Why does my toilet keep running? How do I fix it?

Question

When I flush the toilet it seems to work fine - flushes, fills back up with water and stops. But then a few minutes later I can hear water running back into the bowl, then it stops, and then a few minutes later more water running into the bowel, etc, etc. If I reach in the tank and nudge the plug over it stops. But I don't want to do this after every flush. Why did it just start doing this? Do I have to replace something?

Answer 1

You need to replace the rubber flapper.Turn off the water to the toilet-flush-and take the flapper  off and go to home depot or lowes and match up a replacement for it.

For a quick fix you can turn off the water to the toilet-flush-clean flapper and gasket to bowl. Apply some vaseline to the inside edge of the flapper and around the edge of the gasket. This is just a temporary fix.

Answer 2

Replace that  " plug " it's called a flapper . Can you identify the manufacturer of the toilet ? That will help find the proper flapper.

Answer 3

    can't say for sure wtih out seeing it but here go the only two things it gould be. You will have to decide.  First take off the lid and see if the water is run into the flush valve tube. If it is you need to figure out how to adjust the balcock. There should be a line on the tank or the flush valve tub. If not sdjust the water level about one inch below the top of the tub.

       Next check the flapper thats the round thing the chain is hooked on to. If the water is not running over the flush valve tub the flapper is the problem.

Answer 4

Take a peak at the chain that the flapper is connected to.

Answer 5

If you take the cover off the back of the toilet you will see iside the flush tank.  most of the time it is the fill valve, the one with the float attached that is the culprit.  If it is adjust the float to keep the water from going over the overflow tube.  The next thing to check is the stop valve which is at the bottom of the tank and make sure it is not leaking.  If it is then you can go to your local hardware store and replace it with a new one.  Make sure you turn the water off to the toilet (usually on the wall behind toilet) before fixing the items.