by Ben Wanner of Pro Service Mechanical
Is your toilet running or filling regularly even when you are not using it. It might be time to check and see if you have a problem. We suggest adding several drops of food coloring to the toilet tank and waiting 20 minutes. If you check the bowl after this and there is food coloring in the bowl you have a problem.
If the water level looks to be below the overflow tube then it is likely we have a leaking flapper. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the working parts of your toilet so you can identify the problem.
If the water level looks like it is at the water line mark on the inside of the tank and is below the top of the overflow tube then we will proceed to changing the flapper. Here are a few simple steps to getting this done.
- Shut the water off at the shut off valve to the toliet
- Flush the tank
- Measure the length of the flapper chain and mark it. This will help us later
- Remove the old flapper and install the new flapper while connecting the chain and maintaining the length of the chain
- Turn on the water and test
Here is a helpful video from Carson Dunlop
If your toilet is still running you should first check that the chain lets the flapper close all the way.
If the water level in the tank is high
You will find and adjustment screw on the float assembly in most cases that can be adjusted by turning it clockwise to lower the water level. There are also a few variations of this that are covered in this video from Carson Dunlop
If this does not fix your issue I would suggest calling the pros in to have a look. For any questions about your plumbing and heating needs call Pro Service Mechanical at 306-230-2442 or email at proservice@sasktel.net
