March 2, 2020
 | 
By Mark Paup

How to Check Your Toilet for Leaks

Updated February 1, 2024

Are your utility bills going up? Does your toilet run constantly? Or maybe you keep seeing water pooling on your bathroom floor?

If any of this sounds familiar, you may be dealing with a leaky toilet. The best solution for getting rid of toilet leaks is always to call a professional plumber, like one of our skilled team members at Golden Rule. However, what many people don’t know is that it is easy to test your toilet for leaks using a DIY, homemade method. Keep reading to learn how to check your toilet for leaks, and make sure to call Golden Rule for all your bathroom plumbing needs.

The Easiest Way to Check Your Toilet for Leaks

If you have found cracks around your toilet bowl or water around the base, there is a great chance you’ve got a leak on your hands. Clogs and poor flushing are also telltale signs that something is wrong with your toilet. However, determining the source of your problem can be tricky—after all, even that water on the floor could be coming from your shower, rather than your toilet.

Fortunately, by using this tried-and-true method, you can identify leaks quickly and easily. The first step is to carefully take the toilet tank cover off, making sure to put it somewhere safe, where it won’t get damaged. For step two, put a couple of drops of dye or toilet cleaner in the toilet tank. While you may be used to putting cleaning products in the bowl and ignoring the tank water, remember, this time it is important to do the opposite. It is critical to use some kind of safe, colored substance in this step because, in step three, you will examine your toilet to see if the water in the bowl matches the color in the tank. Make sure to wait 15 minutes without flushing. If after that time the color of the water in the bowl has not changed, then you’re almost certainly dealing with a leak.

If your toilet does test positive for a leak, you may be able to solve the problem on your own by purchasing a new flapper and replacing the old one yourself. If, however, you’re dealing with a more serious problem, you may want to…

Call a Plumber to Inspect Your Toilet

At Golden Rule, we know how to take care of toilet issues quickly and comprehensively. Our plumbers are equipped with the tools to perform a range of repairs, and if your unit needs to be replaced altogether, we offer industry-leading low-flow toilets, designed to slash your water bill and reduce environmental waste. Call today for available financing and promotions and remember that we are available for emergencies!

Golden Rule is available by phone at 515-393-4526, or you can contact us online.

Contact Us Today for Plumbing Service!
 


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