Beware of Running Toilets: A Costly and Wasteful Problem
A running toilet might seem like a minor inconvenience, but did you know it can waste thousands of gallons of water and cost you hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars in utility bills? Unlike a dripping faucet or a visible leak, a running toilet can silently drain water straight into the sewer, going unnoticed until your bill arrives.
Why Do Toilets Run?
Toilets are often the biggest culprits of high water usage in a home. A toilet may continue running for several reasons, including:
- A stuck or worn-out flapper – The rubber seal that controls water flow from the tank to the bowl can degrade over time, allowing continuous water flow.
- A tangled or misaligned chain – If the chain connecting the flush handle to the flapper gets caught, it can keep the flapper from sealing properly.
- A faulty fill valve – This component regulates the water level in the tank and, if broken, can lead to excessive refilling.
How Much Water and Money Are You Losing?
A slow-running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons per day, while a more severe leak can lose thousands of gallons per month. That’s hundreds of dollars down the drain! In one extreme case, a homeowner ignored a running toilet for three months, only to be shocked by a nearly $2,000 water bill.
How to Detect and Fix a Running Toilet
If you suspect your toilet is running, try these simple checks:
- Listen for running water—a continuous hissing or trickling sound is a telltale sign.
- Drop some food coloring into the tank—if color appears in the bowl after 10-15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak.
- Inspect the flapper and chain—ensure the flapper forms a tight seal and the chain isn’t too long or tangled.
Fixing most toilet leaks is quick and inexpensive—flappers and fill valves are available at any hardware store and can be replaced with minimal tools.