Plumbing · checked 5 Oct 2026
The toilet keeps running
Safety first
- If water rises in the bowl, do not flush again.
- Close the toilet’s supply valve gently clockwise; never force it.
- If water reaches the floor, stop DIY and call a plumber.
Fix it nowEight steps
- Close the supply valve behind the toilet gently clockwise. Never force it.Stop incoming water before handling parts.
- Lift the tank lid carefully; lay it flat on a towel.Prevent a dropped lid or cracked porcelain.
- If there’s a sealed pressure vessel inside, stop and call a plumber.These steps apply only to ordinary gravity tanks.
The other five steps
- Free a stuck handle; untangle the chain, leaving one or two links slack.Let the flapper close fully.
- Gently wipe debris from the rubber flapper and sealing surface; reseat it.Debris can prevent a watertight seal.
- Replace visibly damaged rubber only with a model-matched part, following its instructions.The wrong seal can keep leaking.
- If water reached the overflow tube, lower the float using your toilet’s instructions.Stop filling below the overflow opening.
- Reopen gently; flush once only if bowl drains. Watch refill; close if running continues.Confirm shutoff; otherwise leave water off and call a plumber.
When to stop
Stop and get a plumber if:
- Water rises toward the bowl rim, spills, or sewage backs up: call a plumber now.
- The supply valve sticks, leaks, or will not stop incoming water: call a plumber.
- The tank or bowl is cracked, or water leaks outside: leave water off; call a plumber.
- A sealed pressure vessel is inside the tank: do not open it; call a plumber.
- Running continues after these adjustments: leave water off and arrange a plumber.
What it probably is
Tangled or tight handle chainThe handle sticks or the chain holds the rubber flapper open.You can check
Dirty or worn flapper or flush sealWater trickles into the bowl; gently reseating the seal stops it.You can check
Float set too highTank water spills into the upright overflow tube.You can check
Faulty fill valveWater keeps entering even when you gently lift the float.For a pro
Time and parts
- Time
- Allow about 10–30 minutes for simple adjustments or an accessible rubber seal replacement.
Fair price, if a pro does itUnited States
$218–682per job
Get it done
More than a quick fix? Vora gets quotes privately and recommends one plumber.
The plumbers we’d call in Tyler & Longview · Toilet trouble: what to do
Checked against
- EPA: WaterSense at Work — Toilets
- EPA: The Current, Winter 2022 — Toilet leak detection and flapper replacement
- Kohler: How to Fix a Running Toilet
- Fluidmaster: Fill valve and flapper installation instructions
Written for Vora from these public sources and checked on 5 Oct 2026. General guidance, not a substitute for a pro on site. In danger, leave and call 911.