Simple repair can flush your problems away

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/07/2011 (5328 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Q: I manage a condominium complex and I want to implement a toilet leak test. I have been looking for dye tablets but for some reason I am having a difficult time finding them.  In the past we have had a few units with toilet leaks that have gone undetected. How can I test to see if any of the toilets are leaking?  

A: Often a toilet leak is obvious when you hear the sound of running water or a hissing. However, sometimes there can be a silent leak, which is why toilet leaks are often overlooked and waste water.
Leak Detection Dye Tablets are usually available through hardware stores or you can use regular food colouring. To test the toilet, lift the lid off the toilet tank. Drop several drops of food coloring into the tank (do not flush). Wait at least 15 minutes and check the bowl of the toilet. If the dye is in your toilet bowl, you have a leak. While some toilet repairs can be easily made, others are more complicated.
Here are a few items you can check for yourself before calling a plumber:

• The most common cause of a leak is a worn out toilet flapper so check this first.  These get worn and should be replaced at least every five years. Installing a new flapper is quite simple and inexpensive. Take the old flapper, along with the make and model of your toilet, to the hardware store with you to ensure you buy the right replacement part. I would suggest you purchase a device called the HydroClean toilet fill valve. Unlike regular fill valves, this unit also is a water saving unit that will detect minor leaks, and cleans the tank when it flushes.  Once you replace the flapper valve, do the leaky toilet test again to ensure you have stopped the leak.  

• The other common leak source is when the water level is flowing over the overflow tube and the float rod needs to be adjusted. This is on the older type toilet float filler valves. Check the chain, if you have to jiggle the handle to keep the toilet from running, it may be a misaligned flapper valve, a loose handle, or an incorrect length of chain. If the water level isn’t too high and your flapper isn’t worn, you might have mineral deposits around the valve seat. Turn off the water supply behind the toilet, flush the toilet to drain the tank, and then feel for deposits. If this is the problem, simply sand the mineral deposits away with 200 grit fine sandpaper.
 
Q: We have birds wanting to build a nest in our dryer vent. How can I prevent this from happening?

A) Make sure any bird nest that may have been built is removed and that you have the vent completely cleaned out. Dryer vents should be cleaned every year to prevent  lint building up.  Once the vent is clear you can purchase a plastic vent cover at a hardware or building supply store that has a flap on it. The cover fits onto the end of the exterior dryer vent hose. When the dryer is operating, it opens and closes when it’s not in use. This is simple and inexpensive to install yourself. For best results I recommend the trouble free hood Ultimate Vent. Call 1-800-313-6223 for more information on this product.

Shell Busey can be heard every Saturday morning from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Winnipeg’s CJOB 680. Go to www.TheHouseSmart.com for more home improvement tips and information.