A bidet is a modern luxury that is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Many people install bidets on their toilets to enhance cleanliness and increase the experience. However, installing the machine itself can cause issues with your toilet. If your toilet is running after installing a bidet, there are many simple solutions.
It’s usually not the bidet itself that is causing issues with your toilet but certain installation steps that have messed up the equilibrium within your toilet chest. All you need to do is figure out where the problem is and adjust it—usually a very easy solution!
How To Fix a Running Toilet
If you’ve just installed a bidet and your toilet is running, it could be because of the bidet installation process. However, it could also be another unrelated issue that popped up when you began installing.
Here are some of the most common toilet running issues and their solutions. Some are bidet-specific, and others involve the parts of the toilet most commonly involved with running water: the fill valve, flapper, and toilet float.
Turn off the Water
The first step is to turn off the water going to your toilet. You won’t be able to find and fix any problems if the water is still running, and you risk leaking and running water all over the bathroom floor.
Turn off the water at the base of the toilet or shut off your house’s water main before looking to see the possible issue. This should stop the water from running temporarily and allow you to look inside the toilet chest for more information.
Turn the Fill Valve
The most common issue with a newly installed bidet is that the fill valve got turned a little too far. If you installed the bidet, you likely ended the installation process by tightening the fill valve; you might have turned it too far. So now the toilet thinks there isn’t enough water and will continue to fill.
Turn the fill valve back just a bit and turn the water back on. Your toilet should fill regularly and stop running once it reaches the top. This is the most common fix for a newly installed bidet but also one of the easiest to complete.
Check the Toilet Float
If you don’t think that the fill valve is the issue, or you’ve tried all of these troubleshooting problems and the toilet is still running, it’s time to look at the toilet float. The float itself is what stops the water from running and allows the chest to stay full and ready for a flush. However, if it’s not working, the toilet could continue to run.
Sometimes, toilet floats get stuck too high when the fill valve isn’t turned correctly. They can also be too low and cause the chest to not fill up all the way. Adjusting the toilet float is easy, but it might take some experimentation to get it to the right level. However, it should fix the problem.
Look at the Flapper
The other common culprit of running toilets is the flapper. The flapper is a round piece of rubber that flaps up and down when you flush, covering and uncovering the hole that leads to the toilet bowl. If this isn’t working properly, it can cause a continual run of water down into the toilet bowl.
The flapper, fill valve, and toilet float are all interconnected. Between the three, they should release water upon every flush and stop it when it’s time. However, if the flapper isn’t landing correctly, water is getting through it. You can solve this by adjusting or replacing the flapper itself.
Clean the Fill Valve
However, if you’ve experimented with turning the fill valve, the toilet continues to run; the issue could be with the fill valve itself. Installing the bidet might have uncovered some hidden problems with the valve, which is why it continues to run.
To fix this, start by cleaning the fill valve. Here are the steps to clean the fill valve:
- Once the water is off, flush the toilet.
- Open the fill valve by twisting off the lid
- Examine the inside
- If there is debris or a clog, rinse it out with water or an approved cleaner.
- Replace the lid and valve.
- Turn the water back on and see if the toilet is still running.
After you’ve completed this, the toilet should be running again with no problems. Once the chest is full, it will stop running. You can also check how tight the lid is and where the fill valve rests to ensure that you didn’t turn it too far.
Replace the Fill Valve
If you open the toilet chest and the fill valve is leaking, it might be time to replace it. This is a relatively easy procedure but will take some tools and time. You will also need to purchase a new fill valve. Here is a YouTube video detailing the steps to replace your fill valve.
If the fill valve needs to be replaced, you will see leakage and cracks, or the toilet will continue running even after you’ve cleaned the valve out. Make sure that you use the correct valve with your toilet model. You might need to do some research before ordering new parts, but most
Check the T Adaptor
When installing a bidet, the T adaptor is the easiest thing to get wrong. This little piece is crucial to sending water from the toilet to the bidet, but if it doesn’t work, it can steal too much water, cause leakages, and prevent the bidet from working well.
Ensure that the T adaptor has been properly installed and isn’t causing any leakages. Although many bidets come with parts, you might need to order a sturdier T adaptor to ensure that water pressure doesn’t crack or break. Every house has a different level of water pressure, and some T adaptors can’t hold up.
Add Any Missing Washers
If your bidet itself is leaking, make sure that you follow all the instructions to install it. Each bidet brand requires a slightly different setup, so you should follow the instructions in the manual. However, missing small parts, such as washers, can be easy.
Open your bidet and see if rubber seals or washers are missing from the handle, tube, or connection. Suppose you have rubber washers, double-check that they seal properly. A leaky bidet can cause the toilet to run continually to fill the need for water. It ends up causing a mess and not working properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about bidets and running toilets. Hopefully, they will help answer your questions!
Will a running toilet eventually stop?
Unfortunately, a running toilet will probably not stop on its own. You should figure out what is wrong with the toilet and fix it so you don’t waste a ton of water (see our post about water shooting out of the toilet for more information).
Do I need a plumber to install a bidet?
Although you must follow the instructions to install your new bidet, you don’t need a plumber to complete it. You can easily do it on your own.
How do I stop my toilet from running intermittently?
If your toilet is running, but not constantly, your issue is almost certainly the seal within the flapper. Replace your flapper, and your seal should improve.
Final Thoughts
With these steps, you should be able to fix your running toilet, whether or not you’ve recently installed a bidet. With a few adjustments or new parts, your toilet should work perfectly and only run when you’ve just flushed it.
Leave a comment