If your toilet is running, you’d better go catch it! Okay, bad joke. But in all seriousness, a running toilet isn’t just annoying—it’s silently draining litres of water (and your hard-earned cash) down the drain.
A constantly running toilet can waste up to 20,000 litres of water a year—that’s like flushing your money straight into the sewer. But before you start picturing your next water bill disaster, let’s go over some common causes and fixes for a running toilet.
Why is Your Toilet Running?
A running toilet usually means something inside the cistern isn’t working as it should. The usual culprits include:
- A Faulty Flapper – The flapper is the rubber seal that lifts when you flush and drops back down to stop water from constantly flowing into the bowl. If it’s worn out or not sealing properly, water will keep running.
- A Misaligned Float – The float controls how much water refills the tank after a flush. If it’s set too high, the tank overfills and excess water runs into the overflow tube.
- A Leaky Fill Valve – The fill valve refills the tank after each flush. If it’s faulty, your toilet might keep refilling endlessly.
Now that we know what’s causing the problem, let’s talk about how to fix it.
DIY Fixes for a Running Toilet
If you’re handy and up for a quick fix, try these steps before calling in the pros:
1️. Check the Flapper
- Lift the lid off your toilet cistern and flush.
- Watch the flapper—does it drop back down properly after the flush?
- If it’s old or looks warped, it’s time to replace it (don’t worry, they’re easy to swap out).
2️. Adjust the Float
- Find the float inside the tank. If it’s a ball float, gently bend the arm downward. If it’s a cup float, adjust the screw on the fill valve to lower it.
- This stops excess water from spilling into the overflow tube.
3️. Inspect the Fill Valve
- If adjusting the float doesn’t work, the fill valve might be the problem.
- Try turning off the water supply, removing the old valve, and installing a new one.
If you’ve tried all of the above and your toilet still won’t behave, don’t stress—just give Curran a call.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
Not a fan of getting your hands dirty? Not sure what’s wrong? Or maybe your toilet has a mind of its own and nothing seems to fix it? That’s where we come in.
At Curran we’ve seen (and fixed) every kind of toilet trouble across the Shoalhaven, Illawarra, and Sutherland Shire. Whether it’s a simple fix or a bigger plumbing issue, our expert team is ready to help, so you can get back to a properly working bathroom without wasting water or money.
📞 Call Curran today, because your toilet shouldn’t be running unless you’re flushing it!
