What is the best way to fix a toilet that continues to trickle in the tank?
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Answers:
buy a 'flapper' from your hardware store for a few dollars and replace it. This is the black-rubber-stopper that blocks the flow of water from the tank.
It is a pretty easy fix and if you call a plumber you can expect to pay $60 or more ...
I would buy the rebuild kit. Since you are working on it, spend a few extra $$ at Lowe's and replace everything inside the tank. Especially if it's an older tank with the ball float.
First, you need to determine what is leaking. If the water does not run all the time, it is the flapper leaking, slowly letting water out of the tank. At some point the float on the ballcock will drop far enough to cause the ballcock to open and refill the tank, in the same manner as if you flushed it. If the water just slowly runs all the time, it is the float operated fill valve, the ballcock, which is leaking. Replace which ever one it is. Simple. Instructions for replacing either are found right on the packaging. Open the tank and look inside to see what things look like and visit your local hardware store and get the same kind. You don't need a plumber, this is well within the capabilities of most anyone and it only takes simple tools, nothing special or complicated.
cheap fix..
if water is running constantly you may just need to adjust the height of your float. push it down into the water a little and see if it stops. if it does you can bend it down a little or adjust it using the screw or whatever is on there. (depending on the make)
If it still leaks you either have a leaking valve or flapper. just go buy a rebuild kit at lowes or home depot or wherever. It is super easy to change out.
It could be leaking low, by the flapper, if so first try to clean it up, maybe the slime and scum on it and the interface are allowing leakage, if that does not work, we get a new flapper. The other kind of leak could be water running in the overflow tube because you have the float set too high, so if that is the problem adjust the float so the water is not that high. It is easier to fix this if someone is not sitting on the toilet at the time, but not absolutely necessary for it to be unoccupied.
Replace the stopper or flapper.
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