Conservation Tips

• You must wiggle the handle to make a toilet stop running
• You hear sounds from an unused toilet
• You must hold the handle down to allow the tank to empty
• You see water running over the top of the overflow inside the tank cover. This is a sign that the refill valve is leaking or needs adjustment. You can sprinkle a little talcum powder on top of the water in the tank to see if the water is running over the top of the overflow pipe
• You see water dripping down the sides inside of the toilet bowl long after it has been flushed
• Water drops out of the refill tube into the overflow pipe
• A toilet runs or refills without you touching the handle

If your toilet shows none of the symptoms above, it could still have a silent leak, causing a high-water bill.

If you notice water on the floor near a toilet, the following problems could be present:

• Condensation could be forming on the toilet tank during humid weather
• The wax-sealing ring under the toilet bowl may have disintegrated
• The toilet bowl may be cracked
• The connections under the toilet tank may be leaking

If you find a leak, contact a licensed plumber to have it fixed.

1. Remove the toilet tank cover and set it aside
2. Remove any ‘in-tank’ bowl cleaners that colour the water
3. Begin the test with clear water in the tank and bowl
4. Place enough food colouring or instant coffee in the tank’s water to get a deep colour
5. Wait 30 minutes. Your toilet is leaking if the dyed water has made its way into the toilet bowl. A proper operating toilet will store water in the tank without water running into the bowl.

1. Draw a pencil line on the back wall inside the toilet tank at the waterline
2. Turn the water supply off, either under the toilet tank or at the main shutoff
3. Wait 20 to 30 minutes. If the water level remains at the pencil mark, the leak is likely occurring at the fill valve or ballcock (the unit on the left side of the tank with the float attached). If the water level falls below the pencil mark, the leak is likely occurring in the flapper valve (the unit located in the bottom center of the tank)

In most cases, the flapper valve is usually the cause of leaking toilets.

Night to morning test

1. Turn the water off to the toilet before going to bed. If you must use the toilet during the night, fill a bucket with water and dump the entire bucket of water into the toilet bowl.
2. Check the water level in the morning. If the water level is lower or even with the edges of the tank flapper, the leak is caused by either a bad flapper valve or a damaged toilet flapper valve seat. If the tank is almost empty and the water level is below the edges of the toilet valve seat, the leak may be caused by a damaged gasket under the flapper valve. In this case, the leak can appear on the floor around the base of the toilet. The toilet tank will have to be separated from the toilet bowl to change the gasket.

• Use your automatic dishwasher and washing machines for full loads only - If you plan on purchasing a new appliance, invest in one that is high efficiency
• If you hand wash your dishes, don't leave the water running for rinsing - If you have two sinks, fill one will soapy water and the other with water for rinsing; if you only have one sink, consider gathering washed dishes in a dish rack and rinsing them with a kitchen tap spray device or a pot full of water
• Don't let the faucet run while washing vegetables - Rinse them in a stopper sink or a pan/bowl full of clean water
• Keep a jug of drinking water in the refrigerator for cold water, running the tap for a while just for a glass of water can be wasteful! 

• Check your toilet for leaks - Put a little food colouring in your toilet tank, if without flushing the colour begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately
• Stop using the toilet as a wastebasket - Every time you flush a facial tissue or other trash, you use 6 to 12 litres of water
• Check faucets and pipes for leaks - Leaks cause water to be wasted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can often be repaired with an inexpensive washer
• Place plastic bottles in your high flow toilet tank - To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand and pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles and fill the remainder with water to weigh them down. Place them in your toilet tank, safely away from operating mechanisms. In the average home, these bottles may displace and save 20 or more litres of water a day
• Take shorter showers - Long, hot showers can waste 10 to 20 litres of water every unneeded minute
• Install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors - Most local hardware or plumbing supply stores stock inexpensive water-saving showerheads or restrictors that are easy to install
• Take baths - A bath in a partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest shower
• Don't let the water run when brushing your teeth
• Rinse your razor in the sink - Fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water; this will rinse your blade just as well as running water

• Water your lawn ONLY when necessary - A good indication if your lawn needs water is to step on the grass, if the grass springs back up when you remove your foot, it does not need water. If the grass stays flat, then fetch the sprinkler
• Deep soak your lawn - When you do water your lawn, do it long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots where it will be most beneficial. A light sprinkling can evaporate quickly and tends to encourage shallow root systems
• Water during the cooler parts of the day - Early morning generally is better than dusk since it helps to prevent the growth of fungus
• Don't water the gutter - Position your sprinkler so the water lands on the lawn or garden, not on paved areas. Also, avoid watering on windy days
• Plant drought resistant trees and plants - Many beautiful trees and plants thrive with far less watering than other species
• Use a broom, not a hose to clean your driveway and walkways
• Don't run the hose while washing your car - Clean the car with a pail of soapy water, then use the hose to rinse it off
• Tell your children not to play with the hose and sprinklers
• Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets and couplings outside - Leaks outside the house may not seem as bad because they are not visible; however, they can be just as wasteful as leaks within the home. Check frequently and keep them drip free
• Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants - Mulch slows the evaporation of moisture and discourages weed growth
• Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater that can be used for watering gardens