A bad fill valve — the part in the tank that lets in water from the pipe — can also cause a toilet to run continuously, or to leak. The supply line — which is typically located behind the toilet near the floor — and the wax seal around the toilet base are also common repair issues due to leaks. A leaky toilet can also waste hundreds of gallons of water a week. If a toilet overflows or is leaking, homeowners can minimize the damage by turning off the water supply line to prevent further water damage.
Beem recommends avoiding putting chemicals and cleaners into the tank, which can cause those internal parts to wear out faster.
“If you want to put anything in your (toilet) to clean it or keep it fresh, get the things that hang on the actual bowl,” she says.
Replacing the guts of a toilet tank is something a handy homeowner could do on his or her own with a little time. Most of the parts cost less than $10.
“We, a lot of times, will walk a customer through what they need to do and try on their own first,” Beem says.
