# How to fix a perpetual toilet flush? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 10, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-a-perpetual-toilet-flush/228367 "2004-02-10T01:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-a-perpetual-toilet-flush/228367/1 "2004-02-10T01:53:10Z")
My toilet tank sometimes goes into a perpetual flush when the black rubber flap/stopper thingy stays upright, instead of falling back down when the water is depleted from the tank. It doesn’t do this every time – maybe one flush in three – but I’m getting tired of having to worry about it. The mechanism only requires the lightest of taps to fall back, and I can’t detect any damage, buildups, or erosion on the part. How can I fix this? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-a-perpetual-toilet-flush/228367/2 "2004-02-10T02:15:12Z")
A new flap/flapper could help…or…on the old one: If the rubber/synthetic rubber has hardened slightly, or lost it’s flex appeal, it won’t get sucked down into the hole as easily as it should. Check the connections where the flapper connects, and see if their is debris or buildup. Water contains all sorts minerals that can harden, solidfy, calcify, etc. You might want to clean the area, but not with bleach. Best advice is to get a new flapper. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-a-perpetual-toilet-flush/228367/3 "2004-02-10T02:17:56Z")
This site might help: [http://www.toiletology.com/](http://www.toiletology.com/) You might be able to move the chain on the handle down a link or so to give it a bit more slack. You might also consider replacing the flapper thingy – they’re very cheap. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-a-perpetual-toilet-flush/228367/4 "2004-02-10T03:08:24Z")
**Finagle** , thanks for the link! That site is extremely informative. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-a-perpetual-toilet-flush/228367/5 "2004-02-10T03:53:49Z")
Same exact thing happened at my GFs apartment. Flapper gets stuck in the up position, a slight jiggle of the handle gets it to drop. Cleaning the ‘hinge’ didn’t work too well, but spending $4 on a new flapper worked like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![Melraidin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Melraidin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melraidin)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-a-perpetual-toilet-flush/228367/6 "2004-02-10T05:30:49Z")
If the above suggestions don’t work, consider a complete toilet refurb. I went to Home Depot and got a total upgrade package for about 30 $. This helped with water consumption, as well as the leakage problem. We did experience a problem with a continual flush after I installed it, but it was due to my laziness. The tube that fills the tank had twisted so that it sometimes blocked the flapper’s column, stopping it from closing completely. All you have to do to avoid this is make sure all moving parts are separated from any obstructions. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2004, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-a-perpetual-toilet-flush/228367/7 "2004-02-10T07:59:38Z")
Mayhaps the chain is tangling in itself? Reminds me… I must replace the one downstairs… :-/