Why does my toilet occasionally run for a few seconds?

If a toilet randomly runs for a few seconds and empties without flushing, it's likely the result of a cracked toilet flapper, the chain being caught, the float needing to be lowered, or the refilling tube needing to be repositioned.

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Why does my toilet run randomly for a few seconds?

A toilet that cuts on and off by itself, or runs intermittently, has a problem that plumbers call a "phantom flush." The cause is a very slow leak from the tank into the bowl. This problem is almost certainly caused by a bad flapper or flapper seat.

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How do you fix a toilet that runs intermittently?

If the toilet keeps running or runs intermittently, you're not getting a good seal. Try a different flapper if the toilet won't stop running. If you just can't find a flapper that seals, consider replacing the entire toilet overflow tube/flapper. On most toilets (two-piece), this means removing the tank.

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Why do I hear my toilet running sometimes?

Running noises occur when water leaks out of the tank and into the bowl, and then the tank re-fills with water. These noises should cease as soon as the tank is finished filling.

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Why is water trickling into the toilet bowl?

The most common toilet leak is caused by a deteriorated flush valve (flapper) at the bottom of the toilet tank. If the flapper does not seat properly, water will leak into the toilet bowl. Often this leak will occur without being heard.

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How To Stop a running TOILET in SECONDS

39 related questions found

Why does my toilet run for a few seconds every 10 minutes?

If your toilet randomly runs off and on for a few seconds, it is likely due to a broken flapper. While the flapper is supposed to drop down and re-seal the tank when enough water has gone through, a cracked or decaying flapper will allow water to keep flowing through and run periodically.

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Why is my toilet bowl losing water but no leak?

The most likely cause is capillary action. This happens when a piece of debris, wicks the water out of the bowl and down the drain. It could be something as small as a string. Another possibility is the drain venting in the home is not sized properly, or a clogged vent.

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Why does my toilet make a hissing sound every few minutes?

A hissing sound means that the refill valve is still allowing a little bit of water into the tank because it has not shut off like it is actually designed to. So, when you hear your toilet hissing, take the lid off your toilet tank immediately.

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How often do toilet flappers need to be replaced?

While toilet flappers are normally pretty durable, they can wear out over time. The average toilet flapper lasts about 4 to 5 years. It is important that you replace your toilet flapper when needed to prevent damaging leaks.

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How do I stop my toilet from running Australia?

All you will have to do are a few simple fixes:
  1. Turn off the water supply. The shut-off valve is located near where the toilet is. ...
  2. Check the fill valve. ...
  3. Check the lift rods and the float arm. ...
  4. Set the fill height by examining the float. ...
  5. Check the toilet flapper.

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Will a running toilet eventually stop?

Will a running toilet stop eventually? As fresh water enters the tank, a mechanism eventually shuts off the water flow and the toilet will stop running. However, when things go wrong with the valve, flapper or overflow then it's best to get it sorted.

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How do you fix a toilet that runs every 15 minutes?

How to Fix a Toilet That Fills Every 15 Minutes
  1. Look at the water in the toilet bowl. ...
  2. Turn off the toilet shutoff valve and flush the toilet. ...
  3. Feel the flapper chain. ...
  4. Empty the tank again if lengthening the chain doesn't stop the leak. ...
  5. Install the new flapper by reversing the procedure for taking it off.

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Why does my toilet randomly run after replacing flapper?

If you've tried replacing the toilet flapper but the toilet still runs, the flush valve seat is probably rough or pitted. You can replace the entire flush toilet flapper valve, but it's a big job.

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Can a bad flapper cause a toilet to run?

Perhaps the most common reason for a running toilet is an old flapper that needs to be replaced. When flappers get old, they don't seal the way they should, and this allows water to pass constantly from the toilet tank into the bowl.

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Can I replace toilet flapper myself?

However, the tradeoff is they corrode over time and will generally need to be replaced about every two years or so. There's more good news: you can replace a toilet flapper yourself! They cost just a few dollars at your local hardware store, and require no specialized tools or training to replace it.

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Does a hissing toilet waste water?

It's happened to nearly all of us — you've walked into your bathroom and noticed a slight hissing sound coming from your toilet tank area. This sound is often ignored, but doing so could cost you with increased water bills over time. A faint hissing sound in the toilet tank is often due to a faulty fill valve.

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How do you fix a hissing toilet Australia?

Issue 2: Prolonged hissing sounds coming from your toilet

To fix this, you'll need to check your float, refill tube and the ballcock/inlet valve. You want to see if your float is sticking or needs adjusting and make sure the refill tube isn't too far inside the overflow tube.

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Why does my toilet tank make a hissing sound but no water leaking?

A hissing sound can mean that the refill valve is still letting a tiny bit of water into the tank because it hasn't shut off like it's designed to. The valve shuts off automatically based on the water level in the tank. A faulty valve or one not set properly will keep running.

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Why is my toilet not holding water in the bowl?

Low Water in Toilet Bowl

The toilet tank fill tube may be damaged or incorrectly positioned, preventing the water level from reaching its proper level. Position the fill tube so water is flowing into the overflow tube (the open pipe near the center of the tank). If this doesn't fix the problem, replace the fill tube.

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Where is the air vent on a toilet?

It's usually above the main bathroom. Inspect the opening and pull out any debris you find there. Birds and small animals are known to crawl into vents occasionally. They can create enough of an obstacle to block air flow.

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When I flush my toilet it fills up with water then slowly drains?

There are many causes for a slow flushing toilet—your tank may have a low water level, a toilet or pipe clog or calcium and hard mineral buildup.

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Why does my toilet make noise every 10 minutes?

This sound can happen intermittently and occur every few minutes or every few hours. Such a refill sound is usually alerting you that your toilet is losing water, either internally (if there's no water on the floor or exterior of toilet) or externally leaking if you see water outside the toilet.

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Is it normal to be on the toilet for 10 minutes?

Most professionals recommend spending no more time on the toilet than it takes to pass a stool. Studies have shown that the average bowel movement takes 12 seconds. Sometimes it does take longer, however, so at maximum, you should not spend more than 10 minutes on the toilet.

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