How to Fix a Running or Leaking Toilet

We understand that not everyone wants to hire a Sacramento plumbing company for a simple DIY issue. In some situations, you fix a leaky toilet yourself. However, it’s always recommended to contact a Sacramento plumbing service to do the job. Toilets, like cars, come in different versions, but they’re all essentially working the same way to perform a similar purpose. In the article below, our Sacramento plumbers share how to fix a running or leaking toilet. 

The Toilet is Running 24/7

If the fill valve doesn’t turn off at all, you’ve got a working toilet. In most situations, the filling valve would be partially closed. Thus,  the water does not flow at full force, but it may still waste a few gallons of water every hour. This is why it needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

The flapper or canister seal may be the culprit, and it may need to be replaced. However, the issue may be even simpler. The chain connecting the flapper or canister to the flush handle may be too short. Thus, this prevents the flapper or canister from sitting on the flush valve and creating a watertight seal. If that’s the case, all you have to do to repair your leaking toilet is lengthen the chain by a couple of notches.

Another potential trigger is a filling valve that is stuck or malfunctioning so that the water is not shut off. The filling valve float (the part that rises with the tank water and finally shuts off the filling valve) may be trapped on the valve shaft, and sometimes the valve simply stops working. In any case, a fast replacement of the entire filling valve is simple to repair. If you need more help, you may need to seek toilet repair services Sacramento.

The Toilet Tank Overfills

The filling valve may also trigger a running toilet, because when it is not properly balanced, the tank overflows and the excess water spills into the overflow channel. It’s very clear to see this happening. If you have an old ball-cock-style filling valve, unscrew the ball to lengthen the armature. Or, you can bend the armature to make the ball sit deeper in the tank. To change the filling valve of the Fluidmaster cup, lengthen the rod that attaches the float to the valve by unplugging it or unplugging the nut on top with the screwdriver.

Fill valves also have an adjustment screw on the top of the valve body. Additionally, you can improve the sensitivity of the valve and make the valve shut down earlier. You can do this by turning the screw clockwise with a screwdriver. Sometimes, the valve is only worn out and needs to be replaced. Luckily, that’s an easy DIY project and the valves are cheap. However, if you are searching for a plumbing service near me, our Sacramento plumbers would be happy to get your toilet running smoothly.

The Toilet Tank is Leaking

A leaking toilet will drip water to the floor below the tank. When this happens, it’s typically because the toilet tank bolts are loose or the seals around them break. Our Sacramento plumbers suggest that, first, try to tighten the bolts with a screwdriver, and if that doesn’t stop the leak, drain the tank, cut each bolt and replace the rubber gasket around the head. You can use the bolts again, but it’s probably a good idea to fix them as well.

If the tank is still leaking, check for signs of a hairline fracture. So, if you notice any, repair the tank or the entire toilet. However, if you don’t see any signs of cracking, the next thing you need to do is remove the tank from the bowl and replace the rubber gasket between them, called the spud washer.