DIYPlumbing
Fix a Running Toilet
A toilet that won't stop running is usually a flapper or a fill valve. Most homeowners can fix it in under an hour if the shutoff valve works.
- Difficulty
- Time
- 30–60 minutes
- DIY estimate
- $8–$30
- Pro estimate
- $125–$250
Veteran-owned · Former Class A contractor
A pro's call on what you can do yourself, what you should hire out, and which how-to video is actually worth your Saturday. We don't rewrite the internet. We tell you where to start.
1. Get the call
DIY, hire a pro, or it depends — and why.
2. Check the permit
Fifteen states, with the unverified parts labeled.
3. Use a vetted guide
Home centers, This Old House, Family Handyman, and the rest.
The jobs homeowners search first. Each one has a verdict, a rough cost, and links we checked.
A toilet that won't stop running is usually a flapper or a fill valve. Most homeowners can fix it in under an hour if the shutoff valve works.
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