When people call the plumber, it is typically due to a blocked drain, leaking faucets or pipes, low water pressure, or even problems with water heaters. One issue that is often overlooked but one that can be costly over time, is allowing your toilet to continue to run.
In this infographic via Renovationfind.com, explore at the cost of leaving the toilet running.
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The Cost of Leaving the Toilet Running
FACTS ABOUT RUNNING TOILETS
Big or small, a leak is just money wasted by sending water down the drain while pushing up those monthly bills. Leaks aren’t always noticeable and might be from something small such as a chain stuck under the flapper. According to EPOR, this alone can increase your water bills by $11 a month. Medium leaks, such as a broken flapper or overflow valve, will waste even more. If left unchecked, a big leak can waste upwards of 33,600 litres of water per day, which equals about $4,500 in extra billing over the course of a month.
Easy to catch signs, such as actually hearing a running toilet, or a loose handle, can be caught and fixed early. The bigger problem lies with a running toilet that goes unnoticed, usually because the signs aren’t found until too late. Older times, it is noticed but ignored as a minor annoyance. Prevent unwanted and unexpected water bills by fixing the problem immediately.
HOW TO SPOT A RUNNING TOILET
The problem with a running toilet is it isn’t always immediately noticeable until the problem has become much worse. Avoid wasted dollars by knowing how to tell if you have a running toilet.
LISTEN FOR RUNNING WATER
The quickest way to know something is wrong is to listen to your toilet after it is flushed. If it continues to make noise long after, there is water still running, meaning the tank can’t fill up. That can be a problem from a buildup in the tank affecting the parts inside or from a leak. If you have a noisy toilet, don’t ignore the sound and wait for it to stop. If there is a leak somewhere, it means that money is being lost as a result.
LOOK FOR MOISTURE OR STAINS
Have you noticed condensation building up around the base of the toilet? Or have stains started to appear on the floor around the toilet? If yes, it’s a definite sign of a leak and, unfortunately, an old one. Stains on the floor mean water has been damaging the floor for some time and is only now showing itself. Any water around the base also means there’s a definite leak and is a common problem among both older toilets and older models.
DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS
Even if you only suspect a leak, always take the time to check right away. Not addressing the issue can lead to it worsening and racking up costly water bills and repairs. An easy test to check for a leak is to add a few drops of food dye into the water tank and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then check the toilet bowl and see if the color leaked in. If it did, you have a leak. Beyond checking yourself, call in a professional for a second opinion and a professional inspection. If there is a leak, they’ll catch it before it worsens.
CAUSES FOR DIFFERENT LEAKS
Once you’ve spotted a sign of a leak, it’s time to localize the source of the leak. With toilets, the problem is the flapper, the water supply line, or the wax ring. Always start by turning off the water supply to your toilet and then empty the tank before you begin.
- LEAKY FLAPPER
- WORN OUT FILL VALVE
- OLD TOILET HANDLE
- WATER SUPPLY LINE
- WAX RING
SOLUTIONS FOR A RUNNING TOILET
Depending on the source of the leak, the type of repairs and costs will vary. Some repairs can be DIYed, while others are best left to a professional. Even if a repair can be DIYed, it may be better to leave it to a professional, especially if the problem has been ongoing.
Replace your toilet
It may be that the most cost-efficient solution is to invest in a newer, upgraded toilet model. If leaks are commonly happening or the source of one is because of an old toilet, invest in a new toilet. Not only will you save money from future leaks, but newer models are much more water-efficient. You’ll save twice as much money on monthly water bills with a new toilet than by repairing your old one.
Fix the flapper
If the issue is because of a leaking flapper, you can easily do a DIY repair. First, turn off the water supply and empty the toilet tank. Then, remove the old flapper and replace it with the new one. If you’re not sure about the right model, bring your old flapper to the store to match it. Once you’ve attached the new flapper, turn the water back on and test it by flushing a few times. Make sure the chain isn’t too loose or long, otherwise, it can get trapped under the flapper and stop the seal from working.
Replace the wax ring
Replacing a wax ring requires a bit more work since the toilet itself needs to be removed first. That can be DIYed as well, but if you’ve never replaced a wax ring, leave it a professional.
Water supply line
If a leak isn’t obviously coming from the water supply pipe, start by tightening the various nuts. It’s likely that one of the nuts has come loose and is causing the leak. If this doesn’t stop the problem, turn off the water and check the washers inside the pipes. Sometimes the washers have come loose or have broken and must be replaced. However, if the leak is coming from the pipe itself, there’s likely a crack somewhere along the pipe. In this case, you’ll need to buy a brand-new supply line to replace the old one.
CHECK FOR OTHER LEAKS
If you noticed your water bill steadily creeping up even before your toilet started running, don’t ignore the signs. Just because your toilet is fixed, doesn’t mean there may not be other leaks in your home. Even a dripping faucet can add up in costs and increase those water bills between $8 to $120 per month. Every source of a water leak is money wasted, which is why you should always check for other sources.
LEAKY FAUCETS
Bathrooms, kitchen sinks, the laundry room, anywhere with a sink, is a possible source of a leak. Faucet leaks are typically from eventual wear and tear on different components.
SHOWERHEAD
Showers alone use easy use around 2.5 gallons of water per minute, making them a significant source of water consumption. Add a leaky showerhead, and that’s roughly another 2 gallons of water lost for every ten drips per minute alone.
OTHER WAYS TO SAVE ON WATER BILLS
In addition to simply repairing a leak, there are other ways to help save on those monthly water bills. For your showers, install low-flow heads. These alone can save upwards of 40% on water consumption, as they restrict the water to 2 gallons or less. Sinks and faucets will benefit from adding a faucet aerator to help save water. The addition is a small screen that adds air to the water flow and breaks it into individual streams. That helps use less water, but without losing that high pressure. As for toilets, either a newer model alone can help save water, or invest in a dual flush toilet. Depending on your flushing needs, you can control how much water is used for each flush.
As a bonus, saving on water expenses also helps save on monthly energy bills. Since less water is used overall, it means less energy is needed to heat the water. You’ll start to see savings all-around your home, making it more efficient and comfortable overall.
