Toilet running water diagnosis help, please!

last year

Hi,

My toilet is making a soft, quiet water running sound (way softer than when the tank refills). The sound disappears when I turn of the water supply to the toilet.

I noticed the water level in the tank was high, pretty much at the top of the overflow tube. So I adjusted the float mechanism until the water level was about 1” below the top of the tube. I flushed the toilet and the noise disappeared for a while, but when I came back to the bathroom, it had started again.

The tank water level stays the same even when the water supply is off, so I think the flapper seal is fine. I don’t see water or dampness anywhere on or around the toilet. I’ve been leaving the toilet water supply off any time the toilet isn’t in use.

Any ideas as to what might be going on here? I’m hoping it’s something that will be obvious to people who are less clueless than I am. And that it’s something I can fix myself because it’s not the greatest time to take on a plumber’s bill.

Any guesses, advice, instructions, YouTube links, etc. would be most appreciated.

Thank you!

Featured Answer

drwass

last year

Ive replaced several fill valves in my toilets when they went bad, which caused a running sound but never water leaking anywhere. Its an inexpensive and easy enough thing to try before calling in a plumber. And, you said the flapper seal looks fine - double check the flapper to make sure its not eroding because thats also a cheap and very easy fix.

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Comments (6)

Jake The Wonderdog
last year
You need to replace the fill valve. Fluidmaster makes some good replacement valves, and they are very reasonable.

Most of the time it's a do-it-yourself project
nabq thanked Jake The Wonderdog
nabq
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Thank you! I could definitely replace this part with no problem, so fingers crossed that this is all it is. But wouldn’t there be leaking water if this valve were bad? It’s dry as a bone all around the toilet base and where the water line connects.
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A Mat
last year
Maybe purchase a fluidmaster kit that replaces everything. Fluidmaster ”makes noise” to alert you when water is running.
nabq
Original Author
last year
Thank you! This is very helpful. I’ll do that.
Jake The Wonderdog
last year
When the fill valve is bad, it just overfills the tank and it goes down the overflow pipe. Typically that's a small amount of water and it goes into the bowl and down the drain.

Typically you will want a new toilet supply line as well. Get the braided stainless steel line.
nabq thanked Jake The Wonderdog