You may not realize that if your toilet is running, it’s wasting water and it can cost you much more than you realize. This hurts both your wallet and the environment. And if it’s not fixed in time, it could end up causing a mini flood in your home damaging your floor, walls, etc.
“A moderate toilet leak will generally waste about 6,000 gallons of water per month and can cost you an additional $70 per month– $1,000 per year in waste.” – expresssewer.com
That’s a good chunk of money that could be better used elsewhere.
You may also think that you would notice that your toilet is running and wasting water but the truth is, it’s not always obvious which means that the issue could continue for a long time. Your first clue could be when you open your water bill to see that it’s doubled or tripled!
Is A Constantly Running Toilet Bad?
Besides the additional expense, a running toilet means that there’s a problem that needs to get corrected. Otherwise, like all other plumbing issues, if it’s ignored it will only get worse and end up costing you more money down the road.
Basically, there are 4 common reasons why your toilet may be running continuously.
- The chain on the flapper is too tight
- The water level in the toilet tank is too high
- The flapper itself has deteriorated or warped
- There’s a problem with the fill valve
So, how can each of these issues be fixed?
If you feel comfortable doing the work yourself, here are our tips on how to address each of these issues.
The Flapper Chain – Simply adjust the flapper chain in the toilet tank so that it’s not as tight and has some slack.
Water Level In Toilet Tank – Lower the float that is in your toilet tank.
Problem With The Flapper – Basically you want to replace this part in your toilet tank. These are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased online or at your local hardware store. Depending on the type of flapper you have, installation is slightly different.
Our tip though is that before you remove the old flapper and replace it with the new one that you turn off the water to the toilet by turning off the valve that is usually located on the wall near the base of the toilet bowl. Turn it clockwise in order to turn it off.
After you’ve replaced the flapper with the new one, turn the valve counter clockwise to turn it back on.
A Problem With The Fill Valve – This also should be replaced but it may not be as easy as replacing the flapper.
If you are uncomfortable with this then contact your plumber to do the job for you.
We hope this article has helped you learn more about how much a running toilet can cost and what to do if your toilet is constantly leaking. Toilet leaks are often overlooked, but they’re surprisingly costly and easy to fix! Remember these tips the next time you go into battle with that pesky leaky toilet.
If you have any questions about water leaks or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.