How to Fix a Runny Toilet
A toilet that runs is a symptom of water getting past the flapper and draining from the toilet tank between flushes. The flapper is a round rubber stopper that covers a hole in the bottom of the toilet tank. When the toilet is flushed the flapper lifts off the hole and allows water to drain from the tank. Several things can cause a toilet to run, none of which require calling a plumber. You can repair a running toilet for little or no cost. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Lift off the top of the toilet tank and place it out of the way.
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2
Flush the toilet and observe the chain and the flapper to which it is attached. If the chain is tangled it could be preventing the flapper from completely setting on top of the hole. Untangle the chain if this is the problem.
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3
Observe the flapper and notice if it has slipped off its bracket on the bottom of the toilet. If it has, reconnect the flapper to the bracket by placing the pegs of the brackets into the holes on the flapper assembly.
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4
Feel the flapper itself. If it is soft and spongy, it probably needs to be replaced. Turn the shutoff valve near the floor under the toilet all the way to the right. Flush the toilet to remove most of the water. Remove the old flapper by pulling it off the pegs of the bracket on the bottom of the tank. Remove the chain from the top of the flapper using a pair of needle nose pliers or by unclipping it by hand. Install the new flapper by reversing the procedure used to remove the old one.
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5
Turn on the shutoff valve and let the tank fill with water. Flush the toilet several times to test the new flapper. Replace the tank lid.
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