Troubleshooting Tips
Not sure what is wrong with your toilet? Search by your toilet's symptom to determine possible causes and solutions.
Constant or intermittently running toilet
Possible Cause(s):
- Toilet is running on and off, flapper likely leaking. Confirm with flapper leak test:
a) Remove tank cover and add drops of food coloring to toilet tank.
b) Wait 25 minutes.
c) If color appears in toilet bowl, the flapper is leaking. - Toilet is running continuously and/or water rising into flush valve overflow tube, fill valve or ballcock may be malfunctioning. View Diagram.
Possible Solution(s):
- Replace flapper - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
- Replace fill valve - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement. For more comprehensive repair, consider a 2 piece kit or complete kit
Toilet tank fills slowly/not at all after flushing
Possible Cause(s):
- Water supply valve closed/water supply kinked. View Diagram.
- Incoming water supply restriction. View Diagram.
- Fill Valve/ballcock malfunctioning
Possible Solution(s):
- Ensure water supply valve completely open; if water supply line is flexible, make sure kink-free
- Turn water supply off and detach water supply from fill valve.Direct water line into a bucket and observe water flow. If water flow is similar to flow through fill valve, incoming water supply may be restricted. Consult a plumber.
- Replace Fill Valve -Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
Need to jiggle the handle to make it stop running
Possible Cause(s):
- Flapper hung up / chain kinked
- Flapper leaking
Possible Solution(s):
- Untangle chain.
- Replace Flapper - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement. Upgrade to WaterWI$E® fill valve to detect future leaks.
Toilet has weak flush/doesn’t flush at all
Possible Cause(s):
- Tank water level set below toilet manufacturer's recommended water level line. View Diagram.
- Flapper chain not attached to flush lever. View Diagram.
- Flapper closes too soon
- Incorrect flapper
- Fill valve/ballcock malfunctioning
- Water level in bowl too low. View Diagram.
- Bowl clog
Possible Solution(s):
- Adjust fill valve height to water line marked in tank.
- Attach chain to flush lever
- Too much slack in flapper chain - Eliminate excess slack in chain.
- Replace flapper- Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
- Replace fill valve - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
- Make sure refill tube is directing water into overflow tube, free of kinks - upgrade to MaxPERFORMANCE® fill valve. View Toilet Anatomy Diagram
- Plunge toilet
Need to hold down handle to get good flush
Possible Cause(s):
- Tank water level set below toilet manufacturer's recommended water level line. View Diagram.
- Too much slack in flapper chain
- Incorrect flapper
Possible Solution(s):
- Adjust fill valve height to water line marked in tank.
- Eliminate excess slack in chain.
- Replace flapper - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
Toilet bowl flushes twice
Possible Cause(s):
- Check flapper installation.
- Flapper not compatible with toilet
Possible Solution(s):
- If adjustable flapper, adjust flapper to flush less water (16BP-Click Here. 2004BP-Click Here. 3060BP-Click Here.)
- Replace Flapper - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
Frequently replacing flapper due to wear/ malfunction
Possible Cause(s):
- Flapper not resistant to chlorine and harsh water.
- Flapper degrading in tank cleaners.
- Incorrect flapper
Possible Solution(s):
- Replace flapper with a longer lasting red Korky flapper - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
- Stop tank cleaner usage
- Replace flapper - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
Toilet leaking between tank & bowl
Possible Cause(s):
- Tank-to-bowl gasket worn
- Tank nuts loose / gasket needs further compression (recent installation).
- Gasket not compatible with toilet (recent installation).
Possible Solution(s):
- Replace tank-to-bowl gasket - Upgrade to Korky® universal toilet repair kit.
- Tighten nuts and compress gasket
- Call Korky at (800) 528-3553
Toilet noisy while filling
Possible Cause(s):
- Fill Valve/ballcock malfunctioning
Possible Solution(s):
- Upgrade to a quieter Korky fill valve. Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.
Toilet flushes on its own
Possible Cause(s):
- Flapper leaking.
Possible Solution(s):
- Replace flapper - Consult Product Selector to find the correct replacement.