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Good toilet habits are one thing, but a good, healthy toilet is a whole other subject. If we would tally up the amount of water coming from leaking toilets across America, it would quickly add up to over 5.5 million gallons. While some toilets offer the telltale sign of phantom flushing (running water when nobody is using it), other toilets leak silently, and can often be very hard to detect.
You may have a sizable leak in your home right now, adding 10 to 12 percent onto your water bill and wasting hundreds of gallons a year. But there are a few very simple tests that can be performed to determine if these problems reside long before they become a noticeable and costly affair to both you and the environment.
The Dye Test
Using either a dye tablet (specific for such tests), food coloring, or a Kool-Aid type drink mix (dark in color), you can quickly discern if you have any leaks within your system. The most common problems will be either the refill valve (located at the left of the tank) or the flush valve (located in the center of the tank).
Start by dumping the dye mixture into the back of the toilet, until the color is very dark. Close the toilet off from use and wait 30 minutes. If after the 30 minutes you find any traces of dye within the bowl itself, you know you have a leak! Move onto either the Drain Test or Water Line Test to help pinpoint where the leak is coming from.
Water Drain Test
This simple test involves turning off the water supply from the toilet (usually found on the lower left of the toilet bowl), and letting sit overnight. If by morning, the tank is partially to completely empty, you know you have a leak. You can tell further what is going on by the location of the water level.
If all the water empties out, except for about one inch sitting just below the edge of the seat, the problem is most likely a poor sealing flapper. Replace entire unit, including the seat.
If the tank empties completely (hardly one drop left within the tank) the problem is most likely a bad gasket between the tank and the bowl. Separate the two and replace with a new gasket found at the hardware store. Another simple test you can perform is the Water Line Test.
The Water Line Test
To perform this test, first turn off the water supply from your toilet. Draw a line at the back of the tank where the water level is. Close the toilet from use and wait 20 to 30 minutes. If the water remains at the line, the problem is most likely in the refill valve. Replace the entire valve. If the water falls below the pencil mark, it is most likely the flush valve. Replace the ball, flapper, and seal.
More on toilets:
How to Go Green: In the Bathroom
How to Go Green: Bathroom Renovation
Looking for Low Flow Toilet? You Should Be!
Cheap and Easy Toilet Hacks That Will Save Water
How Green is Your Toilet?
Got a tip or a post idea for us to write about on Planet Green? Email pgtips (at) treehugger (dot) com.
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