Toilet keeps running
A running toilet is the most common leak in a house and the easiest to ignore. The water bill does not ignore it.
Call (844) 213-2829Connects you with a local plumbing provider
Calls are answered by an independent provider that serves your ZIP code. You decide whether to hire.
The short version
- Most likely cause
- A worn flapper in the tank.
- Test it
- A few drops of food coloring in the tank. Color in the bowl after 10 minutes means a leak.
- Call a plumber when
- New tank parts do not stop it, or water appears at the base.
Safe to check yourself
- Do the EPA's dye test.
- Lift the tank lid and look at the flapper.
- Check that the chain is not caught under it.
- Check whether water is running into the overflow tube.
Time to call
- Water is on the floor around the toilet.
- The toilet rocks when you sit.
- New parts have not stopped the running.
- The shut-off valve will not turn or leaks.
What the EPA says about leaks
- The usual suspects"Common types of leaks found in the home are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves."
- How much water"The average household's leaks can account for more than 9,300 gallons of water wasted every year."
- On the bill"Fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills."
- The dye testPut a few drops of food coloring in the tank. "If any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak."
What a plumber will do
- Check the flapper, fill valve and overflow level.
- Replace the worn tank parts.
- Check the supply line and shut-off valve.
- Check the seal at the base if water is on the floor.
Water at the base of the toilet is a different problem from running in the tank. It means the seal to the drain has failed, and it damages the floor.
Related guides
Low water pressure in the house
Kitchen sink clogged
Main sewer line clogSources
- US Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense: household leaks