UGENT: Leaky Toilet Alert!

Wow!

We just found out that we have leaky toilets - I mean leaking from the holding tank into the bowl (not onto the floor :roll: ).

The city water guy came out and checked our meter when, in theory, we weren't using any water. It turns out we were "using" .2 of a gallon / minute. That's almost 300 gallons of water a day! We couldn't hear that there was any water flowing, but we put a few drops of food dye into the toilets' holding tanks, and sure enough 30 minutes later the bowls had colored water too (keep it civil you guys - let's not be sophomoric here :roll: ).

Next stop - a fun time with the plumber!

A PLUMBER??? It sounds like all you need is a new flapper.
Look here.

That page says to replace the flapper once a year. We've lived in our current house for almost ten years now, and I've change the flapper once for each toilet. Includiong the 30 minute round trip to Home Depot, it took me 45 min.

At the very least, follow the first two steps (turn off water and flush). Then run your finger around the opening where the flapper sits. If it's nice and smooth, then the 45 min/$6 DIY flapper replacement should do the trick. If that opening is rough or chipped, then you might (depending on brand) have to replace the whole tank -- call a plumber.

And what do you mean it makes no sound? Once a good portion of water leaks from the tank to the bowl, doesn't the float valve open to fill the tank again? You haven't been heraing that? If you have one of those water-saving valves that opens only right after you flush, then you should have an empty tank when you go to flush. (...which would cause you to have to "flush", let the tank fill and then flush again to have any effect.)

shouldn't you be making a GO move or something?

Thanks for the advice, I haven't spent a lot of time hanging around listening, but your suggestion makes sense.

we just changed the flapper on one of our toilets last weekend. the little hook that the chain connects to broke off, so the only way to flush was to reach in and lift it with your hand. and that water is COLD!!!

so yeah, a trip to Home depot. assuming your valve is not 30 years old... turn off the water, flush it to drain the tank. you should be able to just pop the old flapper off.

i say this without actually knowing. my WIFE changed the flapper while i was mowing the lawn.

if she can do it, so can you!!!

It's amazing how much those rubber flappy things mean to leaking water. Sane with the sink.

Mark

Wow ! you just need to replace the flapper ? We had that problem too.

300 gallons a day !!!??? thats a lotta water