanding of what could cause a toilet to overflow. You wouldn’t want to end up with this issue in your home. A clog that causes the toilet to overflow can end up costing you a lot of money in clean-up fees and replacement parts.

Lastly, keep in mind that your toilet isn’t the only thing that could become clogged. Gaining an understanding of the plumbing below your sinks is just as important. The first step towards that is knowing what the pipes under your sinks are for and how to loosen them. Loosening and removing the p-trap under the sink will allow you to recover the item.

Call on a professional to fix your running toilet.
If you don’t have the tools, call on a professional master plumber.

When Do I Call A Professional

Calling on a professional to assist you with any plumbing repairs is typically a good idea. Although many homeowners have a knack for being do-it-yourselfers, this shouldn’t exclude you from calling on a professionally licensed master plumber. Also, if you don’t have the time or equipment, reaching out to professionals is key. Additionally, if you aren’t sure who to call, reach out to your local home inspection team. They can recommend a reputable master plumber and inspect your plumbing system for any other potential repair needs.

Conclusion

Reach out to a professionally licensed master plumber. Even if your toilet had a simple fix to repair its constant running, does not mean other issues won’t arise. Also, it is best to call on your local home inspection team so that they can conduct a full plumbing system inspection while completing a full home inspection. Call Waypoint Property Inspection to inspect your home in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Orlando, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and surrounding areas.