How to Fix Toilet Flushing on its Own
Does your toilet flush on its own? This is a problem known as ghost flushing. It signals that your flapper is leaking and needs to be replaced.
It is common to hear your toilet running when your repair parts begin to wear out. However, did you know that the most common cause of a leaking toilet is your toilet flapper?
Since you can hear your fill valve working, it is easy to assume that it is the main issue when your fill valve is doing its job of bringing water into the tank.
What Causes Ghost Flushing?
Ghost flushing typically boils down to one issue. Your flapper no longer creates a water-tight seal. Hard water, city water, well water, and the use of chemical tablets affect the flapper's longevity.
Depending on the type of water your home or business has, your flapper may have a shorter lifespan. The only real solution to this issue is to replace your toilet flapper with a more reliable option.
For a reliable Korky solution, we recommend the 2" Ultra 2X® High-Performance Toilet Flapper (2017) or the Large 3" 2X High-Performance Universal Toilet Flapper (3070), depending on your flush valve size. Both are made of our proprietary Chlorazone II rubber which is 2 times stronger than other toilet flappers.
How to Fix Ghost Flushing
- Shut Off the Water Supply: To start, turn off the water supply to your toilet. Look for the water shut-off valve on the wall or floor near the toilet's base. Turn it clockwise to shut off the water flow.
- Flush and Remove the Old Flapper: Flush the toilet with the water supply off to drain any excess water from the tank. Next, carefully remove the old flapper from the flush valve, usually connected by tabs or ears.
- Install the Korky Flapper: If you have a Korky flapper, align the flapper ears with the tabs of the flush valve and attach it securely. Please note that installation may vary depending on your Korky flapper model.
- Adjust the Flapper Chain: Attach the flapper chain to the flush lever, ensuring it goes as straight up and down as possible. Ensure there are only 1-2 chain links in slack. Otherwise, the flapper will not perform correctly.
- Turn On the Water Supply: Turn the water supply back on by rotating the shut-off valve counterclockwise. Allow the tank to fill up and perform a test flush to ensure everything works as expected.
