Water Project: How to check your toilet for leaks

With our water supply secure until 2050 in the Pacific Northwest, we don't focus on water saving projects as much as we ought to. Fact is, a global water crisis is looming, and even those of us swimming in H2O riches need to consider conservation a priority.

Toilet leaks can be one of the most wasteful sources of water in a home. A bad toilet leak could cycle through 300 gallons of water a day, whereas more subtle toilet leaks might just go through 5-10. We should all get in the habit of checking our toilets for leaks 2-3x/year.

It's incredibly easy, and kind of fun. Here's how:

1. Get some food coloring
Any color will do. I chose red and green for our two toilets because blue water isn't very exciting and yellow water...well...you can guess the rest.

2. Put 4-6 drops of food coloring in the tank
Open the thing on the backside and drop 4-6 drops of food coloring in that water. Don't worry, it won't stain the bowl or anything.

For some reason, one of my toilet tanks had the stillest water you could possibly imagine. The red food coloring just hung there in a cloud, not dispersing in the least after several minutes. It was a little bit creepy.

3. Wait
Wait 10-15 minutes. Don't flush! Once the time is up, peek into the bowl. Water still clear? No leak. Water have some color in it? Uh-oh, you have a leak.

I had no leaks. Yay.

4. Enjoy flushing the next 2-3 times
The next 2-3 times you flush, your toilet bowl water will be a purty color.

5. Have a leak? Fix it
If you have a leak, get it fixed ASAP as most toilet leaks get worse with time. The problem could be a lot of things: deteriorated flapper, high water level in the bowl, corroded float ball, etc. It's best to have a professional look at it.

Comments

[Michael]

Good advice...I found the pictures to be particularily helpful