The 15-Minute Fix
Start by carefully removing the lid from the toilet tank and placing it somewhere safe. Then flush the toilet once and watch what happens inside the tank as it refills.
Look closely at the flapper at the bottom. If it does not close fully, press it down gently and see if the running water stops. Sometimes the flapper is simply not sealing correctly after the flush.
Next, check the chain. It should have a little bit of slack, but it should not be so loose that it gets tangled. If the chain is too tight, it can pull the flapper upward and prevent it from closing. Adjust it so the flapper can drop naturally back into place.
After that, look at the water level. If the water keeps rising until it spills into the overflow tube, the float may be set too high. Lower the float slightly so the tank stops filling before the water reaches the top of the overflow tube.
Once you make these small adjustments, flush again and wait. If the tank fills normally and the water stops running, the problem may already be fixed.
No major repair. No complicated tools. Just a few simple checks inside the tank.
