A running toilet is usually a quick fix you can do yourself. The flapper, chain, float, or fill valve is almost always the cause. Most repairs take under an hour. The parts cost only a few dollars at any Calgary hardware store. This guide shows you how to find the problem and fix it.
What a Running Toilet Really Costs
A running toilet wastes water all day and all night. A bad flapper can leak hundreds of litres a day. A stuck valve can waste over 750 litres a day. That water shows up on your Calgary utility bill every month. A steady leak can add 50 to 100 dollars to your water and sewer charges. Fixing it fast saves both water and money. It also stops that hiss and refill sound at 2 a.m.
Find the Cause First
Start by lifting the lid off the tank. Set it somewhere safe and flat. Now watch the parts while the tank fills. Look for water spilling into the tall overflow tube. Look for a flapper that does not seal at the bottom. A dye test tells you a lot. Put a few drops of food colouring in the tank. Wait 15 minutes and do not flush. If colour leaks into the bowl, your flapper is the problem.
Check and Replace the Flapper
The flapper is the rubber seal at the bottom of the tank. It is the top cause of a running toilet. Calgary's hard water wears these out fast. Over time the rubber gets stiff or warped. Then it stops sealing and water slips into the bowl. Turn off the water at the shutoff valve behind the toilet. Flush to drain the tank. Unclip the old flapper and snap on a new one. A new flapper costs about 5 to 10 dollars.
Fix a Chain That Is Too Long or Short
The chain links the flush handle to the flapper. Its length matters more than most people think.
- Too long: the chain slips under the flapper and breaks the seal.
- Too short: the flapper cannot close all the way and keeps leaking.
- Just right: about a half inch of slack when the flapper is shut.
Move the chain to a different hole on the handle arm to adjust it. Trim extra links with pliers if it hangs too low.
Set the Float to the Right Height
The float tells the fill valve when to stop. If the float sits too high, water rises past the overflow tube. Then it runs down that tube without stopping. Aim for a water line about one inch below the top of the tube. On a ball float, bend the metal arm down a little. On a cup float, pinch the clip and slide it lower. Flush and check the new water level. Adjust it again if you need to.
Replace a Worn Fill Valve
Sometimes the fill valve itself wears out. It may hiss, run, or never shut off. A new fill valve costs about 15 dollars and takes 20 minutes. Turn off the water and flush the tank. Sponge out the last bit of water. Unscrew the supply line and the lock nut under the tank. Lift out the old valve and drop the new one in. Our team handles this and any harder job as part of our plumbing services if you would rather not.
When to Replace Parts or Call a Plumber
Most running toilets need only a flapper, chain, float, or fill valve. A full rebuild kit fixes all four at once for about 25 dollars. But some problems run deeper than the tank. A cracked tank, a worn flush valve, or a toilet that rocks needs more work. Many older Calgary homes also have grey Poly-B pipe from 1985 to 1997. That pipe can crack and leak near the toilet base. If the water keeps running after new parts, book our plumbing services and let a journeyman plumber take a look.
When to Call RR Calgary
A running toilet is an easy weekend fix for most people. But if new parts do not solve it, we're happy to help. RR Calgary Plumbing & Drains has served Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, and Chestermere since 1996. Our technicians are certified journeyman plumbers, so one team covers both plumbing and drains. There is no travel fee in those four cities. Request service online or call us at (403) 250-2660.