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Toilet won't stop running? Here's what to do first
A running toilet is nearly always a worn flapper or a fill valve set too high. Both are inexpensive parts and a fully DIY-safe repair.
Safe to DIY
Most homeowners can handle this with basic tools by following the steps below.
Beginner About 20 min
Video: The Home Depot (YouTube)
What to do, in order
- Step 1: Close the stop valve behind the toilet and flush to empty the tank.
- Step 2: Unclip the old flapper, take it to the store, and match it exactly.
- Step 3: Clip the new flapper on and make sure the chain has about half an inch of slack.
- Step 4: Set the fill level roughly one inch below the top of the overflow tube.
- Step 5: Open the valve, let it fill, and watch for two full minutes with no refill.
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