By Done Wright Plumbing · Updated 2026-11-05
A toilet that keeps running can waste over 200 gallons a day and quietly add $50–$100 to a monthly water bill. The good news is that most running toilets come down to five inexpensive parts.
The rubber flapper seals the tank from the bowl. After a few years it warps, lets water trickle into the bowl, and the fill valve keeps topping the tank up. Drop a few drops of food colouring in the tank; if the bowl changes colour without flushing, the flapper is leaking.
If water rises above the overflow tube, it constantly spills over. Adjusting the float usually fixes it, but a fill valve that will not shut off needs replacement.
A cracked or waterlogged float will not rise, so the valve never closes.
A chain that holds the flapper slightly open causes a constant hiss.
Mineral build-up or a crack in the seat lets water past even with a new flapper. This is the one most homeowners cannot fix with a kit.
If a new flapper and float adjustment do not stop it, or the toilet is also overflowing or clogging, book toilet repair with Done Wright Plumbing. We replace fill valves, flush valves and wax rings the same day across California, or install a new water-saving toilet if yours is past its prime.
A toilet that keeps running, rocks on the floor, or overflows every week is not a small annoyance — it wastes water and can flood a bathroom.
From a dripping faucet to a whole-house repipe, a residential plumber in California should treat your home like their own.
A thorough plumbing inspection catches small problems before they become floods.
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