How to Fix a Running Toilet in 15 Minutes

That constant trickling sound from your toilet cistern isn't just annoying — it's expensive. A running toilet wastes an estimated 200 litres per day, adding roughly $10–$15 to your monthly PUB bill. Here's how to fix it yourself.

Diagnose the Problem First

Remove the cistern lid and observe what's happening. The two most common causes are:

• Float valve failure – Water keeps running because the float doesn't signal the fill valve to stop
• Flapper failure – The rubber seal at the bottom of the cistern has degraded, letting water leak continuously into the bowl

Fixing a Faulty Flapper (The Most Common Fix)

1. Turn off the water supply valve (the small tap behind or below your toilet)
2. Flush to empty the cistern
3. Unhook the old flapper from the overflow tube pegs
4. Disconnect the chain from the flush handle arm
5. Take the old flapper to a hardware store and buy an identical replacement (most are universal)
6. Reverse the steps to install
7. Turn water back on and test

When You Need a Plumber