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Toilet Won’t Stop Running? Causes & Fixes

A constantly running toilet is more than annoying β€” it can quietly waste thousands of litres and inflate your water bill. The good news: the cause is usually one of a few simple parts.

Published 2026-06-01 Β· Cambridge Plumbers

The usual suspects

  • Flapper / outlet valve β€” worn or not sealing, so water leaks from the cistern into the bowl continuously
  • Fill valve β€” not shutting off, so water keeps trickling in
  • Float set too high β€” water overflows into the overflow tube
  • Worn seals after years of use

A quick test you can do

Put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern and wait 10–15 minutes without flushing. If colour appears in the bowl, your flapper/outlet seal is leaking. If you can hear constant trickling, it's more likely the fill valve or float.

Fix it or call us?

Swapping a flapper or fill valve is a doable DIY job if you're handy and can find the right part. If it keeps happening, the cistern is old, or you'd rather it just be sorted properly, we'll replace the worn parts and check it's sealing β€” often a quick, cheap visit that stops the waste.

How we can help

FAQ

Quick answers

How much water does a running toilet waste?

A lot β€” a continuously running toilet can waste hundreds of litres a day, which shows up on your bill. Worth fixing promptly.

Is a running toilet an easy fix?

Often yes β€” it's usually a worn flapper or fill valve. If you're not comfortable doing it, it's a quick job for us.

More guides

Related reading

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