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Precision Pipes

Toilet that won’t stop running? Do this test first

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Step 1 — right now

Do this before you do anything else

This costs nothing and doesn’t need us. It’s the difference between a mop and an insurance claim.

The open cistern of a toilet, showing the inlet valve and float that cause a toilet to keep running
  1. 1

    Do the food colouring test

    A few drops in the cistern, then don’t flush for fifteen minutes. If colour appears in the bowl, the outlet seal has failed and water is passing continuously.

  2. 2

    Listen for the refill cycling on its own

    A cistern that refills every few minutes with nobody using it is losing water to the bowl. That’s the same fault, heard rather than seen.

  3. 3

    Isolate at the stop tap behind the pan

    There’s a small tap on the supply line where it enters the cistern. Turning it clockwise stops the waste tonight — you just refill the cistern manually to flush until it’s fixed.

  4. 4

    Check the water level against the mark

    If the level sits above the overflow line inside the cistern, the inlet valve is the problem rather than the outlet seal.

Step 2 — what it probably is

The usual causes, in plain English

  • A failed outlet valve seal

    The rubber seal at the bottom of the cistern hardens with age and stops sealing. The single most common cause, and an inexpensive part.

  • An inlet valve that won’t shut off

    The cistern overfills and the excess runs down the overflow into the pan. Often grit in the valve rather than a failed one.

  • A warped or misadjusted flush button assembly

    Common on push-button cisterns where the buttons have been pressed hard for years — the mechanism holds the valve slightly open.

Step 3 — what it costs

So you know before you ring

Usually one visit and a common part.

Inlet valves and outlet seals are standard parts we carry, so this is normally a single visit with a fixed price agreed before we start. What moves it is an older or imported cistern needing a part ordered in, or a concealed cistern in a wall where getting to the mechanism is most of the work. Tell us the brand when you call and we’ll know which one you’ve got.

  • No call-out fee
  • Fixed price before we start
  • Lifetime labour warranty

Step 4 — get it fixed

Ring us, or we’ll ring you

Calling gets you an answer fastest. If you’d rather not wait on the phone, leave your details and we’ll call you back.

Call 0406 711 214

  • Lifetime labour warranty

    Every job we do is backed for as long as you own the property.

  • Fully licensed & insured

    NSW Licence NSW LICENCE PENDING. Compliance certificates on every job.

  • No call-out fee

    We don’t charge to turn up, and we don’t charge to quote.

  • Fixed price up front

    You approve the price before we start. It doesn’t move afterwards.

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What people say

5.0 from 180+ Google reviews
  • “Excellent service, very friendly and went above and beyond to get what was needed done.”
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  • “Great communication, Colin was professional, polite and friendly and did a magnificent job. Highly recommend for any plumbing needs.”
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Still wondering

Common questions

A failed outlet seal can pass over 200 litres a day — more than a family of four uses showering, and completely silent. It’s the most common cause of a water bill jumping with no visible leak anywhere.

Repair, nearly always. The pan and cistern outlast their working parts by decades, and inlet valves and seals are inexpensive. Replacement makes sense if the pan is cracked, the cistern is a discontinued model with no available parts, or you were renovating anyway.

Yes. There’s a stop tap on the supply line behind or beside the pan — turn it clockwise and the cistern stops refilling. You can still flush by pouring a bucket of water into the pan, so the toilet stays usable while you wait.

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