My toilet has been running non-stop for 3 days. I jiggled the handle and it stops for a minute but starts again. The water bill is going to be insane. How do I fix this?
A constantly running toilet is almost always caused by a worn flapper valve at the bottom of the tank. When you jiggle the handle, you are temporarily reseating the flapper, but because it is warped or deteriorated, it cannot maintain a proper seal. Here is the fix: turn off the water supply valve behind the toilet (turn clockwise), flush to empty the tank, then reach in and unhook the old flapper from the overflow tube. Take it to the hardware store to match the size exactly. A universal flapper costs $3-5. Snap the new one in place, turn the water back on, and test. The whole repair takes 5 minutes. If a new flapper does not solve it, the flush valve seat (the ring the flapper sits on) may be corroded or have mineral buildup. You can smooth it with fine-grit sandpaper or use a flush valve repair kit. A running toilet can waste 200 gallons per day, so fixing this quickly will save you real money on your water bill.
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