How to fix a toilet that takes forever to stop running ?

First make sure the ball float (plastic cup if you have one) moves smoothly.
This problem sounds like the flow isnt stopping soon enough. Screw the stop screw out a bit so that the tank dosn't fill up so much....did that do it?
Now you have to make sure the flush handle is working smoothly and not sticking like it sounds yours is.
No joy?! OK
You need to buy and fit a new ball cock setup from a local B&Q or Wickes.
They are easy to fit and fairly cheap.
Sound like what you have is worn out.
You have to turn the water off, drain the cistern.
You will need a pipewrench type tool because the plastic nut is fairly big.
In general it's an easy job.
Good luck.

Bob the Builder
February 2005

One of two things
[1] it's the ball float or
[2]the ball valve washer is plumb worn out.


Your ball float may be catching on something remove the cistern lid and flush the toilet. let it refill. Look and make sure the ball float rises without getting caught. If at the cut off point the ball looks excessively low in the water then it is possible your ball float has got water in it which would obviously make it heavy so it takes more pressure for the valve to shut the water off, hence the time it takes to fill and can continuously fill expelling excess water out the overflow.
I had the same problem in my loft tank removed the float and it was half full of water. Replaced it and cured the problem.
Replacement is easy
Quick way is to hold the ball arm up and with the other hand unscrew the ball float. It should be light with no water in it.
If it has water in it that's the problem, temp replace it whilst you get a new ball float. If however it's not the ball float then try checking the following out.

[2]
First buy from most of the DIY shops an inexpensive ball valve repair kit which has various types of washers to suit most valves.

The other thing I've come across this was in my toilet cistern was the ball valve washer was plumb worn out so the water wasn't being closed off as it should be.
To replace the washer on the plastic type ball valve unit first turn you water supply to the cistern off as you can't tie up or hold up the valve arm for this job. Remove the flush handle for clear access to the valve if necessary.
At the valve end of the arm is a split pin. Remove this pin and ease the arm out [You may find it easier to first take the ball float off to give more room removing the arm]. Unscrew the big nut on the end of the valve removing the plunger then the washer noting which way around the washer is. Select the new washer and put it in the valve followed by the plunger then replace the large nut tight 'not too tight'. Refit the arm and ,flush handle if you removed it, then away you go turn the water on and check the level. It should stop well before it was before you started.

Bob. 23 January

bob
January 2005

Yes, it fills up and continues to run. Sometimes I have to giggle the handle to make it stop. Sometimes it stops on it's own , I would say close to the normal amount of time it takes for a toilet to fill. Thanks !!

Ahad
January 2005

do you mean the toilet water cistern takes time to fill or the toilet pan flushes water for this long???

IAN H.
January 2005