Toilet Running Constantly | King City Plumbing

A running toilet means the flapper valve in the tank is worn out or the float is stuck. This wastes thousands of gallons a month and can cause water damage to your floor if the overflow tube fails.

Do this right now

Lift the tank lid and check if water is running into the overflow tube

The overflow tube is the hollow pipe standing up in the middle of the tank. If water is flowing into it, the flapper is not sealing properly. Do not flush; just observe the tank.

Look at the flapper at the bottom of the tank

The flapper is a rubber disc that lifts when you flush and seals when the tank is full. If it looks cracked, warped, or worn, that is your problem. If it looks intact, the float mechanism may be stuck or broken.

Turn off the water supply to the toilet

The shut-off valve is on the wall or floor behind the toilet, where the supply line enters. Turn it clockwise. This stops water from entering the tank while you wait for a plumber.

Call King City Plumbing

A running toilet is easy to fix. Our plumber replaces the flapper, float, and fill valve if needed, often in under an hour.

A toilet that runs after you flush is not just annoying. It is leaking water every single minute, which adds up to hundreds or thousands of gallons a month. Most of that water goes straight down the drain without ever filling your tank, so you pay for water you never used. In a home with kids or multiple bathrooms, running toilets are one of the biggest hidden water-waste culprits in King City.

The most common cause is a worn flapper. The flapper is the rubber seal at the bottom of the tank that lifts when you flush and then seals back down as the tank refills. Over time, mineral deposits in our local water, chlorine, and simple wear flatten the rubber, and it no longer seals tight. Water slowly leaks into the bowl, the tank level drops, and the fill valve kicks on to refill the tank. That cycle repeats all night and all day.

The second cause is a stuck or broken float. The float rises as the tank fills and tells the fill valve when to stop. If the float arm bends or the float itself gets waterlogged, it no longer shuts off the water at the right level, and the tank overflows into the overflow tube. A plumber checks both parts on arrival and replaces whichever is faulty. The fix takes less than an hour, and your toilet will be silent again.

Common questions

Is a running toilet an emergency?

It is not an emergency in the sense of water damage to your home today, but it is urgent. A running toilet wastes water every minute, which raises your bill and stresses the local water system. Fix it within a day or two to prevent weeks of waste.

What causes the flapper to wear out?

The flapper sits in water and is exposed to chlorine, minerals, and pressure changes every time you flush. In King City, our mineral-heavy water can wear rubber seals faster than soft-water areas. Age is also a factor; most flappers last 3 to 5 years before they harden and lose their seal.

Can I fix a running toilet myself?

You can replace the flapper yourself if you are comfortable with basic plumbing parts, but if the problem is the float, fill valve, or overflow tube, you need a plumber. Misdiagnosis can lead to wasted time and money on the wrong part.

Still not sure?

Describe what you're seeing to a real King City plumber: call (831) 555-0100 or send the form. Free, no obligation.

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