Drips and running toilets are the most common plumbing annoyances in any house. They're rarely emergencies, but they don't fix themselves, and they get worse over time. Here's what's going on and what you can check before you call.
Dripping faucets
Why faucets drip
Every faucet has a part that opens and closes the flow of water. In most modern single-handle faucets, that's a cartridge. In older two-handle faucets, it's usually a rubber washer pressing against a seat. When the cartridge wears or the washer hardens, water gets past it and the faucet drips.
What you can check
- Is it really off? Make sure the handle is fully closed. Loose handles can stop short.
- Where is it dripping? From the spout means the cartridge or washer. Around the handle or base usually means O-rings. Under the sink means a supply line or connection.
- Low flow, not a drip? Unscrew the aerator at the tip of the spout and rinse out the mineral buildup. It's often the whole problem.
If you want to try a repair yourself, close the shutoff valves under the sink first. If they won't turn or they start to drip when you turn them, stop there. Old shutoffs are a common reason a small job turns into a bigger one.
When to call
- The shutoff valves under the sink are stuck or leaking
- There's water in the cabinet under the sink
- The faucet keeps dripping after a new cartridge
- The faucet body is corroded or you can't find parts
Running toilets
Why toilets run
A toilet tank has two main parts. The flapper at the bottom seals the tank until you flush. The fill valve refills the tank and shuts off when the float rises. When either one stops doing its job, water keeps running.
What you can check
- The dye test. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and don't flush for 15 to 30 minutes. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking.
- Water running into the overflow tube. If the tank water is up to the top of the overflow tube, the float is set too high or the fill valve isn't shutting off.
- The chain. A chain that's too short holds the flapper open. Too long and it can get caught under it.
- Phantom refills. A toilet that briefly refills on its own every so often is almost always a slow flapper leak.
When to call
- Water on the floor around the base of the toilet
- The toilet rocks when you sit on it
- A crack in the tank or bowl
- The shutoff valve behind the toilet won't close
- New parts didn't fix it
Why not let it go?
A slow drip or a quietly running toilet doesn't look like much, but it runs all day and all night. It shows up on your water bill, wears parts faster, and a leak at the base of a toilet can rot the subfloor long before you see it.
If you'd rather not deal with it, we fix both every day. See faucet, toilet and fixture repair, or call.