Post-Holiday Toilet Check

Did you know?

A slow leaking toilet can waste up to 22 gallons of water a day. In a year, that could be over 8,000 gallons. If you have multiple leaking toilets in your home, that number could be even more. A constantly running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day, or 73,000 gallons per year. This not only wastes a lot of water, but will significantly impact your water bill!

What can cause a leaking toilet?

Here are a few reasons your toilet could be wasting water:

• a faulty fill valve

• a broken flapper

• a problem with the chain connecting the handle to the flapper (which can prevent the water flow from stopping properly after flushing)

What to do:

An annual checkup for each toilet in your home is a great way to make sure you’re not footing the bill for wasted water. First, check the tank for any visible leaks. Then do a quick dye test. Here are the steps:

1. Add dye: Remove the tank cover and add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the tank. Dark colors like red or blue are recommended.

2. Wait: Wait at least 15 minutes without flushing the toilet.

3. Check: If the toilet bowl has any color in it, then the toilet is leaking. If that's the case, give us a call at (503) 719-4015 or submit photos and your contact information here.