Get The Answers To The Questions You Have About Toilet Leaks
If your toilet sounds like it is running constantly, you may have a toilet leak. A toilet leak causes water to be wasted and increases your utility bill. It can also shorten the lifespan of the toilet and its connected plumbing. However, many homeowners are not sure how to tell whether they have a toilet leak, what causes toilet leaks and what to do if they have a toilet leak. Here are a few common questions you may have about this topic and the answers.
What Causes Toilet Leaks?
The most common cause of toilet leaks is problems with the flapper. When you take the lid off of the tank on the back of the toilet and look down, you will see a plastic object at the bottom of the tank connected to a chain. When you flush the toilet, the chain lifts this plastic up, revealing a hole, that causes the water from the tank into the bowl, flushing your waste. When the toilet is not being flushed, the flapper should sit flush against the hole, preventing water from escaping. But due to sediment build-up or a damaged flapper, water may seep from the tank into the bowl, causing a toilet leak.
How Can You Tell If You Have a Toilet Leak?
If you have a toilet leak, you may hear it before anything else. You may hear your toilet constantly running or even flushing noises when the toilet hasn't been flushed. If you suspect you have a toilet leak, add a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank. Then check the toilet bowl hourly for a few hours. If the dye has moved from the tank to the bowl, you have a leak. The faster the dye moves from the tank to the bowl, the larger your leak is.
What Should Be Done If a Toilet Leak is Present?
If you have a leak present, you will want to call in a bathroom plumber. They can diagnose the problem and determine whether the toilet bowl flapper is causing the leak or whether there is a crack somewhere between your tank and bowl. They can then replace the flapper or seal the crack, helping to solve your leaking toilet.
Toilet leaks are actually fairly common. Knowing what the signs are of a leak and how to test for one will help you avoid wasted water and a surprise on your water bill. If you suspect you have a toilet leak, contact a bathroom plumber today to determine the cause of the leak and the best way to repair it.