How to Stop a Leaking Toilet Before It Starts

You may hear the faint sound of water running, but where is it coming from? Leaky faucets are typically easy to find, but toilet leaks are often trickier to identify — and can be costly. Leaky toilets can waste over 72,000 gallons of water every year, which is bad for the environment and can drive up your water expenses.

Don't let a plumbing leak send clean water and money down the drain. Find out how to identify the signs and test for a leaking toilet, and why scheduling regular plumbing maintenance is so important.

Five Signs Your Toilet Is Silently Leaking

Leaky toilets can often go unnoticed. Look for these five signs that your toilet may be leaking:

1. You constantly have to jiggle the handle to stop running water. 
2. Toilet makes noises when it is not in use. 
3. You must hold the handle down to fully empty the tank. 
4. Toilet runs irregularly or longer than usual after flushing. 
5. Water trickles down the sides of the bowl after it's been flushed. 

In particular, hearing noises when the toilet is not in use often signals a larger issue or indicates a part on the toilet needs to be replaced. Leaking toilets are often caused by worn out flappers or balls, damaged flapper seals, cracked overflow tubes or worn refill valve washer.

Testing for a Leaking Toilet

If you cannot see or hear your toilet running, you can easily perform a dye test to spot leaks. Grab dark food coloring and an old towel and perform the following steps:

1. Wrap the towel around the base of the toilet in case water leaks onto the floor.
2. Drip several drops of food coloring into the toilet tank then wait approximately 10 minutes. 
3. Check the toilet bowl for any signs of coloring. If you see dyed water in the bowl, then your toilet is leaking and a part needs to be replaced. If your toilet is older, consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. 

When to Call a Plumber to Fix a Running Toilet

Take these three steps before calling a plumber:

1. Replace visibly worn or damaged parts within your toilet tank
2. Tighten the tee bolts at the base of the toilet
3. Replaced the wax ring around the base

If your toilet is still leaking, then you should call a professional plumbing repair company to inspect your toilet. A licensed toilet repair expert can quickly identify the cause of your toilet leaks and recommend the most effective solution to minimize inconvenience and prevent water waste.

Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Oneida for Plumbing Leak Solutions

Trust the skilled, licensed plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing for all your plumbing repair and installation needs. Our specialists will work with you on any type of plumbing repair project, and recommend repairs or replacements to improve the comfort of your home.

To learn more about our residential plumbing services, call us today at 315-363-1565 or complete our online contact form.