Why Is Your Toilet Running Constantly in New Harmony, UT?

Normally, when you flush the toilet, it stops running after a minute or so. This time, the sound of running water just won’t cease. All day long, it sounds like there’s a river running through your bathroom. You want a solution to stop the racket, and fast.

Below, learn why the toilet keeps running, then call our plumbers for toilet repair in New Harmony, UT.

The Anatomy of a Toilet Explained

Flushing toilets have been around since the late 1700s, and the design hasn’t changed all that much since then. Toilets are fairly basic, which means there’s a good chance you might be able to fix one yourself.

It’s smart to familiarize yourself with the inner workings of a toilet before you start working on yours. Lift the toilet tank lid, and let’s take a tour.

On the far left side, you’ll see a thin tube that kind of looks like a straw. This tube connects to the toilet handle. Look up a bit and you’ll see the pump, which is responsible for filling the tank up again after you flush. This is connected to a float, which goes up and down as the water level changes and tells the toilet when to stop filling.

Next to the pump is the overflow tube, which disperses excess water. This connects to the flapper valve, which prevents water from getting into the toilet bowl.

Any one of these parts could fail and cause your toilet to keep running.

Before Working on Your Toilet

Many toilet repairs are rather simple if you’re handy, and learning how to fix your toilet is a good skill to have. That said, if you’re not comfortable working on your toilet or don’t want to spend hours on such a project, it’s a good idea to call a plumber in New Harmony. Our plumbers are experts at diagnosing toilet problems. We’ll figure out why the toilet keeps running and have yours fixed in no time.

If you’d like to try fixing the toilet yourself, shut off the water supply before working. This will prevent the toilet from overflowing.

Top Reasons Why the Toilet Keeps Running in New Harmony, UT, and How To Fix Them

Why is your toilet running constantly? The cause could be anything from a loose flapper chain to a clog in your pipes. Below, we’ll cover the most common reasons why your toilet keeps running and how to resolve them.

The Handle Is Stuck

Let’s start with the easiest-to-fix cause of a toilet that runs constantly: a stuck handle. If your toilet handle is stuck, here’s what can happen:

• The toilet might refuse to flush.
• The toilet may continue to fill with water until it overflows.
• If the handle is caught in the flush position, water will drain but not refill, leaving the tank empty.

Fixing a jammed toilet handle is simple. Lift the tank lid and look for the tube that connects to the handle. Wiggle this tube up and down a few times to unstick the handle.

This usually does the trick, but if it doesn’t, you may need to replace the handle. Here’s how:

1. Shut off the water supply to the toilet if you haven’t yet done so. The water supply is usually located behind or under the toilet.
2. Flush the toilet to remove water in the tank and relieve pressure from the toilet handle lever.
3. Disconnect the flapper chain from the handle. Note which link in the chain the old handle was connected to.
4. Use a screwdriver to remove the handle from the toilet. Some handles have a plastic mounting nut that you can remove by hand.
5. Remove the O-ring and nut from the new handle. Insert the handle into the hole where the old handle was, then replace the nut and O-ring.
6. Tighten the nut, ideally using a wrench for a snug fit.
7. Reattach the flapper chain in the same position as before.
8. Turn on the water supply and flush the toilet to test your handiwork.

The Toilet May Be Clogged

If you’re wondering why the toilet keeps running, there may not be anything mechanically wrong with it. Rather, you might have a clog somewhere in your pipes. This will cause the toilet to run constantly because water and waste have nowhere to go.

There are several methods for unclogging a blocked toilet. One option is to use a plunger. Here’s how to use a plunger the right way:

1. Ensure there is at least a little bit of water in the bottom of the toilet bowl. If the bowl is dry, add about a cup of water.
2. Press the plunger firmly over the toilet drain to get a good seal. Push the plunger at a slight angle, not straight down, which will cause air pockets and render plunging ineffective.
3. Push up and down vigorously until the water begins to drain.

If this doesn’t work, or you don’t have a plunger, try a hot water-soap mixture to loosen the clog. Fill a bowl or pitcher with very hot (not boiling) water and add a few drops of liquid dish soap. Pour the solution into the bowl and let it sit for 20-30 minutes. With luck, this will soften the clog and help it go down the drain.

If neither of these solutions work, it might be time to call a plumber.

The Flapper Chain Is Loose

Peek inside your toilet’s tank and look for a thin metal chain connected to the flapper. This chain’s job is to open the flapper when you flush the toilet. If it’s disconnected or the chain length is too short, the toilet will run nonstop.

Luckily, the fix for this problem is simple. If the chain has fallen off, reconnect it. You may need to reposition the chain a few times to get it right. If the chain is too short, disconnect and reattach it so it has more slack.

The Flapper Is Broken or Dirty

Toilet flappers, which are usually made of plastic or rubber, become worn and dirty over time. They usually last for about five to eight years, at which point you’ll need to replace yours. Here’s how:

1. Shut off the water supply to the toilet.
2. Remove the flapper chain from the toilet handle.
3. Remove the flapper. If your flapper is made of rubber, it will slide off the pegs. If the flapper is made of hard plastic, it’ll snap off instead.
4. Insert the new flapper and connect each of its ears to the pegs on the sides of the flush valve.
5. Reconnect the flapper chain to the flapper and handle.
6. Turn the water supply back on and flush the toilet to test your work.

You May Need To Make a Float Adjustment

A misaligned float is one of the most common reasons why toilets keep running. Your float needs adjustment if it sits just above water level or is angled all the way up.

Push the float down until it’s fully submerged in the water. In some toilets, you’ll need to loosen the adjustment screw on the float to reposition it. Once the float is in the right position, your toilet should stop running.

The Refill Tube Is the Wrong Size

The refill tube controls how many times the toilet flushes to push waste down the drain. If it’s either too long or too short, your toilet will run nonstop.

The top of the refill tube should sit about an inch below the fill valve. If it’s too long, you can either replace it or cut it down to the proper size. If it’s too short, replacing it is the only option.

Your Home’s Water Pressure Is Too High

Sometimes, toilets run constantly because the water pressure in a home is too high. If this is the case for you, your toilet’s flapper could get stuck open, causing the toilet to run ceaselessly.

The best way to resolve too-high water pressure is to install a pressure-reducing valve in your toilet. This valve will reduce the volume of water that your toilet uses for each flush.

Installing a pressure-regulating valve is a bit more complicated than the other fixes described above, so it’s best to hire a plumber for the job.

Should You Call a Plumber?

If, despite your best efforts, the toilet continues to run, it’s time to call a plumber from Iron Mountain Plumbing. Our highly trained plumbers can diagnose any problem with your toilet and fix the issue quickly.

In some cases, we might suggest replacing your toilet. This isn’t all bad news, though. Today’s toilets are much more efficient than older models, which can help you save a bundle on water bills.