Can one leaking toilet cause my water bill to quadruple?

Question

My downstairs toilet has been running off and on for a few months. I just got a bill for the last three months in the mail- our usage is normally 9-11 units, this time it was 42. I watered my plants a few times when it was really hot, but only about 8-9 times, and I have a tiny yard, so I didn't use a lot. Other than the toilet, I can't seem to figure out how we could have used that much water -could one toilet *really* cause that much usage? There isn't any water in our basement, or in any of our rooms, and no evidence that the toilet is leaking below the floor.

I have someone from our burough office coming to take a look on Monday, but does anyone have any ideas? If so, what should I look for? Thanks!

OK, I just replaced the flapper, but when the water ran back in to fill up the tank, I notice that the water level seems to be higher than in the past (the inside of the tank is brown with some sort of dirt or sediment, but the "new" water level is about an inch over that line), and the overflow is spilling into the open pipe (I assume it is some sort of overflow pipe?) at a good clip (this would appear to be the cause of the problem). The toilet is now running continiously (as opposed to off and on before).

Ideas?

Answer 1

You may not be able to see water on the floor or other indications that your toilet is leaking externally, but it can be leaking from the water closet into the bowl and slipping out to the sewer at a constant rate that you cannot see.
To see if the seal is in need of replacement inside the upper part of the toilet (tank or water closet) lift the top and add about 4 drops of food coloring. If you see the food coloring in the bowl after about 5 to 20 minutes, you have an internal leak inside the toilet and the water is simply leaking into the bowl past the seal and into the sewer.
If so, replace the seal inside the water closet.

If you do not see the food coloring in the bowl, your toilet is fine and could be a leaking water supply to the house. The city inspector can help you determine if this is true. Generally all water mains are metered. So if you are not using any water in the home at all (after checking for leaky toilets, hot water heaters and faucets on both inside and out) and the meter is registering that water is being used by the meter, then you probably have an outside leak.
To do this, locate the water meter and write down the number. Check back every 1/2 hour and see what it shows. If it shows you are using water when you are in fact not, then it is definitely a leaking supply line in which the city should be responsible.

Answer 2

Inside the water closet there is a tube that the water is running into that goes to the drain if your toilet is running this is designed to keep it from flooding your house. Yes it could cause your water bill do go up that much. If you have another toilet in the house turn the water supply off at the wall and use the other. There are a couple of things that could be wrong the float could have a crack in it and is not shutting off the valve or the petcock in the valve could be leaking.

Answer 3

Actually, it's amazing how much water a steady drip can waste so it may be that alone.

There is also a chance that there is a leaky pipe underground. The person coming to check should have an instrument that will test whether there is a pipe leak.

Anyway, I learned the hard way that it's better to get a leak fixed and pay the money for that, than to let it drip and pay for the extra water. I too got a horrendous bill and THEN had the leak fixed, thereby paying twice for the same problem!

Answer 4

the toilet doesnt usualy "leak" onto the floor as such. but a bad adjustment on the float or the stopper in the bottom of the tank can cause it to run all the time, and just pour water into the drain, needlessly. this could cause a pretty big change in your normal consumption. just open the tank and look at it. if the water is full and pouring into the little tube then adjust the float to shut off the water before it overflows. if the tank is empty, or only partialy full, the the little flap on the bottom of the tank it probably worn out or not closing all the way.

Answer 5

NO!

The first thing I'd want checked is the meter, then fix the toilet.

I have no clue where you are or what a UNIT of water is in your area, but water usage bills do differ in gallons used,,, IE: 3,000 to 5,000 gallons would be a lot of water, but shouldn't be expensive as in TRIPLE the usual.

I pay approx. $3.95 per 1000 gallons over an 8000 gallon useage allowance,,and I'd have to open every outlet in the house and let them run constantly, to use 8000 gallons a month.

A leaking toilet, perhaps just from a degraded "flapper" would very noticabely alert you if it was FLOWING as opposed to dribbling.

Rev. Steven

Answer 6

Turn your tap on so that it is just dripping, catch the drops in a glass for 10 minutes, then measure how much water is in the glass. You'll find that it's not much. Then take that amount and multiple it by 6 which gives you the amount in an hour and then by 24, which gives you the amount every day. Then multiple that figure by 31 and then by the number of month your toilet was running and you'll find you could have filled several swimming pools with what has been running down your drain.

Answer 7

my friends bill was cut in half when i fixed his toilet. lift the top, watch out its heavy. there is a pipe standing in the middle and a rubber flapper at the bottem of the tank. if the water is below the lip of the pipe then the flapper is leaking. If the water is spilling over the tube then its the shut off valve inside the toilet. The flapper gets old and wears out. go to the hardware store and get a replacement flapper for $5. you match the new one to the old one and replace it. watch that you don't get the chain caught in the flapper. it helps to turn the water off when your doing this.

Answer 8

man, a leaking toilets WASTE WATER AS HELL!!! OVIOUSLY YOU CAN EVEN QUINTUPLE THE WATER BILL!!!! IS AS SOMEONE TAKING A SHOWER AD MID POWER ALL DAY LONG!!!! Man, the three things in what the house spends more water in in shower, dishwasher, and flushes. That is really a serious problem, if you had it from a couple of months, you can even waste the paiting and the structure of the floor underneeth the toilet and you can cause it mess out with some electrical devises. I would take care if the time has been so long, water exterminates any painting or structure in no-so-long period of time. Hoped i was helpfull :D

Answer 9

Here's a water saving trick I use. Get a couple of bricks and place them gentley into the tank of the toilet. This will take up space where water will flow and you'll end up using 1/4 - 1/3 less water for any of your toilets in your house.

Answer 10

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