How to Fix a Running Toilet
Here's what to do when the toilet flapper chain catches on the flapper.
After replacing our toilet tank components with a universal kit, the flapper chain would frequently catch on the flapper, requiring us to remove the tank cover to release it. This continued despite several adjustments, and got old fast. Finally, I ran the chain through a large plastic straw, which prevented it from catching. Voilà! No more running toilet.
— Steve Nelle; Petoskey, Minn.
From Fine Homebuilding #270
RELATED STORIES
Got a Tip?
Do you have any great tips like this one on how to fix a running toilet? Share your methods, tricks, and jigs with other readers. Tag them @FineHomebuilding on social, email them to us at [email protected], or upload them to FineHomebuilding.com/reader-tips. We’ll pay for any we publish.
View Comments
Steve,
Nice fix - what size straw? Hole size.
Did you ever think about just short chaining the flapper?
In other words before hooking the chain on the lever, hook the chain farther down, then hook into the lever.
Besides controlling the flush volume, the flappers with the little float on the chain also holds the chain up and prevents the toilet from running.
There's so many issues with this I don't know where to begin. But I guess it's better than throwing plastic straws in the ocean.