A running toilet is one of those household problems that homeowners put off because it seems minor -- a little noise, a little waste, not an emergency. But a Beaverton toilet that runs continuously wastes 200-400 gallons of TVWD water per day, adding $25-$60 per month to the bill. Over the time it typically takes a homeowner to decide to investigate, the wasted water cost exceeds the repair cost several times over.
Three Components, Three Failure Patterns
The flapper: A worn, warped, or misaligned flapper cannot seat completely -- water drains continuously from the tank into the bowl through the imperfect seal. The fill valve then runs periodically to replace the water the flapper is losing.
Symptom: the toilet refills itself every few minutes without being flushed. Confirm with the dye test: add food coloring to the tank, wait 15 minutes without flushing, check if the bowl water is colored. Colored bowl water confirms flapper failure. Fix: replace the flapper ($5-$15 in parts, under 10 minutes).
The fill valve: A fill valve that cannot close completely continues to run after the tank is full, with excess water flowing into the overflow tube and down into the bowl.
Symptom: the fill valve runs continuously even when the tank appears full, or water can be seen overflowing into the vertical overflow tube. Fix: fill valve replacement ($15-$30 in parts, 30-45 minutes).
The float: If the float is set too high, the tank overfills until water reaches the overflow tube and drains continuously. This is an adjustment rather than a component failure.
Symptom: water flowing over the rim of the overflow tube with the fill valve running. Fix: lower the float to where the tank water level stops 1 inch below the overflow tube top.
When Running Is a Symptom of Something Else
A toilet that suddenly starts running may be responding to elevated incoming water pressure rather than a component failure. High supply pressure -- more common in elevated Beaverton zones on Cooper Mountain -- can push tank pressure above the fill valve's shutoff threshold. If replacing the flapper and adjusting the float does not resolve the running, and if other fixtures show unusually high flow velocity, a pressure regulator valve assessment is the appropriate next step.
For toilet assessment in Murray Hill, Five Oaks, and all Washington County neighborhoods, call (503) 974-3329.
Frequently Asked Questions
A toilet that runs for more than 90 seconds after flushing has a flapper that is not seating, a fill valve that is not closing, or a float set too high. Lift the tank lid and watch: if water overflows the top of the overflow tube (the vertical pipe in the center), the float needs to be lowered. If the water level is below the overflow tube and the fill valve still runs, the fill valve is faulty. If the fill valve cycles off but the toilet refills without flushing, the flapper is not sealing.
A toilet that runs continuously after every flush, or cycles on every 3-5 minutes, loses 200-400 gallons per day. At TVWD residential rates, that adds $25-$60 per month. Over the months most homeowners wait before investigating, the total waste is typically $150-$400 before the problem is addressed.
Occasionally, yes. A toilet that recently developed a running problem in a home that also shows declining water pressure at other fixtures can indicate that the toilet supply shutoff valve is failing. A single running toilet with normal pressure everywhere else is almost always a flapper, float, or fill valve issue rather than a broader supply problem.
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