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My Toilet Won’t Stop Running—What Should I Do?

At 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle, we know how irritating it is to hear your toilet running non-stop. The sound never really fades, your water bill creeps up, and you’re left wondering if you’re wasting gallons of water every single day. The good news? A running toilet is usually one of the simpler plumbing problems to solve—once you know what’s behind it.

Why Toilets Keep Running in Seattle Homes

Most of the time, the problem comes down to small parts inside the tank that have worn out with age. These pieces are easy to overlook, but when they stop working right, your toilet doesn’t know when to shut off.

The most common reasons are:

Flapper issues – This rubber piece seals the tank after a flush. When it warps or cracks, water keeps slipping through.
Fill valve problems – If the valve can’t close properly, water just keeps flowing.
Float adjustments – A float that’s set too high keeps the tank filling endlessly.

Simple Fixes You Can Try Yourself

Before you pick up the phone, there are a few easy things you can check at home. Many Seattle homeowners solve the issue with one of these quick steps:

Turn off the water supply – Use the shut-off valve near the floor to stop the flow while you troubleshoot.
Look at the chain – If it’s tangled or pulled too tight, the flapper won’t close all the way.
Swap the flapper – A brand-new one costs about $10–$20 and often solves the problem on the spot.
Adjust the float – Lowering it slightly tells your toilet to stop filling sooner.

If you’ve tried these fixes and the toilet is still running, don’t get discouraged. That’s usually a sign the fill valve needs attention or there’s another hidden issue. That’s where having a licensed plumber makes all the difference.

How Much Will It Cost to Fix?

Cost is always one of the first questions homeowners ask—and it makes sense. Here’s a simple breakdown:

DIY parts – Around $10–$20 for a flapper or float

Professional repair – Typically between $225 and $450, depending on the parts and time needed.

It may feel like a bigger investment upfront, but letting a toilet run unchecked can waste hundreds of gallons every month. In Seattle, where water bills aren’t cheap, that adds up fast. A professional repair saves money in the long run and gives you peace of mind knowing the problem is solved for good.

When to Call for Professional Help

If you’ve tried the simple fixes and your toilet is still running, don’t stress—you’ve done your part. When water starts pooling on the floor, cracks show up in the tank, or you notice rusty, corroded parts, that’s when it’s time to call in backup. 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle can figure out the real cause in minutes, replace the worn-out parts, and make sure everything’s working the way it should.

Don’t Let a Running Toilet Keep Wasting Water

That steady trickle isn’t just annoying—it’s water (and money) going straight down the drain. You don’t have to live with it. Call 2 Sons Plumbing Seattle at (206) 487-1757, and we’ll send a friendly, licensed plumber who knows how to get the problem fixed right the first time.

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Oaktree President

22:17 24 Oct 25

Our house decided to replace our own toilet, but we got stuck halfway through because we didn’t have the right tools and accidentally broke an anchor bolt. I called 2 Sons Plumbing, and they showed up within an hour to help us out. Derek, our plumber, was super friendly, explained everything clearly, and got the job done quickly and professionally. Excellent service all around—highly recommend!

Oaktree President

22:17 24 Oct 25

Victor Garcia

20:12 23 Oct 25

Dave and David came and cleared out a huge clog in my kitchen sink (both sides) that has been plaguing us for a while as well a ton of glass shards that got into the drain when our glass fridge shelf broke. Dave walked us through each step of the process and explained everything which was excellent. He also gave us advice about galvanized piping replacement. They even gave us a few free parts for the sink drain that had eroded away and didn’t charge extra for it!! All around 5 star service!!!

Victor Garcia

20:12 23 Oct 25

Steve P

20:40 21 Oct 25

Fantastic service and communication. Local company. Solved my clogged basement laundry utility sink. Dave and David were courteous, informative, professional and easy to engage with. Scheduling was easy (they came the next day) and they arrived within the expected time window. Transparent pricing and i could also apply a coupon. I will use them again.

Steve P

20:40 21 Oct 25

Ashton Wylde

05:46 21 Oct 25

Great service and Dave their plumber is the best. We have an odd house with even odder plumbing. The pipes are a mess of grandfathered-in open air nonsense, when our pump started making some noises (and a little leaking) after some DIY heat tape adventures (getting ready for colder weather), we were worried that we would need a massive repair but Dave came and looked at it and immediately realized we had unplugged the float plug from the pump plug which was 90% of the problem and the leak just need a little tightening of a flex joint. The company was quick and didn't charge for an estimate or in this case a quick "thats not plugged in right". The experience and the overall professionalism has convinced me that when I do finally need that big repair job, I'll call these guys.

Ashton Wylde

05:46 21 Oct 25

Spencer Charles

05:07 20 Oct 25

Booking an appointment was extremely easy, and we were able to get one just the next day. Communication was excellent with timely reminders and a call before our appointment. Kerry did a fantastic job both advising us and effectively resolving our issue.

Spencer Charles

05:07 20 Oct 25

LuAnn Mitchell

02:38 14 Oct 25

I have all good things to say about 2 Sons Plumbing. My first experience was a few years ago and the whole process went very smoothly. Making the appointment was easy and quick, the repair was done with no problem and I thought the price was fair. Recently, Dave from 2 Sons came out to look at several plumbing problems I was having and, within a matter of minutes, all of the problems were diagnosed. Dave gave me options and estimates all before he left my house. I haven’t had the work done yet but appreciate the information and the prices seemed fair to me. Dave was on time, professional and very knowledgeable. 2 Sons are my go to Plumbers.

LuAnn Mitchell

02:38 14 Oct 25

Kayla Huitt

16:58 13 Oct 25

Bob at 2 Sons Plumbing was amazing! We had a horribly backed up kitchen sink drain and he was able to fix it, and save us some money in the process! He heard what we had to say about our issue and double checked everything. Super friendly and very helpful. Thank you for the amazing work Bob!

Kayla Huitt

16:58 13 Oct 25

Mingmin Zhu

00:31 11 Oct 25

I had great experience with Chase, Riley, Seth, Manu, Nolan with a recent fix. They showed up promptly, transparent about the price upfront, set the expectations right, very professional, got things done perfectly, great communication and very honest and patient to answer all my questions, I will definitely use 2 sons again and will recommend it to my friends and neighbors.

Mingmin Zhu

00:31 11 Oct 25

Arul Menezes

00:41 10 Oct 25

Stellar job by Carey and his team at 2sons today. I had a complex job -- installing a yard hydrant/faucet for a garden across the (private) street. They had to go into the floor of the garage, run piping under the floor, out of the house, across the road. Had to cut into the asphalt, trench down a couple feet, then patch it all up again, including fixing the garage concrete floor. Super job. Looks really clean. Got it all done in a day.

Arul Menezes

00:41 10 Oct 25

First Name

00:04 10 Oct 25

A wonderful experience every time with 2 Sons plumbing. Jake and Angelo helped us with our plumbing issue. They showed up on time and gave a very reasonable estimate for the repair. We ended up replacing a couple of toilets and a part of a sink drain. They came back the next day to complete the work due to our schedule. Excellent communication, prompt, and hard working! Thank you so much Jake and Angelo!! We are very happy with 2 Sons and have used them multiple times.

First Name

00:04 10 Oct 25