Running Toilet or Dripping Faucet? Here's What It's Really Costing You

A running toilet sounds harmless. A dripping faucet is just a little noise. But both of these "minor" plumbing issues are costing you real money every single day — and if you're on well water, the damage can go far beyond your wallet.

The Numbers on Public Water

Most homeowners on city or municipal water get a bill once a month. The leak is invisible in the statement until it suddenly isn't.

Running Toilets

A running toilet — one where the flapper valve doesn't seat properly or the fill valve won't shut off — can waste between 200 and 400 gallons of water per day. Some severe cases run even higher.

And because municipal water bills often include sewer charges calculated on water usage, you may be paying to treat water you never actually used.

Dripping Faucets

A faucet that drips once per second wastes about 3,000 gallons per year — around the equivalent of 180 showers. Minor compared to a running toilet, but if you've got two or three dripping faucets in your home, it adds up fast.

The fix for a dripping faucet is usually a worn washer, O-ring, or cartridge. Every month you wait is money down the drain.

Well Water Is a Different Story

If your home is on a well, the cost calculation changes significantly — and the stakes are higher.

Your Pump Is Running Constantly

When a toilet runs or a faucet drips, your pressure tank loses pressure. Your well pump kicks on to compensate. Instead of cycling normally (a few times a day), the pump may be running dozens of times a day — or nearly continuously.

Well pumps are not designed for that kind of workload. The consequences:

• **Premature pump failure**: A well pump that should last 10–15 years can burn out in 2–3 years under constant cycling stress.
• **Pressure tank bladder damage**: Short-cycling destroys the bladder inside your pressure tank, requiring replacement.
• **Motor burnout**: Submersible pumps sitting 100+ feet underground are not cheap to pull, repair, or replace.

Short-Cycling Warning Signs

If you're on well water, watch for these signs that a leak may already be stressing your system:

• Pressure fluctuates noticeably when running water
• You hear your pump kicking on and off frequently
• Your water pressure gauge needle bounces or drops
• The pressure tank feels warm to the touch

These are signs your pump is working too hard — possibly because of a leak somewhere in your home.

How to Tell if Your Toilet Is Running

You don't always hear it. Here's how to check:

1. Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank (not the bowl). 2. Wait 15 minutes without flushing. 3. If color appears in the bowl, your flapper is leaking.

You can also turn off all water in the house and watch your water meter. If the dial is still moving, water is escaping somewhere.

Common Causes

Most running toilets and dripping faucets are caused by worn parts:

• **Toilet flapper**: A worn or warped flapper won't seal properly, letting water continuously drain from the tank into the bowl.
• **Fill valve**: When the fill valve fails to shut off, the toilet keeps running until the valve is replaced.
• **Faucet cartridge or washer**: The specific part depends on the faucet brand and style, but worn internal components are almost always the cause of a drip.

A licensed plumber can diagnose and repair these issues, and it buys you peace of mind that the repair is done correctly and won't fail again in six months.

Don't Wait on Small Leaks

Whether you're on city water or a private well, a running toilet or dripping faucet is never "just a minor thing." It's a daily expense that compounds — and on a well system, it can quietly shorten the life of equipment that costs thousands of dollars to replace.

If you've got a leak you've been putting off, give Express Plumbing a call at **860-773-9876**. We serve Southington and all of Central Connecticut, and we'll get it fixed right the first time.