How to Check if Your Toilet Tank Is Leaking

January 2, 2019 Published by Leave your thoughts

Did you know that roughly 12 percent of water use in American homes is the direct result of leakage? Not only are water leaks expensive, they’re also bad for the environment. Additionally, water leaks could be causing hardware in your home to degrade prematurely, or even affect the integrity of your home’s foundation.

If you are experiencing a leaky toilet in your home, it’s advisable to call for the assistance of a plumber right away. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to determine whether your toilet is leaking or not. Some toilets may leak silently, costing you money and potentially damaging parts of your bathroom. Consulting with a provider of septic service in Cleveland, TX is the best way to receive quality advice and recommendations if you’re dealing with a challenging water leak in your home.

To determine if your toilet is leaking, there’s a relatively simple task that you can perform. Lift off the toilet’s lid, and then put between 5 and 10 drops of food coloring into the top of the toilet tank. Replace the lid of the toilet tank, and let the tank sit for at least 15 minutes without flushing. If the water in the toilet bowl is colored, you have a toilet leak. If the water is still clear, however, your toilet is leak-free.

If your toilet dye test does check out as positive for a leak, there are a number of steps that can take to help you reduce the amount of water wasted in your home, including:

  • Adjust the float: Oftentimes, the source of a leaky toilet is simple and easy to fix. If the float in the toilet tank is too low, it may be causing a slow, consistent leak. Try adjusting and raising the float until the leak stops.
  • Check the inlet valve: If adjusting the float doesn’t change the problem, try checking the inlet valve on your toilet tank. To check the valve, first flush the toilet and lift the rod that holds the ball as the water rises. If this stops the water, the inlet valve is in good condition and doesn’t need replacing.
  • Test and replace the flapper: The problem with your toilet may be that the flapper chain is too tight, meaning that the inlet valve is being held slightly ajar by the flapper. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace the flapper, which is a surprisingly easy task to accomplish.
  • Replace the ballcock assembly: Sometimes, it’s best to simply replace the entire ballcock assembly in your toilet, which includes the inlet valve, the ball and the assembly that holds the two components in place. This assembly is easily replaced and usually costs just a few dollars.

For two decades, All Pro Septic has been a trusted provider of septic service in Conroe, TX. You can count on our friendly, talented team members to provide you with a wide range of quality plumbing and septic services. Reach out to one of our representatives today to learn more.

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