Have you noticed a sound of water running from your toilet, as if it's flushing, even when it isn't flushing? That running water sound is a sign of a leaking toilet and can be costing you more money on your monthly water bills.
Not to worry, though. Repairing a leaking toilet is not as complicated a process as you may think it is. Read on to see what the experts at JD Precision Plumbing Services recommend you do to stop your toilet from leaking.
Replace or Repair Your Toilet Flapper
The first thing you should do if your toilet is leaking or running water is to check the condition of your toilet flapper. Was your flapper knocked out of place somehow? Is it in need of repairs? Does it need to be replaced?
These are the most common reasons for leaking toilets. The toilet flapper covers the overflow pipe that allows water to flow from your tank to your toilet bowl when the toilet is flushed. There are three main types of toilet flappers in use today, and all are vulnerable to failing after years of use.
Rubber caps and seat disks both have a rubber lip that can wear out over time or even crack or break. When this happens, water can leak through and continuously run into the bowl. Rubber caps and tank ball flappers both have chains that connect them to the flush handle and pull the flapper up to let water into the overflow pipe. If the chain is too short, the flapper won't be able to return to its appropriate place, and water will be allowed to flow through the overflow pipe constantly.
Understand What Causes a Running Toilet
Once you've checked the toilet flapper, you may find that the flapper was not the problem after all. In this case, check your tank's water level.
If the water level is too high, it will spill over into the overflow tube, then through the overflow pipe into the toilet bowl. You may need to adjust the float to regulate the water level.
Finally, check to make sure that the fill tube- a small flexible tube that carries water from the fill valve to the overflow tube- isn't cracked and is correctly connected to the fill valve. Any of these issues may be the cause of your running toilet.
Great Tips For Toilet Maintenance
Now that you know what you can do to remedy your leaking toilet situation, here are three helpful tips to help you maintain your toilet better and avoid more significant toilet issues in the future:
Only flush toilet paper and human waste down the toilet. Avoid putting large amounts of toilet paper in the toilet at once.- Avoid using harsh cleaners to clean your toilet bowl and tank, and never use liquid drain cleaners to unclog your toilet.
- Inspect and clean your tank at least every six months. Repair the components inside the tank as needed.
The experts at JD Precision Plumbing Services are standing by to help you with all your toilet needs in The Woodlands. Give us a call today at (936) 228-5000. Have a toilet maintenance tip of your own that never fails? Share it with us, and our readers, in the comments section!
