Why is my toilet running when not in use?

A toilet that cuts on and off by itself, or runs intermittently, has a problem that plumbers call a phantom flush. The cause is a very slow leak from the tank into the bowl. The solution is to drain the tank and bowl, check and clean the flapper seat, and replace the flapper if it’s worn or damaged.Click to see full answer. Subsequently, one may also ask, is it bad for a toilet to keep running?A running toilet may not be quite as bad as a clogged toilet, but if left unchecked, this problem can waste hundreds of gallons of water and quite a few dollars. You may think your toilet is flushing normally, but that constant running water sound will eventually get worse.One may also ask, what happens if a toilet keeps running? Check the toilet flapper for decay or cracks Here’s the most common cause of a running toilet. Once enough water exits the tank, the flapper drops back down, re-sealing the tank. However, if the flapper (or the valve seal) is cracked, water will keep seeping into your toilet bowl, causing it to run constantly. Additionally, why does my toilet randomly run for a few seconds? The most common issue with toilets randomly flushing is that the flapper has become brittle or sediment has formed on the flapper/tank which prevents the flapper making a complete seal. If enough water is permitted to leak out of the tank, the filling mechanism will be triggered and the tank will refill.Will a running toilet increase water bill? The True Cost of a Running Toilet For minor toilet leaks, your water bill won’t be as drastically high; however, it will be higher than normal. A moderate toilet leak will generally waste about 6,000 gallons of water per month and can cost you an additional $70 per month– $1,000 per year in waste.