Is Your Toilet Running? Then Go Catch It!

Believe it or not, there’s some wise advice in the punch line of that silly old joke. That leaky toilet could be wasting 1,440 gallons of water every day.

After flushing, toilet tanks automatically refill with water for the next flush. But this simple operation eventually malfunctions in ALL toilets due to calcium build-up and wear and tear. Don’t assume there is no problem if you don’t see or hear anything.

 

All toilets need maintenance – even the ones you received from SAWS. Knowing when yours is in need of some upkeep helps save water and money.

Some toilet leaks are obvious:

  • Toilet tank filling when not in use (aka “ghost flushing”)
  • Water trickling down the inside of the bowl
  • Ripples of water in the bowl pool

Other leaks aren’t as easily seen or heard, but can be detected with a simple test. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water in the tank, but don’t flush. Leave the toilet for about 20 minutes; if coloring appears in the bowl, your toilet is leaking.

Flappers

When the flapper (flush valve) fails to seal properly, water leaks from the tank into the bowl. The lost tank water is replenished by the refill valve, causing a continuous flow of wasted water. If the refill valve leaks, the tank overfills and the excess water runs from the overflow pipe into the toilet bowl. You might not think much about the maintenance of your toilet but it’s important to change the flapper at least once a year.

Typically, the problem can be solved easily by replacing either the toilet flapper or seal.

Dual-Flush Toilet

Replacing the seal on your dual-flush toilet?

Toilet Repair Parts Locations

Caroma repair parts are available at the following two locations:

  • Moore Supply (Downtown)
    817 N. Frio
    San Antonio, TX 78207
  • Moore Supply (North)
    5919 W. Campus Drive
    San Antonio, TX 78247