Toilet leaks

A leaking toilet is hard to spot and could cost you around £50 a month if you're on a meter.


Water trickling down the back of the toilet pan can be silent, so it is common for leaky loos to go unnoticed.

They can waste around 200 to 400 litres of water a day, which is equivalent to flushing 50 to 100 times.

It’s important to check your toilet for leaks and fix it as soon as possible to save water and money.

How to check for toilet leaks

Follow this simple test to check if your toilet is leaking.

Step 1

Flush your toilet and then leave it for 15 to 30 minutes.

Step 2

Dry the back of the toilet pan with a piece of toilet paper.

Step 3

Apply a Leaky Loo strip or piece of toilet paper to the back of the pan.

Step 4

Leave your toilet alone for three to four hours and then check back later.

If the Leaky Loo strip or piece of paper remains dry, it is unlikely you have a leak.

If the Leaky Loo strip has changed in colour or the piece of paper has become wet, you may have a leak.

What to do if your toilet is leaking

If you’ve got a leak, it’s often caused by a broken flush or fill valve.

This can be fixed relatively easily if you are confident with DIY.

If you’re not, you should contact a qualified plumber.

Order free leaky loo strips

By signing up to our water usage calculator, you can order free leaky loo strips to help detect toilet leaks.