If your toilet is running — meaning water keeps flowing into the tank long after the flush — it's almost always one of two parts.
The flapper is the rubber piece at the bottom of the tank that lifts when you flush, then drops to seal the tank. Over time it warps, hardens, or accumulates mineral buildup, and stops sealing.
Test: Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Don't flush. Wait 30 minutes. If color appears in the bowl, the flapper is leaking.
Fix: Replace the flapper. Match the size to your toilet (2" or 3"). $5-15 at any hardware store, 10-minute install.
The fill valve controls when water stops filling the tank after a flush. If it doesn't shut off, water keeps flowing into the tank and then over the overflow tube.
Test: Lift the float; does the water stop? If yes, the fill valve is fine but the float needs adjustment. If no, the fill valve is bad.
Fix: Replace the fill valve. $15-25, slightly more involved install — about 20-30 minutes.
Call us. Toilet repairs are usually under an hour and cheap. Worth it for the water bill savings alone.
Burst pipe, water heater out, or drain backing up — call us anytime. Fast response in Abingdon and across Harford County.
