Most of the time, your toilet probably runs perfectly. You don’t even think about it. But occasionally, things can go wrong. You know what to do when your toilet won’t flush correctly and that the likely reason is a blockage. But it can be harder to know what to do when your toilet doesn’t stop running.
The constant sound of running water after you have flushed your toilet is not just a noise nuisance – it points to a larger problem that needs to be dealt with, often by contacting a plumbing professional.
But why does your toilet keep running after you have flushed it? Aside from being annoying, there is a range of reasons it can happen. We have collected some of the common reasons that this takes place so that you can check for yourself even before you call your plumber. Read on to find out more.
The water level
Your water level is vitally important in the functioning of your toilet. For example, if the water level in your toilet rises too high, the excess water will flow into the overflow tube. This issue is what causes the continuous sound of water running. Unfortunately, this can also result in water damage occurring in your bathroom, so it is important to get this issue looked at by a professional plumber as quickly as you can.
If you want to check whether this is the reason for the running water sound, you can simply look for an open tube in your tank – the overflow tube which connects the tank and toilet bowl to each other.
You can now easily see whether water is continuously draining into the tube. If you see this, then it is more than likely the reason for the sound.
The float
The float can impact the way your toilet runs and can result in a continuous running water sound. This is also easy to check. You can open your tank and check the position of the float. It may have become entangled with the chain. Even the float being slightly out of position can cause a problem with how your toilet is working.
If this is all clear, then you may need a new float. Issues with the float can include water building up inside it – you can shake the float to confirm whether or not you can hear this.
In this case, the float will require replacing altogether – while this might not be a pricey job unless you are very handy around the house, you will want to contact a certified plumber to do the job for you.
Disconnected toilet handle
Another top reason that you might be experiencing the sound of running water even after your flush cycle should have finished is a disconnected toilet handle.
You may notice your toilet handle feels looser than it has previously been or not popping back into position easily if you have a push-button handle. If you are someone who has to tell guests to just jiggle the handle a little to get it to move back into place, this is probably the cause! It may even have stopped doing this altogether. If this is the case, then you will need to have your handle either fixed or replaced.
The toilet flapper
We know this sounds like a strange name, but the toilet flapper is something you should check if your toilet begins running unexpectedly and continuously. This is because the toilet flapper keeps the water sealed within your tank – every time you flush your toilet, the chain pulls the flapper and water is released into your toilet bowl. Once this has equalised, the flapper goes back to its position to seal the tank safely again.
You can easily check your flapper – it might be cracked, dented, or otherwise damaged. If this is the case, it cannot keep the tank sealed, resulting in the water running continuously.
The fill valve
When water flows into your tank, this is caused by your fill valve. If your fill valve is damaged or becomes broken, it could fail to shut off or shut off in an inconsistent pattern. One of the leading signs of this is if the float valve becomes submerged.
In this case, replacing the fill valve would be cheaper than attempting to fix it.
With these issues in mind, we hope that you are more aware of why your toilet might be continuously running.
Remember that with any one of these issues, a certified plumber will diagnose the problem efficiently and help you get your toilet working normally – and, more importantly, silently – again! So don’t be afraid to get in touch even with such a seemingly “minor” issue – it can be remedied in a flash, rather than risking water damage later on.
Endpoint Plumbing can help you to locate the exact source of your toilet issues – as well as a range of other plumbing problems – and get it fixed quickly and easily. Get in touch to discuss your needs and see how we can help.