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The impact of a leak could be bigger than you think

The impact of a leak could be bigger than you think

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When it comes to irritating drips and constant leaks inside your home, repairing or replacing faucets can silence the noise. But, what about toilets? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, toilets are the primary source of water use in homes, accounting for 30 percent on indoor water consumption. Often, it is easy to know if your toilet is leaking, the trickling of running water without being flushed is a good sign. For some leaks, water flows through the tank silently, which explains why these leaks are commonly overlooked. If left unrepaired, this problem can run up your water bill, so the sooner you act, the sooner you’ll begin saving money.

Before you purchase a new toilet, a simple test could provide you with a cheaper solution.  The main culprit in many toilet leaks is the flapper.  Located on the inside of the tank, the flapper allows the water to drain from the tank when it is flushed.  When the flapper is not functioning properly, it will continually trigger the fill valve to refill the tank.

Below are four easy steps to determining whether or not you have a toilet leak:  

1) Remove the lid from the toilet tank.

2) Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet into the tank.  Do not flush the toilet.

3) Wait 10-15 minutes. If color appears in the toilet bowl without flushing, there is a leak.

4) Flush the toilet immediately following the test to avoid staining the inside of the tank.

By following these steps, within minutes you can easily detect if you have a leak, saving water –and money-- moving forward. If the toilet tank is not the problem, the EPA states that the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in water costs annually by replacing inefficient toilets in their home with affordable eco-friendly labeled models.

For more information on leaks or water savings, click here.

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