Why Your Toilet Keeps Running — and How to Fix It

The Sound of Your Water Bill Crying 

You hear it again — that soft hiss from the bathroom that won’t take the hint. You jiggle the handle. Nothing. You shut the door. Still there. By morning, the sound’s gone — but only because your water bill took the hit.

There’s a reason your toilet keeps running — and it’s not because it’s training for a marathon. Usually, it’s one of the usual suspects: a worn flapper, a lazy fill valve, or a float that’s sitting too high and ignoring the stop sign.

Sometimes, it’s even sneakier — a leaky wax seal at the base can trick your toilet into refilling nonstop. Either way, that steady trickle adds up fast.

The fix? Easy. We’ve been solving running toilets across North Alabama for over 20 years — quickly, cleanly, and without the upsell.

Why Does My Toilet Keep Running?

When your toilet won’t stop running, it’s basically your plumbing’s way of saying, “something’s off.” Inside that tank, a few parts do the heavy lifting — and when even one stops working right, the water just won’t quit.

 

It might be a tired flapper that won’t seal, a fill valve that’s stuck open, or a float sitting a little too high. In some cases, it’s a sneaky leak at the base making the tank think it needs to refill.

 

No matter what’s causing it, the fix is simple. We deal with these every day — and most of the time, we can fix it faster than it takes your coffee to brew.

1. The Flapper’s Worn Out (and Doing a Terrible Job)

That little rubber flap at the bottom of your toilet tank? It’s the gatekeeper between the tank and the bowl. Every time you flush, it lifts to let water through — and then seals shut to stop the flow.

Over time, that seal wears out. The toilet senses it’s low on water and keeps refilling over and over again. The result? A toilet constantly running that never gets a break.

Quick fix: Turn off the water, drain the tank, and replace the flapper. It’s cheap, simple, and solves most running toilet issues. Or call us — we keep every part on the truck and can have it fixed before your coffee’s cold.

 

2. The Fill Valve’s Gone Rogue

If your toilet sounds like it’s refilling itself on repeat, the fill valve’s probably gone rogue. Sediment builds up, the mechanism sticks, and suddenly your tank’s got trust issues — it doesn’t know when to quit.

Quick fix: You can flush out the gunk if you’re lucky, but most of the time, it’s better to replace the valve and move on. We can handle that in one visit — no guesswork, no gimmicks.

3. The Float’s Too High for Its Own Good

That floating ball inside your tank? It’s the “water stop” signal. When the float is too high, water continuously flows into the overflow tube. Too low? You end up with a weak flush.

Quick fix: Adjust the float arm so the water stops about an inch shy of the overflow tube. Simple, fast, and problem solved.

4. You’ve Got a Leak You Can’t See

Feel a soft spot around the toilet? That’s not your imagination. When the wax seal between the toilet and the floor flange fails, water seeps out every time you flush, causing leaking at the base.

Most running toilet problems end here. For the few that don’t? That’s why we’re on call.

 

The Hidden Cost of a Running Toilet

At B&C, we get this call every week: a customer shocked by an unusually high water bill. Nine times out of ten, it’s a toilet constantly running in the background.

A toilet that keeps running can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day — that’s more than 6,000 gallons a month.

So if you hear that soft trickle or constant hissing, don’t ignore it. Call early, fix it fast, and save your money for something better.

 

When to Repair — and When to Replace

Here’s our rule of thumb:

• Leaking bowl or tank? Replace it.

• Running or slow-filling? Repair it.

• Old, inefficient, or discolored? Time for an upgrade.

When you’re ready to upgrade, go for comfort and performance. We install comfort-height toilets that are easier to use, ADA-compliant toilets for accessibility, and power-assist toilets that flush like a champ in commercial settings. Whatever you need, we’ll make sure it’s installed right the first time.

What Makes B&C Different

Plenty of plumbers in Huntsville can stop a running toilet. But here’s what sets us apart:

• Fast fixes. Most repairs are done in under an hour.

• Honest service. If it can be repaired, we’ll fix it. If it needs replacing, we’ll tell you straight.

• Family-owned and local. Serving Huntsville and North Alabama since 2001.

• No upselling — ever. Just real answers and quality work.

 

Don’t Let Your Toilet Run the Show

Call the Pros Who Know How to Fix a Running Toilet

 

A running toilet might seem harmless, but it’s one of the easiest ways to waste money and water without realizing it. Whether you’re tired of hearing it at night or want to stop a rising water bill in its tracks, B&C Plumbing is here to help.

 

Call us at (256) 382-0825 or request service online.

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We proudly serve Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, and all of North Alabama with trusted, honest plumbing done right — the first time.