Did you know that you should be testing your toilet for water leakage? Most toilet leaks are silent and slow. These tiny toilet leaks can reduce your toilet’s efficiency and waste a lot of water if left untreated.
We recommend testing your toilet for leaks twice a year. It is also important to note that time-released toilet bowl cleaners that sit in your tank can deteriorate the parts of your tanks that cause leaks.
You can use your water meter to test for leaks. This trick works for leaks throughout your home including taps and pipes.
After this quick check, you will need to isolate the source of your leak. The first place you should look is your toilet.
A great trick for checking whether or not your toilet is leaking is to add a little bit of food colouring to your toilet tank. Wait about 15-20 minutes for the dye to settle. If the water in your toilet bowl has changed colour you know that you have a leak!
If your toilet isn’t the source of the leak, you can begin testing taps and joints using simple tools like paper towel. During your testing phase, remember to keep all taps turned off. Dry each area (taps, pipe joints, etc.) and place a piece of paper towel around them. If the towel is wet when you return, you have found your leak.
If you are confident in your maintenance skills, you can go ahead and repair the leak – don’t forget to turn the water shut off valve to your toilet first!
If you are not sure how to fix the leak or you simply want to install a new toilet, just leave it to the professionals. Give Butler Plumbing a call and we will be happy to come out and make the necessary fixes.
When’s the last time you cleaned your toilet tank? If you answered “never,” you’re not alone. A lot of people never think about cleaning their toilet tank, but it is actually an essential part of home plumbing maintenance.
Cleaning your toilet tank regularly is important because mineral deposits build up inside the tank, dirt and debris make their way in there, and mold and mildew can grow inside it. All of this can cause problems with the mechanisms, toilet leaks and result in your toilet not working properly. To prevent this, clean your toilet tank thoroughly every 6 months or so.
Follow these DIY steps to easily clean your toilet tank.
Remove the lid carefully and set it down somewhere safe on top of a towel.
Pour vinegar into the toilet tank (don’t worry about draining it yet) until the tank is filled up to about an inch below the top of the tank.
Let it sit for 8-12 hours. This allows the vinegar solution to loosen and dissolve rust, mineral deposits, and mildew inside the tank.
Flush the vinegar out of the tank by flushing your toilet 2 or 3 times.
Turn off the water to the toilet using the toilet’s shutoff valve, which is usually located near the floor.
Empty the tank by flushing the toilet to drain all of the water.
Scrub the inside of the tank gently and wipe down the interior parts with a sponge.
Spray cleaner all over the inside of the tank and let the cleaner sit for about 5-10 minutes so that it can sink in and loosen mineral buildup and other grime. Give the inside walls of the toilet tank a good scrub.
Turn water back on and flush the toilet, making sure that the water looks clear in both the toilet bowl and the tank. If it doesn’t, flush it again and repeat until the water becomes clear.
Replace the lid and you’re done!
Cleaning your toilet tank is an important part of home plumbing maintenance & preventing toilet leaks, however things still break from time to time. If you need any toilet repairs done or are ready to upgrade to a new toilet, give Butler Plumbing, Heating & Gasfitting today at 780-432-3947.