A continuously running toilet leak can waste a surprising amount of water. Here’s a breakdown of how to estimate the gallons per minute (GPM) and how much that adds up to over time:
Estimating GPM:
- The “Dye Test”: This is the most common and easiest method. Drop a dye tablet (or a few drops of food coloring) into the toilet tank. Don’t flush. Wait about 15-20 minutes. If colored water appears in the bowl, you have a leak. The faster the color appears, the more significant the leak.
- Visual Inspection (for obvious leaks): If water is constantly trickling or flowing into the bowl from the rim or the tank, you have a leak. Try to estimate the flow. Is it a slow drip, a steady trickle, or a small stream? This will help you categorize the leak.
- Leak Categories and GPM Estimates:
- Slow Drip: This is often a worn flapper or fill valve. Estimate: 0.1 – 0.5 GPM (very rough estimate)
- Steady Trickle: A more significant leak, often a faulty flapper. Estimate: 0.5 – 1 GPM (very rough estimate)
- Small Stream: A substantial leak, possibly a damaged tank or a serious flapper problem. Estimate: 1 – 2 GPM or even more.
Calculating Water Waste:
Once you have a GPM estimate, you can calculate the water waste:
- Gallons per hour: GPM * 60 minutes/hour
- Gallons per day: Gallons per hour * 24 hours/day
- Gallons per month: Gallons per day * 30 days/month
Example:
Let’s say you have a steady trickle, estimated at 0.75 GPM.
- Gallons per hour: 0.75 GPM * 60 = 45 gallons/hour
- Gallons per day: 45 gallons/hour * 24 = 1080 gallons/day
- Gallons per month: 1080 gallons/day * 30 = 32,400 gallons/month
Important Notes:
- These are rough estimates. The actual GPM of your leak could be higher or lower.
- Even a small leak can waste hundreds of gallons of water per month, leading to a higher water bill and environmental impact.
- Fixing a toilet leak is often a simple DIY project. Common causes are worn flappers, fill valves, or a misadjusted float.
Need More Help?
- Your Water Company: Many water companies offer resources and even leak detection kits to help customers identify and fix leaks.
- Plumbing Professional: If you’re not comfortable diagnosing and fixing the leak yourself, a plumber can quickly identify and repair the problem.