Fix a toilet that runs all night
Quick answer
A toilet that keeps running almost always has a worn flapper. Turn off the water, swap in a $12 flapper, and it is usually fixed in about 25 minutes.
A running toilet can waste 200 gallons a day. The fix is usually a $12 flapper and no plumber.
This guide is general information and is awaiting technical review by Pando Plumbing. Always follow your fixture manufacturer's instructions.
Tools
- Sponge
- Towel
Supplies
- Replacement flapper (matched to your toilet)
- Food coloring
Before you start
- Do the food coloring test first to confirm the flapper is leaking.
- Make sure the angle stop behind the toilet closes. If it will not, stop and call Pando.
- Bring the old flapper to the store to match it exactly.
Steps
- 1
Confirm the flapper is the culprit
Drop a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking past.
- 2
Shut off and drain the tank
Close the angle stop behind the toilet, flush to empty the tank, and sponge out the last inch of water.
- 3
Swap the flapper
Unhook the old flapper from the overflow tube pegs and unclip the chain. Take it to the store and match it exactly, universal rarely is.
- 4
Set the chain slack
Leave about half an inch of slack. Too tight and it never seals; too loose and it tangles under the flapper.
- 5
Check the fill level
Water should stop about an inch below the top of the overflow tube. Adjust the float screw if it is running into the tube.
Common mistakes
- Buying a universal flapper that does not fit your toilet.
- Leaving the chain too tight or too loose.
- Setting the water level above the top of the overflow tube.
- Skipping the dye test and replacing parts that were not the problem.
Final check
Repeat the food coloring test for 15 minutes without flushing. A clear bowl and water stopping about an inch below the overflow tube means it is fixed. If water seeps at the base or the floor feels soft, call Pando.
Plumber's tip
If the tank refills in bursts every few minutes with no visible leak, replace the fill valve too. They wear out together.
Stop and call Pando if...
Water seeps around the base of the toilet, the floor feels soft, or the angle stop will not close.