Running toilet or dripping tap? What's going on and what to do
A toilet that keeps trickling into the bowl or a tap that won't quite stop is easy to ignore. But both waste water every hour of the day, they show up on your water bill, and they usually get worse, not better. This guide explains what causes them, what you can safely check yourself, and when it's time for a plumber, from the local team that fixes taps and toilets every week across Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar, Pagewood, Botany and the southern Eastern Suburbs.
How much water does a small leak waste?
More than most people expect. A steady drip from one tap can waste thousands of litres a year. A running toilet is worse, because it can leak silently all day and night, and the water goes straight to the sewer. If your water bill has crept up and you can't explain why, a toilet or tap is the first place to look, before you start worrying about a hidden leak in the walls or under the slab.
Is your toilet running? Three quick checks
- Listen. After the cistern refills, it should go completely quiet. A hiss or a faint trickle a few minutes later means water is still moving.
- Look. Watch the back of the bowl after flushing. A thin, constant ripple of water running down the porcelain is a leak.
- Use the dye test. Put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern (not the bowl) and don't flush for 20 minutes. If colour turns up in the bowl, the cistern is leaking through.
Why toilets keep running
Worn outlet washer
The rubber seal at the bottom of the cistern hardens and warps with age, so water seeps into the bowl. This is the most common cause we see.
Faulty inlet valve
The valve that refills the cistern doesn't shut off properly, so water keeps flowing into the overflow.
Sticking buttons
Push buttons and the mechanism behind them can stick or wear, holding the outlet slightly open after each flush.
Old or cracked cistern
Older cisterns, especially concealed ones and early dual-flush models, can need parts that are hard to get, or a full replacement.
Why taps keep dripping
Worn washers
Traditional twist taps seal with a rubber washer. Over time it flattens and cracks, and the tap drips no matter how hard you turn it.
Worn cartridges
Mixer taps use a ceramic cartridge instead. When it wears, the tap drips, sticks or gets hard to set to the right temperature.
Damaged seats
The seat the washer presses against can wear or pit, so even a new washer won't seal until the seat is re-cut or the tap is replaced.
High water pressure
If taps start dripping again soon after being fixed, pressure is often the reason. See our water pressure guide.
What you can safely do yourself
- Find the isolating tap under the basin, or behind or beside the toilet, so you can turn the water off if a leak gets worse.
- Check the toilet button isn't sticking and that nothing inside the cistern is caught.
- Clean a tap aerator if the flow has gone weak or spluttery.
- Don't overtighten a dripping tap. Cranking it harder damages the washer and seat and makes the repair bigger.
Changing a simple tap washer is a job some handy homeowners take on. For cartridges, inlet valves, cistern parts, or if you're not sure what's wrong, call a licensed plumber. Knowing exactly which part fits your tap or cistern isn't always obvious, especially with older fittings.
Repair or replace?
Most dripping taps and running toilets can be repaired with the right part, and that's what we'll recommend when it makes sense. Replacement is worth thinking about when the tap or cistern is old enough that parts are hard to find, when the body is cracked or corroded, or when the same fitting keeps failing. Either way, we'll show you the options and give you a fixed price before any work starts, so you can choose.
Taps and toilets in southern Eastern Suburbs homes
Many homes around Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar and Botany still have original taps, older cisterns and galvanised pipework. Those fittings often take washers and parts that have been superseded, and old pipes can shed rust and grit that wear out new washers faster. Newer homes and units in Pagewood, Eastgardens and Little Bay tend to have mixer taps and concealed cisterns, which fail differently: worn cartridges, and inlet valves hidden behind the wall panel. We carry a wide range of common parts in the van, so most repairs are done on the first visit.
Why locals call us
- Based in Matraville, close to every southern Eastern Suburbs home
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters (Lic. 398171C)
- Clear options and a fixed price before any work starts
- Lifetime labour warranty on our workmanship
Common questions
Why does my toilet run on and off by itself?
That's usually a slow leak from the cistern into the bowl. The water level drops, the inlet valve tops it up, and the cycle repeats. A worn outlet washer is the most common cause, and a dye test in the cistern will usually confirm it.
Is a dripping tap really worth fixing?
Yes. A steady drip wastes thousands of litres a year, and the worn washer or cartridge only gets worse. Fixing it early is usually a simple repair, while leaving it can damage the tap seat and mean a bigger job later.
Why does my tap keep dripping after it's been fixed?
The most common reasons are a worn tap seat that wasn't re-cut, the wrong replacement part, or high water pressure wearing parts out quickly. We check all three, and we can measure your water pressure with a gauge.
Can a running toilet be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Most can be repaired by replacing the outlet washer, inlet valve or button mechanism. Replacement makes sense when the cistern is cracked, very old or the parts are no longer made. We'll give you both options and a fixed price before we start.
Need a tap or toilet fixed? See our taps and toilets service, or your local page: Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar, Pagewood, Eastgardens, Botany and Little Bay. Suspect a leak you can't see? Read our hidden leak guide. More plumbing guides.