The Fix-It Playbook — How to Fix a Running Toilet | 6-Page PDF | 2026 Edition

A running toilet can quietly waste 200 gallons a day — and 95% of the time it's one of two $10 parts. Here's how to find which one and swap it.

Inside: Why this is the most expensive drip in the house · The honest cost comparison · Step 1: Know your tank · Step 2: Find out which part it is · The 5-minute dye test · When to stop and call a pro instead · What you'll need · Fix A: Replace the flapper · Fix B: Set the water level (adjust the float) · Fix C: Replace the fill valve · Troubleshooting · What the repair tech won't tell you.

Doing it yourself: a flapper is $5–10, a fill valve $10–15. Each swap takes 10–15 minutes. Calling a pro: $100–200 for a 15-minute job.

6 pages of labeled diagrams, parts lists and real numbers — no filler, no 40-minute video. Instant PDF download: print it for the garage or follow it on your phone with the parts in hand. Yours to keep, no subscription.

Need more than this one repair? The Bathroom Repair Kit bundles 5 bathroom guides for $14, and the Complete Library is all 24 guides — 117 pages — for $49.