Why Does My Toilet Randomly Run For a Few Seconds?

Last update:

Do you get nervous when you hear random toilet leaks? We know you do because phantom flushing sounds spooky and shows there’s something wrong with your toilet.

But don’t worry — it’s not the gremlins! 

If you wonder “why does my toilet randomly run for a few seconds,” you should know it’s just the occasional stream of water leaking from the tank to the toilet bowl. The reasons are mainly sediment buildups and broken flappers.

The so-called phantom flushing is a frivolous issue that you can solve quickly, so the main task is to identify the problem. In this article, we will explain what causes a phantom flush and how to deal with it.

Problem 1: The Toilet Flapper Is Broken

A toilet flapper represents a rubber or plastic element that closes the waterway between the tank and the bowl. It has a flap that stays over the outlet — when you flush, this flap opens and releases water into the bowl.

When broken, the toilet flapper leaks and allows water to flow from the tank to the bowl for a few seconds. This creates an awkward sound and repeats several times per hour, wasting gallons of freshwater.

Solution: Change the Flapper

The solution is to change the broken flapper in the toilet tank. Start by closing the supply line — turn the shutoff valve clockwise to prevent water from entering the tank. The valve is behind or next to the toilet bowl.

After that, remove the tank lid with your hands. There’s a thin line that tells you where to grab the tank lid, so you should just grab it and remove the cover from the top. After that, flush the toilet to remove water from the tank.

Now you can approach the cracked toilet flapper – take it with your fingers and detach it from the base. Put the new flapper in its position by snapping it against the bottom of the tank. After that, you can attach the lid and open the supply line.

Problem 2: Faulty Position of the Refill Tube

A refill tube is a plastic tube connecting the fill valve with the overflow tube. Sometimes it has a faulty position that makes it go below the tube, which causes occasional phantom flushes for a few seconds.

Solution: Lift the Refill Tube

You can solve this issue by repositioning the fill tube. You don’t even have to empty the tank because the fill tube is right under the lid — take the fill tube and lift it to stay above the overflow tube.

If the fill tube is too long (manufacturing defect), repositioning it can be hard. In this case, you can trim the line to help it sit properly in the toilet tank. Use pliers or scissors — the fill tube is soft, and you can cut it with ease.

Problem 3: The Flush Handle Doesn’t Go Back

A faulty flush handle may cause the toilet to run for a few seconds. It doesn’t mean the flush lever is damaged — sometimes it just goes back too slowly, so the toilet keeps running on its own.

It’s a more common problem, but sometimes the handle may be broken and worn out. In each case, you can adjust the lever and help your toilet work properly again.

Solution: Check the Handle After Flushing

Most times, there’s nothing wrong with the flush handle. It’s the best-case scenario because the solution is to check the flush lever after flushing. If it goes back slowly, you only need to give it a slight push to get it back on its position.

If the handle is damaged, you will need to replace it. Once again, there’s no reason to empty the tank as you can change the handle from above. Remove the tank cover and detach the current lever.

Put the new item in its place, and close the tank top. Now you can flush the toilet to see whether the handle returns to the initial position quickly. If yes, phantom flushing won’t be an issue anymore.

Problem 4: The Flapper Chain Is Too Short

This is not a common problem, but it can happen. When the flapper chain is too short, the toilet flapper stays open longer than it should. It lets water out of the tank, creating a mysterious gurgling sound.

Solution: Adjust the Chain

To solve the problem, you need to lengthen the flapper chain. First of all, turn off the water supply line and empty the tank. Adjusting the flapper chain may require extra work, so we suggest removing excess droplets using a sponge.

The second task is to change the starting position of the chain. The first link of the chain connects to the flush lever in the toilet tank. However, you’ll notice that the lever has three holes — your chain is probably attached to the one in the middle.

You can bring it closer to the toilet flapper by detaching the chain and reattaching it to the first hole. That way, the chain becomes long enough to let the flapper go down after flushing. In other words, the chain will prevent the phantom flush.

Problem 5: The Tank Float Is Too High

Most toilet tanks have a float, AKA a ballcock. It regulates the water level and controls the filling of the tank. But the tank float ball can sometimes go up, allowing excess water to enter the tank.

In such circumstances, the water level rises above the top of the overflow tube and goes down to the toilet bowl. That’s another answer to your question “why does my toilet randomly run for a few seconds.”

Solution: Put It Down

Perhaps it sounds complicated, but lowering the tank float ball is one of the simplest DIY bathroom projects. All it takes is to open the tank top and push the float arm down. The goal is to prevent water from flowing into the overflow tube.

That means you should lower the float to go below the overflow tube’s top. Push the tool gently until it reaches the desired position — your tank will start filling normally, and it won’t send excess water to the toilet bowl.

Problem 6: A Damaged Fill Valve

A fill valve is the highest point in the toilet tank as it usually resides a couple of inches under the lid. It’s a tool that controls the filling process, so a damaged valve will cause phantom flushing and toilet leaks.

Solution: Replace the Fill Valve

The main thing about replacing the fill valve is to dry the toilet tank before doing anything. When you do it, you can detach the current fill valve by disconnecting it from the supply hose on the bottom of the tank.

Doing it is easy — turn the plastic nut on the end of the hose counterclockwise, and it will allow you to detach the fill valve. Lift the old item and set the new fill valve, but remember to leave its top a couple of inches above the overflow tube.

After that, you can screw the plastic nut clockwise to attach the water supply hose to the fill valve. Now you can open the shutoff valve and let the water back to the toilet tank. If the fill valve sits properly, you won’t see a phantom flush. 

Problem 7: Leaky Seals

Toilets aren’t too complex, but they consist of multiple parts and connection points. Each of these joints can start leaking after a while, causing those random toilet flushes.

Solution: Check the Seals

The only method to fix this issue is to check all seals and prevent leakages. Many toilets start leaking from the tank bolts because they don’t fit tightly anymore. If that’s the case with your toilet, replace rusty bolts and install new ones.

Other leakage points may include a damaged supply hose nut, a broken tank outlet pipe, and cracks in the tank itself. Your job is to inspect the toilet thoroughly and pinpoint the problem — solving it won’t be difficult after that.

The Bottom Line

So why does my toilet randomly run for a few seconds? The same question has many answers, so you need to pay attention to everything from toilet tank cracks to damaged flappers, chains, and floats.

When you identify the cause, follow our step-by-step instructions to fix the bug and prevent phantom flushing. It will help the toilet work well, reduce the water bill, and save you from annoying sounds of unwanted flushing.

FAQ

What is phantom flushing?

Phantom flushing is a toilet phenomenon that occurs when your toilet randomly leaks for a few seconds. It’s a sign that there’s something wrong with your toilet, with the main causes being the toilet flapper and the tank float.

How do you fix a toilet that runs randomly?

The solution depends on the issue that makes the toilet run randomly. If it’s a damaged toilet flapper, you need to replace it. The same goes for broken fill valves, flush handles, and flapper chains. 

If it’s the tank float, all it takes is to reposition it by lifting the float slightly higher. If you have rusty and leaky tank bolts or other toilet connections, you’ll have to seal them properly. 

Leave a Comment