There are many names for the toilet in the English language. Porcelain throne, outhouse, potty, growler, and loo are just a few that come to mind.
Toilets are the main source of water use in the average home. Each flush uses about 1.28 to 2.5 gallons of water.
They are also a common source for household water leaks. Sometimes these leaks are easy to hear, but many times they can be silent, which makes them easy to miss.
Toilet leaks can waste a few gallons of water a day or — in some cases — up to hundreds or thousands of gallons a month. This unintended water use also translates into higher water and sewer bills.
So, whatever you call your toilet, take 20 minutes twice a year to check it for leaks. Many water providers give their customers free dye strips or tablets, or you can use food coloring, to check your toilet for leaks. Here’s how:
- Remove the toilet tank lid.
- Drop one dye tablet, dye strip, or 10 drops of food coloring into the tank.
- Put the lid back on. Do not flush.
- Wait 20 minutes.
- Check your toilet bowl. If you see colored water, you have a leak. If not, you don’t.
The next time you flush your toilet, the dye will be visible in the bowl. Don’t worry — it’s not a leak, and the dye won’t stain your toilet.
Get tips on what to do if you find a toilet leak and other resources for conserving water at home and in the garden from the Regional Water Providers Consortium at regionalH2O.org/toilet.
Beaumont-Wilshire resident Bonny Cushman is mother of one, wife, canner, prepper, walker, and avid gardener. She works as Program Manager for the Portland-based Regional Water Providers Consortium. In her spare time she coordinates the Alameda Elementary School Discovery Garden.