Toilet leaks can be difficult to identify. Consequently, they can continue for a long time without being noticed. During that time, hundreds of gallons of water and money can be wasted and damage done. The good news? Most toilet leaks can be fixed without too much of a hassle. So what should you do if you suspect your toilet has a leak? Here are a few tips for you to try.
To detect a leaking toilet, remove the tank lid and place a few drops of food coloring in the back of the toilet tank. Wait 30 minutes and check to see if any food coloring has entered the toilet bowl water. If the water is clear, the toilet is not leaking. If you see food coloring in the bowl you have a leak. So, what now?
There are a few common toilet leak issues that are relatively easy to fix. First, a leaking toilet can be caused by a worn or cracked flapper, which is the rubber valve in the base of the tank that lifts up when the toilet is flushed. If the flapper is damaged, water can flow from the tank into the bowl without flushing.
Second, if your flush handle is not functioning properly, your toilet will run continuously, wasting gallons of water daily. Typically, this is because your flush level bar and chain or the flush handle are sticking. Simply adjust the nut that secures the level bar and chain in the toilet tank and/or replace the flushing handle.
And third, you may have an issue with your overflow tube. In a perfect world, your toilet water level should even with the fill line on the back of the toilet tank which is about half an inch below the overflow tube. If the toilet water is too high in the tank and is spilling into the overflow tube, you can adjust the water level by turning the adjustment screw or by gently bending the float arm downward so that the water shuts off at a level below the overflow tube.
If you find that your leak is not resolved after checking these issues, you should call a professional to assess the situation quickly and ensure that no further damage is done. It is critically important to resolve any water leak issues quickly and effectively so that they do not lead to much larger issues.
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Have more questions? Call us—we’d love to help! Call the professionals at Go Green Plumbing at 336-252-2999 for service 7 days a week/24 hours a day. If water runs through it – We Do It!
