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Your toilet may be in need of repairs if… you have to jiggle the handle to make it stop running. ...there are any sounds coming from your toilet when not in use. you have to hold the handle down to allow the tank to empty. This can also mean the chain or strap is too long and doesn't lift the flapper or the ball is not high enough to float on its own. you see water running over the top of the overflow, you definitely have a leaking refill valve. If you are unsure whether or not water is running over the top of the overflow pipe; sprinkle talcum powder on top of the water in the tank, and you can clearly see whether or not it is. you can see water trickling down the sides of the toilet bowl long after it's been flushed. water drips out of the refill tube into the overflow pipe. your toilet turns the water on for 15 seconds or so without you touching the handle. This would indicate that the flapper on your toilet needs to be replaced. A simple dye test can verify if the flapper is sealing properly and prevent silent leaks. Flush your toilet as usual and wait for the water to rise again to the fill line. Drop about 4 to 5 food coloring drops in the toilet tank. You may want to use a dark color such as blue or red. Wait 20 to 30 minutes and then survey the toilet bowl. If the colored water appears in the bowl within 15 minutes, there is a leak in the flapper valve. Leaks occur when the flapper valve does not create a watertight seal. The seal can be compromised due to several reasons: a) the chain snagging, not allowing the flapper to drop completely onto the valve seat; c) the valve seat is worn; or c) the flapper is worn or warped. A worn flapper is the most common cause by far, and can be easily replaced. Dye in the tank Helpful hint…. Remove the old flapper and take it with you to the hardware store or home center to find a matching replacement easily.