Did you know that your toilet accounts for almost 40% of the water you use indoors?  Studies have shown that one in five toilets leak. That means that those toilet leaks can waste lots of water and cause higher water bills. A silent toilet leak can waste more than 50 gallons of water a day. Some of these leaks will empty directly into the sewer line without any sign of water running in the toilet bowl. If you think you have a toilet leak, try these suggestions to see if you can easily fix the leak yourself, or call a plumber.

To test your toilet for leaks, remove the lid of the toilet tank. Drop one leak detecting dye tablet (or food coloring) into the tank and wait 15 minutes. If color appears in the toilet bowl, then you have a leak. One of the most common culprits of leaks is the flapper or flush valve. Before attempting to fix the toilet leak first drain your toilet tank. Turn off the water inlet at the base of the toilet and then flush the tank. Soak up the excess water in the tank with a sponge. Then check the following parts:

Flapper or Flush Valves:

Your flapper or flush valve may not be seating properly on the valve seat, or it may need replacement. This is typically the cause of running toilets. Over time, the valve’s rubber material deteriorates because it is constantly under water. If you gently rub the valve and get streaks on your fingers, you should replace the valve now.

To Fix:

Check the valve seat for corrosion and clean it if necessary. Turn on the water shut-off valve to refill the tank and try flushing. If the flush valve still won’t seat properly, check the wire that connects it to the handle to see if it may be misaligned. Adjust this to make sure the flush valve falls easily into place. If the flapper or flush valve seems worn or in poor shape, try replacing it. You should be able to find a replacement in most home improvement departments. Simple do-it-yourself installation instructions should be on the packaging.

Guide Wire

If you have to jiggle the handle to get the toilet to stop running, check the lift chain or guide wire to make sure it is not hung up or out of alignment, or it may be that the toilet flush handle needs to be tightened.

To Fix:

Clean and adjust the guide wire and make sure that the chain is not too long or too short. Then tighten the nut that holds the toilet handle to the tank. If that doesn’t work, the handle may have to be replaced.

Overflow Tube

If the water in the tank is too high, it may spill into the overflow tube continuously creating a large leak. The correct water level is about ½” to 1” below the top of the tube.

To Fix: 

Bend the float arm gently downwards. Flush after bending the arm to test whether the water stops at the proper level. Be sure to check that the float arm is screwed in securely so that the arm will not rotate. If the water level is too low, you may not get an efficient flush. In that case, carefully bend the float arm upward. You may also need to replace the float ball if it has filled with water, or replace the float ball shut-off valve.

A Tiny Pinhole

A pinhole leak below the overflow pipe’s waterline could produce an invisible leak. Check for this by shinning a flashlight down into the overflow pipe. If you see running water, you have a leak and should call your plumber. Water in the overflow pipe could also be caused by a pinhole in the float, or a worn washer on the inlet line. Again, call your plumber for repairs.

*Don’t take on toilet repairs unless you feel quiet confident in your ability to make these repairs. South Fork Water Board will not be responsible for any damage to your toilet because of faulty repairs. For everything you have ever wanted to know about toilets check out the toiletology website at www.toiletology.com .