What makes a toilet constantly run

The float raises and lowers with the water level to tell the pump when to stop. The overflow tube sets where the water level should be in the tank. First, make sure the chain is connecting the flush lever and the rubber flapper correctly. Sometimes the chain will become disconnected. Next, shake the flush lever and see if there is too little or too much slack in the chain.

If you need to, cut off the excess chain. Over time, the flapper may not seal the drain properly because it has become dirty, warped or broken. If you need to clean or replace it, first completely drain the tank and then unhook it from the chain. The store will have a variety of replacement options. Supply Tube This tube is made of plastic, steel mesh or vinyl and runs from your shutoff valve to the water supply tailpiece found on the tank's underside.

Water Supply Valve The water supply valve is usually found on your tank's left side and is also known as a ballcock. Float Cup The float cup serves to detect when the water in the tank has reached the desired level, at which point it will cut off the supply of water.

Refill Tube The refill tube is a small component that runs from your water supply valve and is clipped to the top part of your overflow tube. Toilet Bowl The toilet bowl is, of course, one of the parts we always see. Wax Seal Hidden underneath the toilet, there's a wax ring sealing the attachment of the floor's drain opening and the toilet's bottom. How Your Toilet Flushes You can get a good grasp of how your toilet works and the problems that may occur by looking at the inside of your tank while you flush it.

Here is what happens after you pull the handle: Water exits the tank. When you push the handle, it operates the lift chain, which pulls the toilet flapper up, allowing water to escape through the flush valve and go into the bowl.

The toilet bowl water drains. The water standing in the toilet bowl and the waste it contains are siphoned into the integrated trap and then into the drain system. Freshwater enters the tank. When the water escapes through the flush valve, the float cup drops down, which causes the supply valve to be opened, and freshwater begins to enter. The majority of this water is used to refill the tank, with the remainder going into the toilet bowl via the refill and overflow tubes.

The water supply shuts off. When the float cup on top of the water reaches the required height, the water supply is shut off. Your toilet is now prepared for its next flush. Below are four troubleshooting tips: 1. See If You Have a Malfunctioning Chain or Flapper As mentioned above, the flapper refers to the rubber or plastic cap that prevents water from escaping from your tank.

Follow these steps to troubleshoot your toilet flapper: Examine the consistency of the flapper. Toilet flappers often become brittle with age and eventually fail to create a sufficient seal. Make sure your flapper still feels soft and can hold back the water in the tank. Examine the chain. Check to see if the chain attached to the flapper is caught on something.

If the chain is excessively long, take out some of the excess so that tangles won't occur. If it's rusting, it should be replaced. Look for jams. Sometimes flappers get pinched around the hinges, which can prevent a complete seal. Inspect both sides of your flapper for jams. Check the alignment. Flappers can become dislodged as well, which can cause leaks.

Ensure that the flapper is sealed directly above your drain. Check for mineral deposits. Mineral deposits can accumulate on your flapper, preventing it from forming a proper seal. If you notice any deposits, clean it by soaking it in vinegar for half an hour. Then get a brush and scrub the flapper to dislodge dirt and buildup. You can alternatively clean the flapper by wiping it down with a rag with shampoo, which will clean it and give it more elasticity.

Once it's clean, place it back over the flush valve and connect the hooks on the sides to the overflow tube's pins. Adjust Your Water Level The overflow tube in your tank prevents it from overfilling and flooding the bathroom.

Here's how to go about adjusting your water level: Lower your fill valve's float setting. Your valve may come with a rod and tiny clip that you must squeeze to slide down or up along the rod. If you want to lower your water level, slide your clip down. If you have an older toilet with a longer rod and tank ball, bend the rod carefully so that the ball can go a bit deeper in your tank. Flush your toilet. Allow it to fill back up and stop. Check the level of the water.

The level should be roughly 0. Continue to adjust the float. If needed, continue adjusting the float and flushing until the tank fills up to the recommended level. Replace Your Fill Valve The water flowing into your tank is controlled by the fill valve. Here is how to perform a fill valve replacement: Close your shutoff valve. Turn off the supply of water by turning the knob to the shutoff valve, which is attached to the pipe that leads to your toilet.

Then, take off the lid of your tank and give your toilet a flush to empty it. Remove the water supply hose. Put a plastic bucket or bin underneath the supply hose and then disconnect it from your fill valve located underneath the tank.

Take out the broken fill valve. The broken fill valve can be removed by unscrewing your locking nut found under the water supply shank and pulling out the whole valve assembly. Any water left in the tank will go into the bucket or bin that you've placed under the fill valve.

Put in the new fill valve. Place the new fill valve in your tank and adjust its height to fit that of your tank, making sure to follow the directions of the manufacturer. Find the valve's threaded end and insert it into the hole found in the tank. Then, secure the valve using your locking nut, and tighten it with your hand. Then, to make sure the seal is watertight, turn the locking nut further using pliers. Make sure to not over-tighten the nut. If the chain is too long, it can get caught under the flapper.

You can easily unhook the chain and hook it to another level of the chain to shorten it. Take the top off your toilet tank and you might see a big plastic balloon. It knows when to stop when the float ball rises to a certain point. Lift the float arm. One reason could be that the ball is rubbing against the side of the tank. Bend the float arm slightly to move the ball away from the tank wall. This causes your toilet to keep bring in more water. Your local hardware store carries ballcock assembly kits.