A toilet that won't stop running is one of the most common calls we get, and it's usually one of the cheapest to fix — if you catch it early. Left alone, a running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a day.
Worn flapper. The rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank seals the water in between flushes. Over time it warps, cracks, or stops sealing, letting water trickle into the bowl and triggering the fill valve to keep topping off the tank.
Fill valve out of adjustment. If the fill valve is set too high, water constantly spills into the overflow tube, which sounds and behaves exactly like a running toilet.
Flush valve or chain issue. A chain that's too short, tangled, or disconnected can hold the flapper open just enough to leak.
If you've jiggled the handle, checked the chain, and it's still running, the flapper or fill valve likely needs replacing. It's a quick job for a licensed plumber and usually costs far less than months of wasted water.
Dealing with this in your home? Toilet Repair is available 24/7 across California.