Toilets

Locating a leak is a process of elimination. Shut off one toilet at a time at the wall. In between each shutoff, go out to the water meter and check your flow indicator. If the small, red flow-indicator triangle is moving, that toilet is not the problem. Something else is causing a leak. If the small triangle stopped moving, that means that toilet in question is the culprit.

More than 20 percent of gravity-flush toilets leak. If you are not sure about your ability to perform any of these steps, please contact a licensed plumber.

Note: These tips pertain to traditional gravity-flush toilets and not high-efficiency toilet models.

Where To Begin:

A continuous trickling sound usually means water is running over the top of the overflow tube inside the tank. The periodic sound of water being added to the tank usually means a leaky flapper at the bottom of the tank.

Continuous Trickling Sound: Remove the toilet tank lid and conduct a visual inspection. Flush the toilet and observe the process. Look for obvious problems.

• Check to see if the refill water level is set properly and does not rise over the top of the overflow tube
• To lower the water level, adjust the float lower
• On a bulb-on-arm style toilet, adjust the screw near where the float arm attaches to the float valve
• On newer valve and float units, adjust the float by moving the float downward on the vertical rod

If the toilet continues to run, even with the float adjusted, you should replace the refill valve with a new unit from your local hardware store.

Periodic Toilet Refills Without Flushing:

"Ghost" or "phantom" flushing is usually the result of a worn rubber flapper that is allowing water to seep from the tank into the bowl and down the sewer. An improperly adjusted flapper chain also could cause the problem.

Conduct a simple dye test to see if water is seeping from the tank. Request an Indoor Water Audit and Retrofit Kit from your local hardware store, which includes leak detection dye tablets. Or, use food coloring or a powdered drink mix to noticeably color the water in the toilet tank.

• Place the dye tablets or coloring agent in the toilet tank
• The tank water will change color, while the toilet bowl water should be clear
• Wait 10 minutes
• Check to see if any coloration appears in the bowl. If so, then you have a leaking flapper valve

Note: If you normally use products that color the water in the tank or bowl such as a sanitizer, remove them and flush the toilet until the water in the bowl and tank are clear before you begin the dye test.