Check Toilet Flappers and Fill Valves
Inspect toilet flappers and fill valves for leaks that silently waste water.
DIY Cost
$15
If Ignored
$300
Frequency
Once a year
Difficulty
Easy DIY
Most homeowners can handle this in under an hour with basic tools.
How to do it — step by step
Add a few drops of food coloring to the toilet tank. Wait 15 minutes without flushing — if color appears in the bowl, the flapper is leaking. A leaking flapper wastes 200 gallons per day. Listen for the fill valve running between flushes — if it cycles on randomly, the fill valve needs replacement. Both parts cost $10–$20 and install in 20 minutes. Toilet leaks account for up to 30% of home water usage and are completely silent — the dye test is the only way to detect them.
Recommended tools & supplies
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