Could your leaking toilet be causing a high water bill? Schedule an inspection with Green Energy Mechanical Inc. today and save!
Can a running toilet cause a high water bill in just one month? It sure can. You probably won’t think about your toilet unless it has an obvious problem, but undetected leaks will waste hundreds of gallons of water. And the last thing anyone needs is an unexpected water bill increase.
Here, the Green Energy Mechanical Inc. team discusses what you can do to get your plumbing issues back on track. As Canton’s emergency plumbing services, Green Energy Mechanical Inc. is available 24/7, so don’t hesitate to call them day or night.
Regularly Check Your Water Bill To Catch Leaks Early
There are several ways to determine whether you have a leaking toilet, but you often have to do a little experimenting to find it. For example, if your toilet at home has a secret leak, the first sign could be an unusually high water bill.
Take a close look at your monthly water costs. Is it higher than normal without any change in your usage for the month? You likely have a water leak.
The next step is to determine if the culprit is your toilet. A professional plumber like Green Energy Mechanical Inc. has the tools to locate and repair these leaks. However, it helps things move faster if you already know the leak’s location, so investigating it might pay off.
Let Your Ears Guide You Toward the Plumbing Issue
What’s the easiest way to detect a leak? Listen to your toilet. It shouldn’t make any noise other than when you flush it, so if you hear the sound of running water when it isn’t filling up after a flush, there is a problem.
If that’s the case, it’s best to call a professional plumber for toilet repair before the problem gets serious.
Use a Little Food Coloring To Test For a Toilet Leak
If you want to confirm a potential leak before scheduling a plumber, the first test is a little bit like an art project. Look in your pantry, find the food coloring you used to make the holiday cookies last year and use a few drops for a dye test as follows:
- Open the cistern.
- Put a few drops of food coloring into the water.
- Replace the tank lid.
- Walk away for about 15 minutes.
- Then, open the toilet bowl lid and look at the color of the water.
Does it look normal? If you see the food coloring coming through to the bowl, you have a sneaky toilet leak.
Learn the Common Causes of Toilet Leaks
So, can a running toilet cause a high water bill? Yes, it can. However, knowing which parts commonly cause toilet leaks will help you decide when to call a plumber.
Repairing a toilet leak could be a matter of simply replacing a faulty part. For instance, here are a few parts that cause water waste and rising water bills when they go wrong:
- The flapper: When you flush your toilet, the flapper lifts to allow clean water to flow into the toilet bowl. Over time, the flapper can wear out, especially with exposure to minerals and chlorine. If it’s unable to form a solid seal, it will leak.
- The flapper chain: Is the flapper chain too long? It might get caught under the flapper, which will cause your toilet to run constantly. When homeowners tell their guests to “jiggle the handle,” it’s often an issue of the chain getting caught under the flapper!
- The float: The float mechanism can make a big difference in the way your toilet operates. For example, if you often have to flush your toilet more than once, the flow may be set too low. On the other hand, if the flow is set too high, your toilet may run constantly and waste lots of water.
Get Your Water Bill Under Control With The Best Plumbing Service in Canton, Massachusetts
Can a running toilet cause a high water bill? If there’s a leak, and you don’t call a team like Green Energy Mechanical Inc. in Canton, MA, for plumbing service, you’ll certainly see sky-high water bills for months on end. But don’t worry; we handle all sorts of plumbing problems, from stains on your toilet bowl to burst sewer pipes.
Would you like a free estimate? Fill out our online contact form or call Green Energy Mechanical Inc. at 781-236-3421 today for service in Canton, Massachusetts, and the surrounding areas!
Author Bio:
Jonathan Neves
Worked in the HVAC industry since he was 17. He started as an HVAC service technician for commercial buildings and eventually came into the residential market because of his love of working with people. He believes that what really sets Green Energy Mechanical apart is how long they stand behind their work and how compassionate his employees are for their clients.
