Toilet running - Plumbing Forum

purbrookian · 03-23-2011, 05:09 PM

This toilet's flapper valve (and complete flush unit) has been replaced three times, twice by a professional, and yet the water runs for perhaps ten seconds every half-hour. No apparent leak, and nothing is running into the bowl. Any suggestions welcome.

**havasu** · 03-23-2011, 06:34 PM

The water has to be going somewhere. Place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and see if it is migrating to the bowl, and get back to us.

Toxarch · 03-24-2011, 06:02 AM

Maybe a chip or flaw in the tank around the flapper? The food coloring idea is good.

purbrookian · 03-24-2011, 06:20 AM

Havasu: Thanks for the tip. Will try the food coloring.

plumberbaltimore · 04-01-2011, 07:15 AM

If the toilet is still running, the valve seat and stopper may have corrosion or build-up preventing the stopper from closing. Lift the stopper up and check for any objects. Gently scour the seat and the rim. If there is a great deal of damage, replace the stopper and valve seat.

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purbrookian · 04-12-2011, 11:19 AM

Havasu and Toxarch: The food coloring has seeped in to the bowl - but it has appeared at the BOTTOM of the bowl, seemingly not having run down from the edges. Is there any route for water to get into the bowl other than via the normal one? The flapper is flawless, or so it seems.

**havasu** · 04-12-2011, 01:21 PM

This should be the only way for water to migrate from the tank to the bowl. Since water is migrating, place your finger under the flapper and feel for and rough edges which would stop the flapper from sealing correctly.

Depending on the type of toilet you have, some universal flapper replacements often will not seal correctly. If you are unable to locate the correct flapper, it may be necessary to replace the entire valve seat unit as plumberbaltimore recommended.

One last thought....if the chain leading to the flapper is too tight, this will also stop the flapper from getting a good seal.

purbrookian · 04-12-2011, 01:37 PM

Havasu....thsnks again. Am reluctant to call our friendly plumber yet again, as he's replaced it for free twice. Am desperate enough to add a bit of weight to the flapper, like we used to do with record-player arms in the old days!!

**havasu** · 04-12-2011, 01:45 PM

If the flapper is not sealing correctly, your plumber needs to be aware of this. Give him a call and if he doesn't fix the problem, it may be time to call someone else in the future.

**Caduceus** · 04-12-2011, 03:07 PM

I will assume that the water is not so high in the tank as to flow into the overflow tube. It is possible that the seal between the flush valve and the tank (on the tank's interior) is leaking through. Sometimees this is more common with a particular manufacturer. What type of toilet is it? ( Kohler 1 piece toilet from circa 1985?)