You instantly know when your toilet is running. There’s that tell-tale noise as you pass by the bathroom, even though no one has used the toilet for hours. At Ben Franklin Plumbing, handling running toilets is no problem—and it shouldn’t be too much for you, either. Here are some tips for getting the jump on your runny toilet.
Take a Look Inside the Tank
You know that lid that sits over the tank of your toilet? If you’ve never taken a look inside, now’s a good time. Often, running toilets often indicate that something is probably stuck inside your toilet tank. There are a few different items to look at in here, such as the refill tube, ball cock, float cup, float ball, overflow tube, chain, and flapper. The refill tube should be above the water, the ball cock should be working, float cup should be functional, float ball should raise up enough to stop the flow of water, overflow tube should be above the water line, and the chain should allow flapper to close all the way. Any problems here should be taken care of quickly. If one part is experiencing issues, just replace it.
Gaskets, Rings, and Seals
If you experience a leaking toilet, the problem could be with a gasket, ring, seal, bolt or other mechanism connecting a pipe to your toilet. If the problem is here, you usually just need to replace the part with a new one. Locate the leaking area and examine the part. Rings sometimes get worn out. Take the part into your hardware store to make sure you get the proper replacement.
Running toilets aren’t anything to be afraid of. If you have a problem with a toilet that constantly runs or leaks water on the floor and you can’t figure out why, give our experts at Ben Franklin Plumbing a call. We’ll be happy to help you solve your plumbing problem.