[robingibson]

We recently had the septic tank drained and the guy said there was a "steady trickle of water" coming into the tank and asked if we had a broken pipe anyplace. Everything else is working just fine so I'm not sure where the water would be coming from. Any suggestions on where to start?

[massplumber2008]

Start at the toilets first... always start at the toilets first. Look inside bowls... anything trickling by..

If you have a food color kit, drop some food color (5-8 drops) into tanks of toilets.. wait as long as you can... see if dye shows up in the bowls of toilets. If it does, then time to change flappers or flush valves. Check with dye first, then get back to us.

[robingibson]

Thanks MassPlumber-I'm on it!! I will do the food coloring thing and wait. On of the kids who moved back home just told me that he's had to tighten a screw?? Before when he thought something was leaking in there. Don't you just love the afterthefact contributions!! I'll let you know the results.

[massplumber2008]

Good luck... let sit as long as you can.. and if your kids are anything like mine... make sure they do not flush by "mistake"... ;) Also check that water is not running over the top of the overflow tube located in the center of the toilet tank...water should be minimum 1/2" below the overflow tube... Keep me posted... MARK

[hkstroud]

My preferred way of checking for a leaking flapper is to remove the top, hold the float down until the water runs over the top of the overflow pipe, turn the stop valve off. Come back in 1/2 hour. If the water level is still at the top of the overflow pipe the flapper is not leaking. If the water level has dropped below the top of the overflow you have a leaking flapper. Open stop valve so wife doesn't complain.

[robingibson]

Thanks hkstroud-I would have never thought of that one. I'll try these and post answer.