Toilet flush valve replacement is inexpensive and does not take long. They typically come as a kit that costs between $30 to $100. If your wax seal breaks, then you can have a severe leak. The wax seal itself only costs about $5 to $35, but it can take a couple of hours in labour.
When you flush the toilet, the flapper opens to allow water to flow from the tank into the bowl. The flapper, over time, can become loose or damaged, and it will need to be replaced. The total average cost of this repair is also between $70 and $200.
However, the tradeoff is they corrode over time and will generally need to be replaced about every two years or so. There's more good news: you can replace a toilet flapper yourself! They cost just a few dollars at your local hardware store, and require no specialized tools or training to replace it.
While toilet flappers are normally pretty durable, they can wear out over time. The average toilet flapper lasts about 4 to 5 years. It is important that you replace your toilet flapper when needed to prevent damaging leaks.
Replacing a Worn-Out Toilet Flapper
To test your flapper's performance, put a few drops of food coloring into the tank water. Don't flush the toilet. If after 30 minutes you find colored water in the toilet bowl, replace the flapper yourself or call a plumber to do the job for you.
If left unattended, a faulty flapper will leave you with a leaky toilet that eventually impacts your utility bill. In fact, a warped or poorly fitted flapper wastes up to 200 gallons of water per day. There's a very simple test to tell if your flapper is leaking. Add a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank.
Are all toilet flappers universal? No. There are universal designs like the Fluidmaster flappers that replace most other flappers and there are specialty flappers for specific flushing systems.
If your toilet flapper is worn out, it won't be able to seal up the bottom of your toilet tank properly. When this happens, water from the tank will seep through the openings in the flapper and drip down into the bowl.
If you have a toilet that doesn't fully flush, common causes include a clog in the trap, a worn-out flapper, blocked rim jets, a faulty float, or an issue with the handle and chain.
Buildup on the Flapper Seal
If the flapper has been in the toilet for a while, residue from hard water or mineral deposits may be creating a gunky buildup along the bottom of the flapper or the piece to which it seals. Lift the flapper and wipe the bottom of it, as well as the ring it seals onto, with a sponge.
This problem is almost certainly caused by a bad flapper or flapper seat. The solution is to drain the tank and bowl, check and clean the flapper seat and then replace the flapper if it's worn or damaged.
If a toilet randomly runs for a few seconds and empties without flushing, it's likely the result of a cracked toilet flapper, the chain being caught, the float needing to be lowered, or the refilling tube needing to be repositioned.
If the toilet keeps running or runs intermittently, you're not getting a good seal. Try a different flapper if the toilet won't stop running. If you just can't find a flapper that seals, consider replacing the entire toilet overflow tube/flapper. On most toilets (two-piece), this means removing the tank.
In older toilets, you'll need to adjust the float cup by bending the metal rod or float arm attached to it. In modern or newer toilets, push the floater clip, or turn the screw of the flush rod. Keep adjusting the rod until the water supply stops running when the tank empties and then refills from the fill valve.
Drop about 4 to 5 food coloring drops in the toilet tank. You may want to use a dark color such as blue or red. Wait 20 to 30 minutes and then survey the toilet bowl. If the colored water appears in the bowl within 15 minutes, there is a leak in the flapper valve.
A toilet that won't stop running is another common problem. You can expect to pay between $50 and $400 to repair a running water issue. If there is too much water in your tank, it will be a quick, easy fix and may be possible to do at home.
The most common toilet leak is caused by a deteriorated flush valve (flapper) at the bottom of the toilet tank. If the flapper does not seat properly, water will leak into the toilet bowl. Often this leak will occur without being heard.
Will a running toilet stop eventually? As fresh water enters the tank, a mechanism eventually shuts off the water flow and the toilet will stop running. However, when things go wrong with the valve, flapper or overflow then it's best to get it sorted.
Increased Risk of Flooding
A running toilet can quickly turn into a flooding toilet. If you have a septic tank, all of that excess water risks flooding the tank, which can lead to the saturation and failure of your drain field.
If you've tried replacing the toilet flapper but the toilet still runs, the flush valve seat is probably rough or pitted. You can replace the entire flush toilet flapper valve, but it's a big job.
The Flapper Is Leaking and Needs Replacing
Perhaps the most common reason for a running toilet is an old flapper that needs to be replaced. When flappers get old, they don't seal the way they should, and this allows water to pass constantly from the toilet tank into the bowl.
Most commonly, something is preventing the flapper from closing completely. Therefore, it is always letting a small amount of water out of the bowl. Then, once the toilet tank is empty, the fill valve is triggered, and it refills the tank. That's what you hear when your toilet runs for a few seconds—the tank refilling.
Drop about 4 to 5 food coloring drops in the toilet tank. You may want to use a dark color such as blue or red. Wait 20 to 30 minutes and then survey the toilet bowl. If the colored water appears in the bowl within 15 minutes, there is a leak in the flapper valve.