Why does my toilet keep running?
Most of the time, a toilet keeps running because something inside the tank is not sealing or shutting off the way it should. A worn flapper and a tired fill valve are two common causes, but I like to see what the toilet is actually doing before I start replacing parts.
What does the sound tell me?
A toilet that runs nonstop is usually not reaching its shutoff point. One that gets quiet and then refills again a few minutes later may be losing water past the flapper. If jiggling the handle makes it stop, that's a clue that the chain or flapper is not settling where it should. It isn't really a fix.
I also want to know whether water is showing around the base of the toilet. That's a different problem from a sound inside the tank, and I wouldn't put that one off.
What can I look at before calling?
You can lift the tank lid and look without forcing anything. See whether the chain is caught, whether water is running into the overflow tube or whether the flapper is sitting flat. A short video of what happens after a flush is often more useful to me than a long explanation.
A steady little flow can waste more water than people realize, and the fill valve keeps working every time the tank drops. Many toilet-tank repairs are straightforward once I confirm which part is causing the problem.
Two more questions homeowners ask me
If this sounds familiar, let's talk it through.
If your toilet keeps running or starts refilling by itself, give me a call or text me a short video. I can help you figure out the next practical step.