The City of Hillsboro, Ohio

What is the worst leak you can have in a home?

For most residential homes and small businesses the worst leak you can have is an overflow tube leak in a toilet.

This is the worst type of leak because it runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and normally it is a "silent" leak. Unless it is an extremely bad leak you usually cannot hear it running. To determine if you have an overflow tube leak take the top off of your toilet tank and check the water level in the tank. If it is above the lip of the overflow tube you will see the water running down the tube. If it is close or right on the edge of the lip of the overflow tube and you are not sure, sprinkle some flour or baby powder on the water and you will be able to see if the water is actually running down the overflow tube. If you do have an overflow tube leak you need to adjust your water level in the tank. This can be done a number of ways, depending on the type of working parts in your toilet tank. The two most common types of working parts are the fluid master and the arm and ball type. The fluid master type has a metal clip, which slides up and down a thin metal post. You squeeze the clip together and slide it up or down to adjust the water level. The arm and metal ball type has a small screw on the base of the point where the arm joins the main part of the assembly and you can turn the screw to adjust the water level. You can also adjust the water level on the arm and ball type by bending the arm downward, but you should be very careful. If you bend the arm, it is very easy to break the ball off of the arm and then you have to buy a new one and install it.