The tank of my toilet fills up with too much water then leaks out. I do not know much about toilets so I have been looking up solutions online but I haven't really found anything helpful. Does anyone know what causes this and/or could please tell me how to fix it ?

Tell me which ballcock's yours and I'll give you instructions on how to lower your tank level. Back to you. Tom

Answer Tom's question, it's a simple float adjustment. However, you mention itleaks out, leaks out where? That's my concern and question, where is the drip

Hey Bob,
I assumed by "leak" he meant down the overflow tube. Cheers, Tom

I am so sorry. I wasn't expecting an immediate answer, I didn't mean to come off as rude I just thought it would take a few days for a reply. It is the second picture though. The bowl and tank fill up fine, the water just doesn't stop until it hits the handle then it drips down the side of the tank for a few minutes.

Hey Carneasad,
You're not rude in the least and sometimes we answer questions as soon as they hit the page. Yours is a simple repair. First I'll tell you where the tank level should be and then instruct you how to get it there.
Your tank level should be set at 1/2" under the white overflow tube.
I set the tank level by adjusting the height of the float ball.
There are two ways to do this, 1) by adjusting the screw on top of the ballcock, **or** 2) (My personal favorite) Grasp the rod just ahead of the float ball, (do not grab the ball itself) with one hand and next to the ballcock with the other.
Bend the rod up to increase the tank level and down to decrease the level. The tank level should be set at 1/2 inch under the top of the white overflow tube. Good luck, Tom

Great answer but you have a second issue. If your water level reaches the handle hole you sure do need to adjust your float but you also need to trim an inch off your over flow tube. Water should reach the tube top long before the handle.

Thank you so much, I bent the rod and trimmed a bit off the tube and it works fine now. I really appreciate your help guys, you have no idea. Thanks again :)

Thanks for the update. Glad we could help, More questions? Were as close as a click. Tom

I am having this same problem now and I also have the second diagram toilet with the ball, my tank it filling passed where is should, and the water is just going onto the over flow tube. To me it feels like there is a really high pressure of water coming into the tank but I have turned it down and it still continues to fill passed the fill line. I have tried adjusting the ball and even the screw, the only thing I haven't tried was to do the grap the rod and bend up. Its like the balls not able to do its just that the water coming up the number 2 on the diagram, keeps it from doing its job or something... if I lift the ball up it stops the water but that's to high. Can someone help me, I don't want to have to call a plumber... I feel its something I can fix myself, it was working fine, About 2 months ago I had to replace the # 2 part, and everything was fine until tonight, now the toilet is just running and running and its frustrating... HELP!!

If you are lifting the ball and the water stops this means that you need to adjust the rod, hold the rod with your left hand close to the valve and hold the rod with your right hand close to the ball now bend the rod down and try, if still need more adjustment try again until the water level is 1/2" below the over flow tube, good luck.

John

Hi Tina and Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com. Let me repeat my instructions from a earlier post.
Your tank level should be set at 1/2" under the white overflow tube.
I set the tank level by adjusting the height of the float ball.
There are two ways to do this, 1) by adjusting the screw on top of the ballcock, **or** 2) (My personal favorite) Grasp the rod just ahead of the float ball, (do not grab the ball itself) with one hand and next to the ballcock with the other.
Bend the rod up to increase the tank level and down to decrease the level. The tank level should be set at 1/2 inch under the top of the white overflow tube.
Good luck, Tom

Tina, adjusting the valve below the toilet will not reduce the pressure or the eventual volume of water in the tank, just slows it down but it will still over flow. If adjusting the float does not fix your issue it could just be a bad fill valve which can be replaced. Let us know how the adjustments goes.

Hi, I also have this problem, but I just replaced the prior leaky ball contraption with the barrel shaped floater on the stem (left hand picture(

I tried turning the screw in both directions and it doesn't help. The water keeps running over and spilling into the overflow tube.

Any tips?
Thanks so much,
Kelly

What brand/model fill valve did you buy? They all are adjustable.

I am having the same problem, but my toilet tank is the diagram on the right (from the first page). Since I don't have a ball to adjust, how do I keep the water from rising high enough to go down the overflow tube? It seems that this problem just started last week for us.

CPJ, take a close look at that small vertical shaft in the diagram on page 1, its labeled water level adjustment. Put a screw driover into the very top of the shaft, clockwise will raise the water level (you don't want that) counterclockwise will lower the level but you must flush and allow it to refill to test the level.

Hi Ballenger, yes, I actually have a brasscraft model 2000 fill valve that allows for "simple" water-level adjustment with sliding a metal clip up and down a small metal bar. (This moves the plastic buoy, which I guess replaces the balloon in other toilet tanks?) I did this and now the water simply rises above the buoy itself and still runs down the overflow tube. After the overflow tube fills, the water stops running; I'm not sure why this is. Any other suggestions?

Move that clip down further.

I did this and now the water simply rises above the buoy itself and still runs down the overflow tube.

That sounds like the float is at the max but is not shutting the water off. That could only be because the seal in the fill valve needs to be replaced.


After the overflow tube fills, the water stops running

I don't understand that. The overflow tube does not fill up.

I have the same problem, and adjusting the float did not work for me. It still spills over into the overflow. Based on what hkstroud said, I guess I need to replace the seal in the fill valve? Is that difficult? Should I get a plumber or tackle it myself?

Which type of fill valve do you have.

For about $10 you can replace rage fill valve, recommend a Fluidmaster 400a.

Thank you, hkstroud and ballengerb1.
I am the same "jeremiahmccarve[r]" that asked the question, but I had login problems despite copying and pasting my login username and temporary password from the email sent to me by the help desk. It kept telling me I had it wrong, and then I reached my quota of attempts. So, I didn't want to be rude and not respond promptly since you both answered promptly, and I have been trying to get back on here for the last while since you responded. With that said, in answer to your question, hkstroud, I have the unit on the left-hand diagram.
Thanks.
JM

BTW, I have only had the toilet for about a year. I guess that is what I get for going cheap?

Many fill valve failures are due to debris in the water line. Even a small spec of junk can cause the valve seal to ot fully close.

Many fill valve failures are due to debris in the water line. Even a small spec of junk can cause the valve seal to ot fully close.

That makes sense. Yet, I had my water lines all replaced many months ago, all the way to meter. So, I guess it would have to be coming from the city? At any rate, could too much volume in the water have anything to do with it, or too much pressure? In the past I have had problems with the release valve on my hot water heater releasing water. I keep the hose in a bucket so that I can know for sure when this happens, rather than in the drip pan. After weeks of this not happening, it just so happens that there was about a 1/4" of water in the pan the same night this problem began with my toilet. The hot water heater hasn't done that since that first night, a couple of nights ago, but the toilet still is messing up.

CORRECTION: I meant there was about 1/4" of water in the bucket.

Purchase a Fluidmaster seal, shown below.

Turn off water to toilet at stop valve under the tank. Remove tank lid and place in a safe place so you don't break it. Reach in under the float, raise float and grasp shank. While both holding the float up and holding the shank of the valve, press down and turn the cap of the valve 1/8 turn counter clockwise. Note the lever of the valve must be lifted while turning the cap.
After removing cap hold your hand over the top of the valve and turn the water on briefly to flush out any debris that may be trapped in the valve.

Replace the seal and reinstall the cap. Turn water on. Adjust water level if necessary. Water level should be 1" below the top of the overflow tube.

See this video.
How to fix a toilet: replacing the Fluidmaster 400 fill valve seal (HD) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOlK7X82EUc)

The above advice is made assuming you have a Fluidmaster fill valve. If you have some other brand of fill valve you will need to find the proper seal for that brand. If I have some other brand I would just replace the entire fill valve with a Fluidmaster as Bob suggested.

Thank you! I will work on this tomorrow when Lowe's opens and post the results!
Thanks!

I am having the same problem but mine is the first picture. (no leaks here, water just won't quit running!)

I am having the same problem but mine is the first picture. (no leaks here, water just won't quit running!)

Your flush valve isn't closing, totem washer or debris. I'd just replace it for about $13 with a Fluidmaster 400a

Hello I had to get a new pump in my well and I was getting noise coming from holding tank
My toilet tank water level has been high since I bought my house 4 years ago
I was told that the level is too high and a trickle could cause the pressure in holding tank to drop and then has to refill blagh blagh blahg
Ive been reading your questions and answers, so I tried to bend the arm and it worked, my arm is short, so it was hard to bend, but I got it bent slightly
When I flushed, the level was less about an inch below the top of tube
Is this now too low? Do I have to unbend it?

Darlene from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada

Hello Darlene,

There is an adjustment screw on Float Bar that lowers & rises the float are, as needed. No need to bend it.

Water lever 1/2" below the top of the overflow tube is not too low. However, I would recommend not to go any lower. There should be mark somewhere on the tube to indicate recommended water level.

Hope that helps

Milo