Housekeeping · 생활 점검

Detect a silent toilet-tank leak with a 10-minute dye test

If your toilet refills unexpectedly or water use increases, add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and check whether it reaches the bowl without flushing. This is for conventional tank-type toilets.

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The U.S. EPA WaterSense program and New York City's DEP describe a simple dye test for conventional toilet tanks. Color appearing in the bowl before flushing suggests leakage from the tank; it does not identify the exact faulty part. Concealed, pressure-assisted or electronic models may require model-specific instructions.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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1. Check for unexpected refilling or a trickle into the bowl. Prepare a few drops of ordinary food coloring and a timer; never substitute bleach or cleaning chemicals.
2. Confirm you have an accessible, conventional tank-type toilet. Lift the heavy lid carefully with both hands and set it on a stable surface without forcing the components.
3. Put a few drops of food coloring into the tank water, not the bowl. Avoid spills and ask everyone not to use or flush the toilet during the test.
4. Wait about 10 minutes without flushing, watching whether the water in the toilet bowl stays clear.
5. If color appears in the bowl before a flush, water is leaking from the tank. A flapper or flush-valve seal is one possible cause, but the color test does not identify the exact part.
6. Flush immediately to reduce the risk of stains. Check model instructions and contact a plumber or building manager if needed; repeat the observation after the repair.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

Further reading

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