Toilets Running a Marathon

Toilet tanks that keep refilling aren't just irritating but are also wasteful and can get costly. As the parts in a toilet get older they can start to wear out and cause problems like what this reader is asking about:

"Sometimes the toilet in my guest bathroom will just start refilling on its own. Why is this happening? I'm sure this isn't good for my water bill."

Interior toilet parts can wear out over time. It's possible that water is constantly leaking out of the tank. This would cause the water level in the tank to continually lower and eventually trigger the refill mechanism. This cycle can waste 1,500 gallons every month.

Check the chain for the flapper to make sure it isn't tangled or too tight. If there's too much tension it could be preventing the flapper from completely closing and allowing water to leak out of the flush valve. Another may be to slightly bend the tube connected to the float ball. It could be too high and triggering the refill mechanism.

If neither of those solutions work, replace the valve and flapper inside the toilet tank. Kits for this are often available for under $25 and are fairly easy install for the average do it yourselfer.