How To: Fix a Constantly Running Toilet

Our friend mentioned the other day that their toilet handle kept sticking in the 'down' position and consequently the toilet would keep running for hours. They were going to call a plumber to fix it but we thought it sounded like an easy home repair. And since home repairs sometimes frighten us (we don't want to make an even bigger problem) we thought this would be good practice (um, someone else's home). To the internet we went, the solution after the jump:

First thing is to diagnose the problem. A running toilet could be a number of things (all fairly simple). So we diagnosed the problem and it looks like the toilet needs a new flapper valve since it is a slow continuous running leak of water from the tank into the bowl. We found a really helpful step by step for how to change it on Hammer Zone. We also ran across a bunch of useful toilet related how to's on suite 101 that we've kept bookmarked for future projects. We'll let you know how it turns out!

How many bathroom repairs do you do yourself?

Comments (8)

Our toilet was constantly running because the handle got stuck in the "down" position, and it wasn't the flapper thing, it was the actual handle, or rather the metal arm on the inside of the toilet that's attached to the handle--it had gotten deformed so it would get stuck. We just bought a new handle-and-metal-arm combo from the hardware store--it was about $8--and I fixed it. I was very proud.

posted by Jenny in DC on March 10th 2008 at 12:51pm
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i have actually pulled off a few successful toilet repairs... right now we have a dry flapper problem.. and we are trying to get our building owner to pay for it (everything under a 1 year warrenty)... cross your fingers for us! haha take care everyone and dont forget to put down the seat!

posted by dailydesignspot on March 10th 2008 at 5:21pm
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My upstairs toilet was running, and I was about to call the plumber, when I decided to have a look myself. I discovered that the chain (which is plastic, and light) had floated into a weird position and then a link of it got stuck on the arm, and it shortened and held the flap up, making the toilet run. I just had to untangle the chain to fix it. It's happened a few times since then, and I get a little thrill every time I control the situation.

posted by Joan A. on March 10th 2008 at 5:28pm
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My boyfriend dropped the deodorant in the toilet bowl and then, for some reason that still hasn't been sufficiently explained to me, flushed the toilet. Which firmly lodged the aforementioned deodorant in the floor outlet.

I ended up having to remove the entire toilet to pull out the deodorant. And then I replaced the old toilet gasket (unrelated repair). And then I re-installed the toilet.

How 'bout them apples. Yeah.

posted by jyw on March 10th 2008 at 10:19pm
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Sometimes the problem is that the floating bit isn't floating any more because it leaks. I've remedied this by putting a plastic bag around it and secured it with a twist tie!

posted by Benita on March 10th 2008 at 10:51pm
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I had that exact problem and spent a whole year pushing down the flapper every time I flushed. Finally, my (new at the time) boyfriend took me on a field trip to Lowe's to buy me a new flapper and then fixed it for me. He was seriously my hero. That was the best "Cure" ever done in this apartment. (Do you know what a pain it is to take the tank lid off and reach down in there every time you flush?!) :-)

posted by Pteetsa on March 11th 2008 at 6:42am
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Because I'm lazy, I just bought a complete toilet repair kit at Home Depot (as advised here:http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/appliances/three-repairs-you-dont-need-a-pro-for.php) and replaced all the moving parts. Ah.

posted by tnaylort on October 30th 2008 at 9:02am
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Ugh... we have been in DIY mode and are still not having success. I THINK there is a tiny leak in the tank somewhere, because right underneath, where the water pipe meets the tank, it's always just a little drippy (about a teaspoon of water a day is being collected in the cup I have conveniently placed below). Unfortunately, after doing it ourselves, we hired a handyman/plumber, and now it's worse - back to running/hissing, which I had stopped with my DIY efforts. It has been an ongoing saga, and I don't know what to do next!

posted by jamimess on October 21st 2009 at 6:26pm
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