Toilet Constantly Running?

After working on thousands of toilets across Tampa Bay, we see the same five culprits over and over. They show up in this order of frequency, and each one has a distinct sound and a distinct fix.

1. Flapper degradation (the #1 cause in Tampa). The flapper is the rubber seal at the bottom of the tank that lifts when you flush. National plumbing data puts flapper life well above what we see in Tampa, where they fail early. Why? City of Tampa water averaged 10.8 grains per gallon of hardness in 2024, plus chlorine and chloramine added at the treatment plant. That mineral and chemical mix eats the rubber from both sides. You hear short bursts of water filling every 60 to 180 seconds as the tank slowly drains past the worn seal and the fill valve kicks back on.

2. Chain length wrong. The chain that connects the flush handle to the flapper has to be just right. Too short and the flapper never fully seats back down. Too long and it bunches under the flapper and props it open. Easy visual fix once you know what to look for.

3. Fill valve worn out. The fill valve (the tall plastic tower on the left side of the tank) controls when water stops filling. When the float arm gets stiff or the internal seal wears, water keeps running into the overflow tube even when the tank is full. You hear a continuous trickle inside the tank that never stops.

4. Cracked or low overflow tube. If the overflow tube has a crack or was cut too short by a previous repair, water bypasses straight into the bowl. Sounds like a steady stream and the water level in the tank sits unusually low.

5. Mineral buildup on the flush valve seat. Hard water leaves a chalky ring on the plastic seat where the flapper lands. Even a new flapper won’t seal against it. A vinegar soak fixes some, full flush valve replacement fixes the rest.

Once you know what’s wrong, here’s what each repair runs in Tampa Bay. We give FREE estimates so you’ll always have a fixed price before any work starts.

Flapper replacement (DIY). A quality flapper at any Tampa hardware store runs $5 to $15. The job takes 10 minutes if you’ve done it once. Shut off the supply valve, flush the tank empty, unhook the chain, slide the old flapper off the pegs, slide the new one on. Match the size: most older Tampa toilets use a 2-inch flapper, newer high-efficiency models use a 3-inch.

Pro flapper install. $279. Includes a Korky or Fluidmaster premium flapper rated for chlorinated water (it lasts much longer in Tampa water than a standard flapper), full tank inspection while we’re in there, and a written warranty.

Fill valve replacement. $279 installed. We use Fluidmaster 400H Performax or Korky QuietFill Platinum, both quieter and more reliable than the original builder-grade valve. Includes new supply line if yours is older than 10 years.

Full toilet rebuild. $299. New flapper, new fill valve, new flush valve, new tank-to-bowl gasket and bolts, new supply line. Makes a 10-year-old toilet flush like new for a fraction of replacement cost.

Toilet replacement. $499 to $1,485 installed, depending on the model, including comfort-height bowls (17 to 19 inches, easier on knees). Worth it when the toilet is 15+ years old and has had 2 or more failures, or when the porcelain is cracked or stained beyond cleaning.

Tampa Bay Water Wise rebate. The regional Tampa Bay Water Wise program pays up to $100 per EPA WaterSense-listed toilet with proof of installation, and up to $200 when the toilet you replace was made in 1993 or earlier (most 3.5+ gallon per flush models), with a limit of 2 rebates per home. You apply online within a year of purchase, and our invoice serves as your proof of installation. Call (813) 343-2212 for a FREE estimate.