The Daily Fix: Is Your Toilet Running?

February 01st, 2010 | Category: Do it Yourself

Photo: Getty No, it’s not the beginning of an old prank-call routine. It’s a common homeowner dilemma that’s annoying, but easily remedied. I found that out tough way, when I neglected that loud noise coming from the basement toilet, and was shocked to see that my water bill was about 15 times the usual price — nearly $700! Oops. Turns out it was the most common problem: the flush valve wasn’t closing totally due to a misaligned flapper — that black or red rubber stopper thingy, attached to the arm chain, that opens to let water from the tank into the bowl. I fixed it in a few seconds by realigning it with my hand. Running toilets can waste 2

to 6 gallons of water per minute (an average new toilet uses just 1.6 gallons per flush). That can add up to thousands of gallons of natural, and financial, resources down the drain. So whether you suspect you’re toilet is running, here’s what to do: Continue reading The Daily Fix: Is Your Toilet Running? Home Improvement | DIY| Comments