The Phantom Flusher

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

Could there possibly be a playful ghoul in your house that is causing your toilet to run every so often? We love a good ghost story as much as the next person, but in all likelihood the “phantom” may actually be your flapper valve. 

What is a Flapper Valve?

This flapper valve on your toilet connects the tank to the bowl. It is stopped by a somewhat small piece of rubber. As you flush, the flapper valve lifts causing the toilet to flush out from the tank to the bowl. 

As a toilet gets older and/or is used more often, this piece of rubber can get worn out, making it hard for the flapper valve to completely shut, allowing water to get through slowly but surely. This causes the running sound that you hear every few minutes coming from your bathroom. Eventually, enough water will get through to cause a phantom flush.

Stay Alert

Spooky jokes aside, pay close attention to any running water and phantom flushing issues in order to avoid water damage and potential toilet flooding. The process of replacing a flapper valve is fairly simple as well as inexpensive, making this issue easy to alleviate. 

As always if you have any questions at all, feel free to contact us at SERVPRO Wakefield! We are always available to decipher the difference between a playful ghoul and a flapper valve.