Did you know that a running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day? Yes, you read that right – a day. You’re going to notice this increase on your water bill, so this is no time to just sit there on your throne. Take action. It’s time to show that running toilet who’s boss!
According to the experts at bobvila.com, a defective flapper (the rubber stopper inside the tank that lifts up to let water into the bowl) is usually the culprit.
Turn Off the Water
- Turn off the water to the toilet. The shutoff valve is located directly beneath the tank. Flush the toilet to drain all the water from the tank and bowl.
Remove the Flapper
- Remove the flapper. Take notes or pics with your iPhone to record how the flapper attaches to the bottom of the tank, as not all flappers are identical. Take it with you to ourchase its replacement.
- Follow the installation instructions that come with the replacement flapper.
- Most important, is determining the correct length for the chain that connects the flapper to the flush arm.
If the chain is too long, the tank will not refill properly following a flush. If the chain is too short, the flapper won’t be able to rise fully away from the drain hole, which in turn leads to short flushes.
Now that you’ve successfully stopped your toilet from its incessant “running”, you can (literally) sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet.
For the full article and other toilet repair tips, visit bobvila.com.
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