Its role may not be glamorous, but the toilet is arguably the most important fixture in your San Antonio residents home. If you had to, you could probably survive a few days without your shower or tub, even in the middle of an extended Texas summer heat wave. Going without your toilet for a few days, on the other hand, is all but unthinkable. If your toilet has ever stopped working, you know what an outsized impact that failure had on your life. But sometimes you experience the opposite problem – a running toilet that runs and runs and never stops. So what causes your toilet to keep running, and how can you put a stop to it? Here are some of the most common causes of a running toilet – and what you can do to resolve them.
A Dirty or Damaged Flapper Valve
The flapper valve plays a vital role in the operation of your toilet, and when it starts to wear out, the flow of water could fail to shut off. If your toilet continues to run even after it has been flushed, you may need a new flapper valve.
Start by removing the back of the toilet tank, then find the flapper valve. Remove the flapper valve and carefully inspect it – if you are lucky the valve may simply need a good cleaning. If the toilet continues to run after the flapper valve has been thoroughly cleaned, you will probably need to replace the faulty valve.
Problems with the Linkage Chain
When you flush the toilet, it sets off a chain of reactions, with each of the internal connections playing their part. If those connections are loose, the toilet may continue to run and the water will continue to flow.
Start by removing the back of the toilet tank, carefully setting it aside, then look inside the tank and find all the linkages. Take a good look at the chain connection and look for spots where it is stretched, worn or not making a proper connection. You may need to shorten the chain so it makes contact. If that does not resolve the issue, the chain itself might need to be replaced.
Issues with the Water Level
If your toilet has a water level that is too high or too low, it may continue to run long after it has been flushed. The components inside the toilet rely on the water level to determine when to stop the flow of water, and an improper level could cause things to go awry.
If the water level is too low, you can simply add water to the reservoir in the back of the toilet. If there is too much water in the tank. You can use a siphon hose or bucket to remove the excess.
A toilet that runs nonstop is more than an annoyance – this seemingly simple malfunction could cause your water bills to soar and cost you a lot of money. If your toilet is running, you need to find out why – and you cannot afford to wait. Each of the issues outlined above could cause your toilet to keep running, so sort through the list one by one until you find the culprit.
