My old landlord in Tucson showed me how to fix a running toilet with a penny

I was about to call a plumber for a toilet that wouldn't stop running. My landlord, Frank, came over, took the lid off the tank, and just dropped a penny into the fill valve. He said, 'The washer's worn, this adds a little weight so it seals.' It worked perfectly for six months until I replaced the whole valve. Anyone know other cheap fixes like that for common problems?

3 comments

3 Comments

campbell.stella2mo ago

Tried that, flooded my bathroom instead.

kelly.daniel2mo agoMost Upvoted

Check if your shut-off valve actually works before you start. In my old apartment, mine was totally seized up and would have caused a huge mess. A quick test first saves a lot of cleanup later.

nina_harris391mo ago

Ugh, did you have to call a plumber after that? That sounds like my worst fear.