Did you know…toilets are the cause of one of the most common leaks in the home, with around 1 in ten homes and businesses having a leaky loo. According to stats quoted by the pros at Watersafe.org.uk, toilet leaking clean water from the cistern to the pan can waste up to 400 litres of water a day (that’s five full bath tubs) and add around £300 a year to your water bill if left unfixed.

Nobody wants to waste money on a leaky loo, right? But what happens if you don’t know that water is trickling out? The sound of a constant drip at the back of the toilet pan is an obvious sign that something’s not right but some leaks are silent and easy to miss. If you’re suspicious, there are things you can do to figure it out:

Firstly, your local water supplier will be able to provide you with leak detection strips at no cost.

Alternatively:

  • Half an hour after a flush, wipe the back of the pan dry with toilet tissue.
  • Place a new, dry sheet of toilet tissue across the back of the pan.
  • Leave it in place for up to three hours without using the toilet, or overnight.
  • If the paper is wet or torn in the morning – you have a leaky loo.

The next step is to turn off all water at the stop tap (sometimes called stop cocks or stop valves), which controls the water entering your home and is often sited under the kitchen sink but it depends on where the service point enters the property. Sometimes you will have an additional stop valve in your loft or airing cupboard. (A top tip by Watersafe is to find these stop valves and label them before any plumbing emergencies occur.) The next step is to call your local plumber to fix the leak!

Check out “Leaks” at Watersafe.org.uk for more information and for all your plumbing needs, contact the team at AACooper on 01689 485007 or info@aacooper.co.uk.