A homeowner reports that their toilet is constantly running, and a visible trickle of water can be seen flowing into the bowl even when not flushed. Upon inspection, the flapper appears to be seating correctly, and the fill valve seems to shut off properly after the tank fills. What is the next most likely component to inspect for the cause of the running toilet?

Question: A homeowner reports that their toilet is constantly running, and a visible trickle of water can be seen flowing into the bowl even when not flushed. Upon inspection, the flapper appears to be seating correctly, and the fill valve seems to shut off properly after the tank fills. What is the next most likely component to inspect for the cause of the running toilet?

Answer options:

• The toilet's shut-off valve.
• The tank-to-bowl bolts and gasket. ✅ The overflow tube.
• The float ball within the tank.

Correct answer: The overflow tube.

Explanation: If the flapper is sealing and the fill valve is shutting off correctly, but water is still entering the bowl, the issue is likely the water level being too high, causing it to flow over the overflow tube. This can happen if the fill valve is set to fill the tank too full. The float ball is part of the fill valve mechanism, so it should be checked in conjunction with the overflow tube.