Bathrooms
Why Your Toilet Keeps Running
A running toilet is easy to ignore, but it can waste a surprising amount of water. The cause is usually inside the cistern or around the seal and flush mechanism.
Common cistern faults
Worn washers, faulty inlet valves, sticking floats and tired flush mechanisms can all keep water flowing after a flush.
Sometimes the fix is small, but older cisterns may need a full mechanism replacement to stop the problem properly.
Leaks around the base
Water around the toilet base is different from a running cistern and can point to seal, pan connector or floor-level issues.
If there is a sewage smell or repeated dampness, it should be inspected rather than sealed over.
When it is urgent
A toilet that will not stop overflowing, backs up into the bathroom or leaks through a ceiling below needs urgent help.
Turn off the local isolation valve if one is fitted and keep the area clear.
