Getting a high water bill is never a fun surprise. The average U.S. household uses more than 300 gallons of water per day, so if your bill shows considerably more, it’s a good sign that something is off—and your toilet should be one of the first places you look. 

Whether you’ve got a toilet that’s running nonstop or a leak you haven’t noticed yet, your toilet can waste a surprising amount of water. Here’s how you can spot the problem, the most common causes, and what you can do if your toilet is causing your water bill to skyrocket.

How Much Water Can a Toilet Actually Waste?

More than you think! A running toilet is a constant drain on your water supply, even when no one is using it. Depending on the water pressure in your house, a toilet that won’t stop running can waste anywhere from 30 to 4,000 gallons of water per day.

Toilet leaks can be sneaky, too. Not hearing a drip doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a leak. A slow leak at the base of the unit or inside your tank can quietly add hundreds or thousands of gallons to your monthly water usage.

4 Signs Your Toilet is the Problem

If you suspect your toilet has a hairline or a visible leak, there are a few things you can check on your own before calling a professional. Here’s what to look for:

  • Subtle leaking noises. If you hear hissing or trickling coming from your toilet when it hasn’t been flushed recently, there’s a good chance it’s running.
  • Phantom refills. If your toilet begins to randomly refill on its own, water is leaking out of the tank.
  • Dampness. You can check the floor and neighboring walls for signs of moisture. If you notice dampness around the base of the toilet, you may have a physical leak.
  • Flapper leaks. You can test for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank and waiting 15 minutes. If the dye decolorizes, the water in the bowl, you have a faulty flapper.

3 Common Causes of Running Toilets

A running toilet most often comes down to one of these three culprits.

  1. A faulty fill valve. The fill valve is on the water supply line and prevents tank overflow. When the water fills to a desirable level, the valve shuts. A faulty fill valve will cause the tank to overflow, which you can observe as water from the tank spills through its opening.
  2. A worn flapper. This is where the dye test comes in handy. The flapper is the large rubber plug in the basement of the toilet tank. It can wear out due to reacting with chlorine in the water. When the flapper doesn’t seal properly, it causes water to continuously trickle into the bowl.
  3. Flush valve issues. The flush valve is at the fixture’s center and allows water to flow from the tank into the bowl and flush. If the flush valve isn’t sealing correctly, water can leak through even when you’re not flushing.

3 Common Causes of Toilet Leaks

Physical leaks look a bit different from a typical running toilet, but they’re just as capable of driving up your water bill. Here’s what to keep an eye out for:

  1. An unseated wax ring or rubber gasket. You may find either type of seal in your toilet depending on the manufacturer. The wax ring or rubber gasket is situated between the flange and the toilet, but continuous shifting of the toilet or a broken flange can unseat the ring, creating a leak. 
  2. Closet flange problems. The closet flange is a round fitting that connects the toilet to the drainpipe. Two bolts firmly secure the closet flange and fixture to the bathroom floor, but constant pressure can weaken the bolts and cause leaks over time. Closet flanges can be difficult to repair and can cause water regurgitation if done incorrectly, so it’s best to call in PlumbPRO Services for this one.
  3. Worn inner fixtures. Your toilet has a number of different valves and rings in place to keep everything working properly. If any one of these pieces is failing, they may cause leaks that can quietly drive up your water bill without obvious signs.

3 Tips to Help Prevent High Water Bills

The best approach for homeowners is to prevent these problems before they show up on the monthly water bill. These habits will help you stay on top of things:

  1. Schedule routine plumbing inspections. A quick check-up every six months to a year can help you detect and replace worn parts before they create bigger issues.
  2. Don’t ignore small signs. A toilet that runs after flushing, refills on its own, or has visible leaks is trying to tell you something. Pay attention to these warning signs!
  3. Replace worn parts proactively. Flappers, fill valves, and gaskets are all relatively inexpensive and easy to swap out. Replacing them early can save money on water bills down the road.

If you’re not sure where to start, the PlumbPRO Services team can help. Our Service Partner Plan is an affordable way to ensure you’re staying on top of routine maintenance and includes an annual comprehensive plumbing inspection.

Call PlumbPRO Services to Fix Your Toilet Fast

A running toilet can cost you $2,500 a year in extra water usage. Hiring a professional plumber may feel like a daunting expense right now, but it costs much less than the water wasted over time. In fact, fixing a leak usually pays for itself very quickly. 

PlumbPRO Services is ready to help you track down the issue behind your high water bills and make any necessary repairs. Give us a call today to schedule your service.