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Chances are, you've dealt with a running toilet before. It's annoying, and it wastes water - which means it also wastes money. So, why is your toilet running? Similar to other fixtures that use water, a toilet has many components that work together to function properly. When one of these components isn't working correctly, it can cause your toilet to run. In some cases, you may be able to fix the problem yourself. However, in other cases, you may need to call a professional plumber for assistance.

At  NuvoH2O, we operate to help homeowners just like you eliminate the effects of hard water in your home. Our whole home water softener systems are designed to prevent and remove the build-up of hard water deposits in your home, protecting your appliances and fixtures, such as a toilet, from the damaging effects they can cause. Here, we'll take a look at some of the most common causes of a running toilet, as well as how you can fix them.

Reasons Why Your Toilet is Continuously Running

When a toilet won't stop running following a normal flush cycle, it's often due to one of three issues:

A Faulty Flapper: The flapper is the rubber seal located at the bottom of the tank. When you flush your toilet, the flapper lifts to allow water to flow from the tank into the bowl. Once the bowl has refilled, the flapper falls back into place, sealing off the tank until it's time for another flush. If the flapper isn't working correctly, it can cause your toilet to run.

The Float Height is Set Too High: The float is the white, plastic object that rises and falls with the water level in your tank. The float is connected to a valve that controls the flow of water into the tank. When the float rises, it activates the valve and allows water to enter the tank. As the water level in the tank rises, so does the float. Once the float reaches a certain height, it shuts off the valve and stops the flow of water into the tank. If the float is set too high, it can cause your toilet to run. 

Issue With the Refill Tube: The refill tube is a small, plastic tube that runs from the fill valve to the overflow pipe. The fill valve is located on the left side of the tank and is responsible for controlling the flow of water into the tank. The overflow pipe is located on the right side of the tank and provides an escape route for water if the fill valve becomes stuck in the open position. If the refill tube is not properly connected to the fill valve or the overflow pipe, it can cause your toilet to run.

Does Limescale Have an Impact on Toilet Functionality?

If your home has hard water, you may be wondering if the build-up of limescale in your toilet tank is impacting its performance. Limescale is the white, chalky deposit that can often be found on fixtures and appliances that come into contact with hard water. While limescale itself won't cause your toilet to run, it can impact the performance and integrity of some of the components in your toilet tank, such as the fill valve. Over time, the build-up of limescale can cause the fill valve to become stuck in the open position, which will cause your toilet to run.

How to Fix A Toilet That Won't Stop Running

Now that we've looked at some of the most common reasons why a toilet might run, let's take a look at how you can fix it. It's best to start by first determining what the issue is and if it's something that you can fix yourself. In most cases, the issue will be with either the flapper or the float height, both of which can be easy to fix. However, if you're not comfortable making the repairs yourself or if the issue is with the refill tube, you may need to call a professional plumber for assistance. As far as preventing this issue from happening again in the future, one measure you can take is to have a water softener installed in your home. A water softener will help to prevent the build-up of limescale and other hard water deposits in your toilet tank, helping to extend its lifespan and prevent issues.

We hope this article was helpful in explaining some of the most common causes of a running toilet, as well as how you can fix them. If you're interested in Nuvo H2O's home water softener installation solutions,  click here to learn more information.