Since your home’s toilet is old and prone to leaks, take a look at the tanks to see if the flappers, the rubber pads that keep water in the tank, are in good condition. I recommend doing a dye test to see if they are up to par. Although fins are designed to last for years, wear, tear, and use of cleaning chemicals can shorten their lifespan and make them less effective. Replacement fins are inexpensive and replacing an old one with a new one is a relatively simple process. Toiletflapper.org (yes, it’s a real website) has details on how to do this.

Sandy, there are other steps you can take to make your dresser more conservative without expensive conversions or complete replacements, the most basic of which is to follow the “soft yellow” rule. I would be careful here… one of my roommates has traumatized me for life by taking this phrase to the extreme. However, for a quick fix that doesn’t require a plumber, a lot of money, or any mold, I would start with the steps I outlined above. And when you’re thinking about replacing your toilet, keep an eye out for the EPA-sponsored WaterSense label, which guarantees that the model in question uses 20 percent less water than current federal standards. Think of WaterSense as an energy star for the customer. Good blush.