Fix a Running Toilet (Stop Wasting Water & Money)

The insight most people miss: A running toilet wastes up to 200 litres of water per hour — that's $100s per year on your water bill. The fix costs under $20 and takes 20 minutes. There are exactly 3 causes, and you can diagnose which one in 60 seconds.

🔍 60-Second Diagnosis

1. Remove the tank lid and look inside.
2. Water spilling into overflow tube? → Float is set too high (Cause A)
3. Hear hissing, water not spilling? → Flapper is leaking (Cause B — most common, ~80% of cases)
4. Water running into bowl silently? → Put food dye in tank. If colour appears in bowl = bad flapper seal (Cause B)
5. Fill valve constantly running? → Fill valve needs replacement (Cause C)

Cause A — Float Too High (Free Fix)

1. Bend the float arm down slightly (old ball-float style) OR turn the adjustment screw on the fill valve counterclockwise (modern style)
2. Water should stop 2–3 cm below the top of the overflow tube

Cause B — Worn Flapper (~$5–10, 10 min)

1. Turn off water supply valve at the wall (turn clockwise)
2. Flush to empty the tank
3. Unhook old flapper from the two ears on the overflow tube and disconnect chain
4. Snap new flapper on, connect chain — leave 1–2 cm of slack (too tight = won't seal, too loose = gets trapped)
5. Turn water back on and test

Cause C — Faulty Fill Valve (~$12–20, 20 min)

1. Shut off water, flush, sponge out remaining water
2. Disconnect supply line under tank
3. Unscrew the fill valve locknut and pull it out
4. Install new Fluidmaster-style valve (universal fit for most toilets)
5. Reconnect supply line, turn on water, adjust float height

Pro tip: When replacing the flapper, take the old one to the hardware store — flappers are NOT universal. There are 3 sizes (2", 3", and specialty). Match by brand if you can read it (Fluidmaster, Korky, and Mansfield all use different sizes). Korky flappers are slightly softer rubber and tend to outlast Fluidmaster flappers by 2–3 years.