Leaking Tap or Running Toilet? Why It's Worth Fixing Sooner

A dripping tap seems like a minor annoyance — easy to ignore, easy to live with. But the numbers tell a different story.

How Much a Dripping Tap Actually Wastes

A tap that drips once per second wastes around 30 litres of water per day. That's roughly 11,000 litres per year — from a single tap.

A running toilet can waste three to four times that amount. Many running toilets make no obvious sound; the only sign is a faint trickle under the rim or a slightly higher water bill.

At current water prices in Brisbane, a running toilet can cost you an extra $100–$200 per year in water charges — and it's rarely just one that's playing up.

What Causes a Dripping Tap

The most common cause is a worn washer or O-ring inside the tap body. Every time you turn a tap on and off, those rubber components compress against a seat — over time they wear down and no longer form a proper seal.

Cartridge taps (the single-lever style) use a ceramic disc instead of a washer, but the principle is the same — the cartridge wears out and needs replacing.

A dripping tap that's allowed to continue will often get worse over time. The water hammering against the seat can cause damage that makes a simple washer replacement into a more involved repair.

What Causes a Running Toilet

There are three main causes:

1. •Worn flush valve (flapper) — the rubber seal at the bottom of the cistern isn't seating properly, allowing water to slowly drain into the bowl
2. •Faulty fill valve — the valve that refills the cistern after flushing isn't shutting off completely, so water constantly trickles in and out
3. •Float set too high — water level rises above the overflow tube and continuously drains away

Cistern internals in a 10–15 year old toilet are likely worn regardless of whether there's an obvious problem. Replacing the entire flush valve and fill valve with modern water-saving equivalents is a straightforward job that pays for itself quickly.

The DIY vs Plumber Question

Replacing a washer on a standard tap is something a handy homeowner can do. But if you're not comfortable working with the water shut off and reassembling a tap body, it's worth getting a plumber in — a badly reinstalled tap fitting can cause more damage than the original drip.

For anything involving the cistern or toilet internals, or mixer taps with ceramic cartridges, a licensed plumber will do the job properly and won't void any warranty on the fittings.

Book It Early

The best time to fix a dripping tap is now — before it gets worse and before it continues adding to your water bill. Khaki Plumbing handles tap repairs and toilet cistern work across all of Brisbane Northside. Call 1300 158 895 for a quote.