Running toilets can cost home-owners hundreds of dollars a year or more according to a licensed Boston plumber we interviewed. Leaks in toilets do not always make a sound, there are “silent” leaks that are hard to follow but can dramatically increase your water bill. Detection and fixing these money leaks are something every home-owner should do. Professional plumbers are always available, but this is often a task that can be done by the home-owner.

Many people do not think of how much the costs are for leaking toilets, as long as there is no external leak, they do not pay attention. A silent leak is hard to detect and can add fifteen to twenty dollars a month onto your water bill. Over the course of a year, that can up to close to two hundred and fifty dollars. More serious leaks may add hundreds of dollars a month to your water bills.

An Atlanta plumber recommends checking for leaks once every six months, even if you do not hear the toilet running. Silent leaks will not be heard, but are expensive wastes of water. If you notice unexplained and ongoing spikes in your monthly water bill, you may want to test for leaks. Plumbers recommend a simple dye test to see if the toilet has a silent leak. Putting a few drops of dye in the tank will allow you to see if and possibly where the leak is. If you see the dye coming into the toilet bowl, then you should be able to tell where it is leaking.

Fixing the leaks are normally not very difficult and can be accomplished by most people in a single afternoon. Typically all that is needed is a new flush valve assembly kit. These are fairly easy to install but will require that the tank and toilet be separated. The assembly can be purchased from most home improvement or plumbing stores. Once the repair is finished, you should always check the take to make sure that the repair has stopped the leak. Use the dye test, referenced earlier, to make sure there is not a leak from the tank to the bowl.

Some people will only replace components, such as the flapper that closes the connection between the tank and the bowl. While that may correct the problem, people can spend more money trying several small repairs to fix a leak. The full assembly contains all of the parts that people will typically replace piece by piece. The kit assures that all of the parts fit together correctly and are normally cheaper than buying the components. If you do buy individual parts, make sure that they are from the same manufacturer to ensure proper fit.

Sometimes there are other issues that make the leak persistent. If the leak continues after the replacement valve assembly is installed, it is time to call in professional plumbers. It could be something as simple as a cracked or rough section of seal that is not closing properly. It could be pressure in the line is too great and is forcing too much water into the tank. A professional Houston plumber should be consulted to get to the bottom of the issue. They are worth the expense, when compared to the costs of leaving a leak unchecked.