A running toilet is almost always a fill valve or flapper problem. Here is what a fill valve replacement involves and when it is the right fix.
On a recent service call near Old Dam Road in Emmett, 1Up Plumbing replaced a failed toilet fill valve that had been causing the toilet to run continuously. The homeowners had noticed the toilet was cycling on and off every few minutes even when it had not been flushed — a classic sign of a fill valve that is not shutting off properly.
The fill valve is the component inside the toilet tank that refills the tank after a flush. When it fails, it either does not shut off when the tank is full — causing water to run into the overflow tube and down the drain — or it develops a slow leak that allows the water level to drop, triggering the valve to refill repeatedly.
Fill valve replacement is a straightforward repair. The water supply to the toilet is shut off, the tank is drained, the old valve is removed, and a new valve is installed and adjusted to the correct water level. The job typically takes 30 to 45 minutes.
A running toilet wastes a significant amount of water — up to 200 gallons per day in severe cases. At typical Treasure Valley water rates, that adds up to $30 to $60 per month in wasted water. Fixing a running toilet is one of the highest-return plumbing repairs a homeowner can make.
1Up Plumbing handles toilet repairs throughout Emmett, Nampa, Boise, and the Treasure Valley. Call (208) 919-8496 to schedule service.