Toilet leaks are sneaky! They can go unnoticed for a very long time, unless you get hit with an unusually high water bill. Not only are toilet leaks expensive, but they also waste a significant amount of water. We live in the desert where every drop counts, so it’s important to identify toilet leaks early. And yes, we have an easy hack for that!
But first, what causes the kind of leak we’re talking about?
What causes a toilet leak?
We’re talking specifically about flapper leaks. The flapper is the “stopper” that prevents water from leaking from the toilet tank into the bowl. You can think of it as the door between the tank and the bowl. When the door is closed, water stays in the tank. When the door is open, water gushes from the tank into the bowl, creating the classic flush.
A toilet flapper leak happens when the flapper is old or damaged. Instead of water staying in the tank, it trickles endlessly into the bowl and down the drain. It can waste a ridiculous amount of water before you catch it!
How to check if a toilet is leaking in 4 simple steps:
Everybody loves a fun life hack. And you probably already have what you need for this one in your kitchen. Here’s how to test your toilet for a leak to do in four easy steps:
- Get some liquid food coloring from your kitchen or grocery store (we suggest blue, red, or green).
- Add several drops of food coloring to the water in your toilet tank.
- Wait a few minutes for the food coloring to spread through the water (don’t flush until you’ve completed step 4!)
- Check the toilet bowl. If any of the food coloring has made its way into the water in the bowl, you have a flapper leak.
You may need to wait several minutes for the food coloring to spread, so don’t rush through the steps. Give the food coloring and the toilet time to do their thing. If you don’t see any food coloring in the bowl, you’re in luck! We’ll talk about what you should do if it’s not leaking, but we’ll get to that in a minute.
How do you stop a toilet from leaking?
Don’t worry! It’s easy to stop your toilet from leaking. Replacing a leaky toilet flapper is inexpensive and you can probably do it yourself. But before you start, shut off the water to the toilet. You’ll find the shut-off valve behind it. Use it to stop water flow and prevent water waste until you get the leak fixed.
Replacing the flapper is easy! You can find an inexpensive flapper at your local home improvement store. Just make sure to get one that’s chemical resistant.
If you’re not comfortable changing the flapper yourself, don’t worry. Our plumbers are more than happy to do the repair for you!
Need help changing the toilet flapper?
Schedule a plumber today
What if my toilet’s not leaking, but I still have a high water bill?
Okay, so you did the food coloring test and found out your toilet flapper is not leaking. Now what? Double-check that no one in the household increased water usage. An example would be starting to water grass and plants in the spring. If your water usage didn’t change, there may be a plumbing leak somewhere else in the system. You might need leak detection services.
Wondering if there’s a leak somewhere else in the house?
Here’s how to find out
The point is, checking for toilet leaks in your home is easy and can save you water and money! You should try it before calling for leak detection services. It’s an easy process that only takes a few minutes and is fun to do with kids. Besides, it gives you a chance to use any food coloring you forgot you had.
Need plumbing service? We’re here to help! Give us a call at 505-761-9655, ask a pro, or request an appointment.