You flush your toilet without giving it a second thought. A few minutes later, you pass by your bathroom, and it sounds as if the toilet is still filling up. This is a clear indicator that something is wrong. Keep reading to learn why the toilet in your Orlando, Florida, home is constantly running and what to do about it.

Why a Toilet Runs Constantly

Never ignore a toilet that constantly runs. You could be wasting hundreds of gallons of water each day, which can increase your water bill significantly.  If the tank is still trying to fill up after a reasonable amount of time, check the outside of the tank and the internal components to try to determine the source of the leak.

The flapper inside the tank flips upward when you press the lever to flush the toilet. When the tank empties, the flap should fall back into place so the tank can fill up again. However, a defective flapper will not provide an effective seal.

The seal or flapper can wear away over time. As a result, instead of refilling the tank, the water will seep into the bowl. The sound you hear is the water leaking into the bowl as the tank tries to refill. To fix the problem, install a new flapper. Another culprit could be a defective chain. One that is too long will get caught under the flapper and prevent it from effectively sealing the outlet. Alternatively, if the chain is too short, it won’t fit the outlet properly. Replacing the chain with one that is the right length can easily fix this problem.

Contact a Professional

If replacing the flapper or chain doesn’t work, you’ll need to contact a professional plumber. Our experts will be able to quickly determine if the flapper, the chain, or some other issue is causing the problem. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Orlando, we specialize in a variety of plumbing installation and repair services. Contact us today at (407) 584-1042. We’ll address your leaky toilet and other plumbing repair issues.