Does a running toilet run up your bill?

Author: Dr. Eldred Crooks Jr.  |  Last update: Wednesday, December 3, 2025

The most common cause for a high water bill is running water from your toilet. A continuously running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day or more depending on the volume flow down the drain. This can cause a terrible increase to a family's typical water use, so fix toilet leaks as soon as possible.

Does a toilet running cost money?

In summary, the cost to flush a toilet typically ranges from less than a cent to about 5 cents per flush, depending on the toilet's water usage and local water rates.

Can a running toilet increase the electric bill?

  • If your water comes from a municipality, then flushing your toilet will not cause your electric bill to change.
  • If your water comes from a well that uses an electric pump then flushing less saves on electricity.

How much will running toilet increase water bill?

Left unnoticed, a running toilet could waste over 6,000 gallons per month. Depending on the rate you pay for water and sewer, this could cost as much as $70 per month!

How much water is wasted with a running toilet?

So that's 1.5 gallons per flush or per 30 seconds, or 3 gallons per minute. For all 1,440 minutes per day, that is up to 4,320 gallons of wasted water! If you left your leaky toilet running this way for an entire week, you'd waste 30,240 gallons of water.

Plumbing Pro Tip: High water bill? Could be a leaking toilet - here's how to test for a leak!

Will my water bill go up if my toilet keeps running?

A continuously running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day or more depending on the volume flow down the drain. This can cause a terrible increase to a family's typical water use, so fix toilet leaks as soon as possible. Some leaks are easy to find, such as a dripping faucet or running toilet.

How much does it cost to flush a toilet?

Furthermore, based on Department of Energy data, they calculated that the standard 1.6 gallon toilet costs 1.3 cents to flush. Since people flush about five times every day, the estimated cost of flushing the toilet is $24 per person per year.

How much does it cost for a toilet to run all day?

The worst case is a large leak, where your toilet operates a constant flow of water, spending up to 4,000 gallons and adding a potential $53 to your bill every day.

Can a running toilet cause a high sewer bill?

The most common source of abnormally high water/sewer bills is leaky plumbing inside the property. More often than not, the source of that leak is a toilet.

Does turning off the toilet water save money?

While everyone knows how annoying it can be to have your toilet constantly run, few people are aware that it may actually be costing them a great deal of money. Toilets that never stop running can lead to much higher water bills, which means this is a situation that you need to correct as soon as possible.

What runs your electric bill up the most?

What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.

What happens if a toilet runs all night?

What happens if a toilet runs all night? If a toilet runs all night it will waste water and increase your water bill. Excess water can potentially flood your septic tank and lead to failure and saturation of your drain field.

Does your water bill go up every time you flush the toilet?

If you have a large family or several occupants in one household, the rate will skyrocket. Even installing a high-efficiency toilet won't completely prevent you from seeing a noticeable increase in your water usage and cost. The average toilet uses between 1.6 and 3.6 gallons of water per flush.

Does a running toilet increase your electric bill?

An increased utility bill is often caused by a change in water usage or a leak. Some common causes of increased utility usage include: A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed.

Can I leave my toilet running?

Adverse Effects of a Constantly Running Toilet

Due to the increased water use, you will begin to pay more on your monthly water bill. Another problem you may experience is weak or low water pressure due to the loss of water from your tank. Also, leaving this problem unattended can damage or flood your septic tank.

How much does a dripping toilet cost?

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.

Why is my water bill $400?

An unusually high water bill is most often caused by a leak or change in water use. Some common causes of high water bills include: A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed, most common. A dripping faucet; a faucet drip can waster 20 gallons or more of water a day.

How much water can a running toilet use in 24 hours?

A running toilet can waste approximately 2-3 gallons of water per minute, depending on the severity of the leak and the toilet's design. This amounts to 120-180 gallons per hour or 2,880-4,320 gallons per day, significantly increasing water consumption and utility bills.

What makes your sewer bill go up?

Firstly, if you have a large family or guests staying with you, your water usage is likely to be higher than an individual's or couple's, leading to increased sewage output. Secondly, if you have a leaky pipe, faucet, or toilet, you could unknowingly waste water and increase your costs.

How much will a running toilet add to my water bill?

Typically, a running water toilet will waste thousands of gallons of water per month which translates to approximately $200 unnecessarily tacked onto your monthly water bill-- that's nearly $2,500 dollars a year down your toilet bowl.

Is it normal for a toilet to run every so often?

A toilet that cuts on and off by itself, or runs intermittently, has a problem that plumbers call a "phantom flush." The cause is a very slow leak from the tank into the bowl. This problem is almost certainly caused by a bad flapper or flapper seat.

Does a running toilet cost electricity?

If you live in an apartment or condo, a running toilet may also cause your electric bill to go up. This is because some apartments and condos add a little hot water to the toilet tank to prevent condensation on the tank.

How much does it cost to take a 10 minute shower?

The single, 10-minute long shower will cost you $0.46 or $168.93 if you repeat it daily for a full year. Don't forget that these are sample calculations for one person and 10 minutes for showering only 1 time a day.

Do you get charged every time you flush the toilet?

A single flush costs just a fraction of a cent, so unless you're someone that makes a habit out of flushing the toilet on repeat, then there won't be much of an impact on your water bill. However, if there's an ongoing leak then you'll want to get it fixed right away, as you could end up footing an expensive bill!

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