How to keep a toilet from running

Debi
by Debi
After flushing the tank fills in a few minutes and it starts running.
  9 answers
  • Z foy Z foy on Apr 05, 2015
    Replace the flapper and fill mechanism that's inside the tank =0(
  • Liz Liz on Apr 05, 2015
    You can close the inlet faucet half way to ensure the water closet fills up slowly.
  • Cynthia Nye Cynthia Nye on Apr 05, 2015
    Is it spilling over the top of the overflow tube in the tank? If so, the float arm needs to be adjusted down to shut the water off sooner. If that's not the issue, you can put food color in the fill track Ann's see if it means into the bowl. If it does, you may need to replace the seal between the tank and the base of the toilet. Not hard or expensive just clumsy. Parts are inexpensive and you/hubby can do it yourself without a plumber. Hope this helps, please post your solution.
  • Debi, open the tank and slightly bend the wire up on the floatation device. That should fix it for a while.
  • Diana Diana on Apr 05, 2015
    Sometimes one side of the flapper will come unattached and doesn't fully seat upon flushing. Just reattach. Also check to make sure the chain is secure and not kinked. Sometimes, over a period of time, the flapper starts to warp and won't completely seat and needs replacement. If not these issues, you may need to adjust the screw on top of the flush valve if you have the ball-float type of flush valve. My suggestion, if you have a ball-float type of valve, replace it with either a Korky or FluidMaster fill valve. Either are good and instructions included make it very simple to install.
  • Carolyn S. Carolyn S. on Apr 05, 2015
    Sometimes the rod that holds the float has a screw that can be adjusted instead of bending it. I agree though with Cynthis that the float needs to be lowered. Also, as I've said before, I read where the hose that returns water to the tank needs to be above the tank water level. Best.
  • Connie Rivera Connie Rivera on Apr 05, 2015
    The 'flapper' that closes the drain inside the tank is not fitting properly. Either the rubber flapper is worn or the small chain that pulls the flapper up when you flush (when you operate the handle on the exterior of water holding tank) needs to be adjusted.
    • The Violet Letter The Violet Letter on Apr 08, 2015
      My flapper gets lots of calcium build up from the water and gets out of shape so it leaks.so every once in awhile, I turn the water off and drain the tank. Then I scrub the bottom of the flapper with a scrubbie. Then I put a coating of Vaseline in both surfaces and close the flapper. Then the water comes back on and it is all good for some time. I tried replacing the flapper and it got bad again so the Vaseline works!
  • Jeanie Jeanie on Apr 05, 2015
    I agree with some other comments. It's the flapper. These are rubber, and over time get cracked or distorted, causing water to leak. You cannot see this, but it is most likely what is happening. The reason it starts running again, is because the failed flapper allows water to leak through, and the toilet mechanism is refilling the leaked water. Replace the flapper, it's quick and inexpensive.
  • Terrry T Terrry T on Apr 06, 2015
    If the rubber seal in the bottom of the tank isn't sitting quite flat turn off water feed, flush toilet to empty tank. Dry off rubber seal completely then rub some Vaseline around the rubber seal. Turn water back on to refill tank. If this doesn't fix the problem you probably need to purchase a new float fixture. Good luck!