Stopping a running toilet

About 20 percent of toilets leak, and many leak silently, so nobody notices. A stuck fill valve alone can waste 4,300 gallons a day. An average household's leaks waste more than 9,300 gallons a year, and worn toilet flappers are among the most common. Fixing easy household leaks can save about 10 percent on the water bill. Most toilet leaks are simple to fix yourself, because the parts are all inside the tank.

What you need

• Food coloring or dye tablets
• An adjustable wrench and a hand towel
• A replacement flapper of the right type for your toilet's model

Steps

1. 1

   Run the dye test

   Put a dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring in the tank, don't flush, and wait 10 minutes. Color in the bowl means the toilet is leaking. Flush right afterward so the dye doesn't stain the tank.

   15 min

2. 2

   Check the chain

   Lift the tank lid and look for a tangled chain holding the flapper open. Untangle it so the flapper can close.

   5 min

3. 3

   Check the water level

   If water is flowing over the top of the overflow tube, the level is set too high. The refill level should be about 1 inch below the top of the tube. Lower the float to bring it down. If the toilet still runs after that, the fill valve needs replacing.

   5 min

4. 4

   Shut off the water and drain the tank

   Close the shutoff valve behind the toilet, then flush to empty the tank.

   3 min

5. 5

   Replace the flapper

   Fit a new flapper of the right type for the toilet's model, lined up with the seat under it. If the leak continues after a new flapper, the flapper seat and overflow tube assembly may be worn too.

   10 min

6. 6

   Turn the water on and test again

   Open the shutoff valve and flush. Repeat the dye test. A clear bowl after 10 minutes means the leak is fixed.

   5 min

Keeping it fixed

Run the dye test at least once a year. Flappers wear out, so replace the flapper at least once every five years.

If something goes wrong