Bulldog Plumbers Fort Lauderdale

The bathroom is one of the rooms in your home, experiencing the highest amount of traffic. Both you and visitors to your home will use the bathroom multiple times a day. Therefore, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the toilet experiences issues from time to time.

When the plumbing starts going haywire around your house, it can be a frustrating experience. You aren't a professional plumber, and you have no idea of how to solve these issues with the toilet running. However, in many cases, it's a quick fix to resolve these issues with your bathroom plumbing.

If your toilet is continuously running, it can be an annoyance in your life. You'll hear it draining away at night as your house quietens. The toilet makes that unmistakable draining noise that echoes over the tiling on the bathroom floor and walls.

Unfortunately, it's challenging to check what causing the toilet to run, and there could be multiple reasons why it's happening. Since the toilet is draining from the cistern into the bowl, you rarely notice any water issues with this problem.

As the days turn into weeks and months, you'll notice the water consumption creeping up on your water bill as the problem worsens. The noise level gets higher, and you'll start to experience further problems with the toilet unless you take action and fix it.

Here's what to look for when assessing your running toilet.

Check If There's Water Near the Toilet Base

Do you notice any signs of water accumulation around the base of the toilet? Use toilet paper to wipe the bottom around the toilet foot, and check for signs of wetness. If the area is wet, it's a sign that you might have a worn wax seal on the base of the toilet.

Unfortunately, unless you have the right tools and spares available, you're going to need a plumber to help you with this repair job. However, if there isn't any wetness around the toilet base, it could be a sign of a worn seal between the connection of the tank and the hose supply. Check for leaks using toilet paper and see if you can locate the source of the problem.

Watch the supply hose and flush valve at the ends for any signs of drips. If you do notice leaks, you'll have to replace the supply hose. Any other holes at the bottom of the tank mean that you need to replace the flush valve.

The Tank Is Refilling Slowly

If it's taking a long time to fill the toilet cistern or tank, it could be due to a broken flapper or flush valve. Check this issue by removing the tank lid. If you notice the flush valve sticking or hear the sound of trickling water, it's time to replace it.

If you notice any water coming in through the flapper, and this leak may be responsible for slowing the filling of the tank.

To repair the flapper, you'll need to fix the seal, and that requires professional assistance. Contact your local plumber for the repair, and they'll provide you with a favorable estimate on the job.

Leaking Valves

Gravity-flow toilets that are dealing with a leaking flush valve will start to run. Check that the toilet tank ball is floating and that it seals the flush valve. If the ball lands off-center, it's going to affect the connection, causing a leak. In some cases, it might not connect at all.

Call a professional plumbing servicer. The plumber will replace the float ball and the valve and look at all the other seals and valves in the toilet.

Check the Chain Seal

The toilet chain in the tank is also another possible cause of a running toilet. The chain should seal the hole at the bottom of the tank. If it doesn't create a seal, the flapper won't drop low enough to form a seal over the hole.

Fortunately, you don't need a plumber for this fix. You can manually adjust the chain by unlatching the clip to decrease or increase the chain's length. Eventually, the seal between the float and ball wears, breaking the seal, causing the water to run.

A plumber will need to fix this issue by replacing the rubber diaphragm seal. The seal might have some dirt blocking the area around the base, requiring a simple fix. To clean the seal, unscrew the diaphragm screws, and clean any residue.

However, for the best result, we recommend you call a professional plumber for help.

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