Long ago, someone came up with an idea to put a brick in the tank of a toilet. The concept was simple: a brick would displace water and therefore less water would be used when the toilet was flushed.
Doing so would save water and money. It makes sense, right?
The idea was primarily aimed to address drought and targeted older toilets that had outdated technology. Older tanks, many of which are still in use today, can use 3.5 to more than 5 gallons per flush.
Using that much water for each flush is overkill, especially when compared to newer toilets that use an average of 1.28 gallons per flush.
Below, I’ll share how much water a brick can displace in a toilet tank and I’ll share whether using a brick is a good idea. Toilet tanks aren’t made to hold items other than the valves, so it’s possible you could damage the guts of your tank by placing something inside. In addition to a brick, I’ll share a few other items that make better sense.
Remember, if you have a newer toilet that uses 1.28 gallons per flush, you probably shouldn’t use a brick in your tank because you’re already using less water.
How Much Water Does A Brick Displace
If you put a brick in your toilet’s tank it will displace .316 gallons of water. It may not seem like a significant amount of water, however, over the course of 3 flushes, you’ll save a gallon.
Over a month you’ll save at least 30 gallons and more if an entire family is using the toilet – that’s a lot of water savings and a lot of savings on your bill.
But using a brick may not be the best idea (read below).
10 Items You Can Put In Your Toilet’s Tank To Save Water and Money 
-
Brick
Putting a brick in your toilet has garnered a lot of attention but it’s not necessarily a wise decision. A brick is made from fired clay, which is tiny soil particles that are pressed together.
If placed in water, the brick will slowly degrade and break up. The brick might last 6 months or more, but the red color will spread in the tank and leak into your bowl and pipes.
Let’s just say that a brick isn’t the best thing to put in your toilet. It might work better if you place the brick in a plastic bag and seal the bag. A large Ziplock bag, grocery bag, or other sealed bag are options. Double up on the bags to make sure the brick doesn’t get wet.
-
Ziploc Bag Of Pebbles
Using pebbles in a Ziplock bag might be the best idea on this list. Pebbles are heavy and won’t break up into pieces like a brick does when it’s wet. In a bag, they will remain together and sit on the bottom of the tank, unnoticed.
You won’t even need to buy pebbles as you can collect them on a walk or from a pebble walkway.
-
Water Bottles Filled With Sand
There are a thousand ways to recycle water bottles and we came up with another way to reduce water bottle waste and save water!
Take a few (yes, more than one) water bottles and fill them up (sand works best to get rid of the air). Fill the bottle all the way to the top so all the air is removed – you don’t want it to float, otherwise, you’ll hear it bounce off the tank with every flush.
Place the water bottles in the tank and make sure it settles on the bottom, away from the valves. If needed you can use a rubber band to attach it to the side of a valve.
-
One Big Rock
A solid rock works well too, but make sure it’s not too heavy that it damaged the porcelain inside the tank. Porcelain is a fired white clay that can grind away if there’s a hard substance against it (this would happen over time and not immediately).
If you decide to use a rock, you’ll need to make sure it’s the right size and shape to fit in the tank. Finding a perfect rock for your time might take a while compared to using a brick or bags filled with smaller pebbles.
-
Peanut Butter Jar Filled With Dirt
Do you always throw your peanut butter jars and Nutella jars in the trash or recycle? Save a few and fill them to the top with coarse sand.
Pack it down, make sure you remove as much air as possible and screw on the lid. Now you’ve got a weighted jar to help displace water in your toilet.
-
Metal Chain
A metal chain doesn’t refer to the kind you’d put around your neck (that wouldn’t do much). There are industrial size chains that are big and heavy.
If you have one of these chains or find one at a worksite, you could recycle it and put it in your toilet tank. Because of its weight, you won’t have to worry about it moving around in the tank.
-
Plastic Bag Filled With Pennies
A lot of people have a jar where they place their spare change. Over time, these jars fill and sit there, unused, or they are taken to a bank or change machine.
If you have a lot of pennies, consider putting them into a Ziploc bag and dropping them in your toilet tank. They are heavy and they will displace some water.
Who knew that those pennies could save you water and money! It’s a wise penny investment.
-
Gold Bar
Have a few gold bars that can save you money? If you’re like me, the answer is no but on movies, I’ve seen people keep all kinds of things in their toilet tanks. It’s usually guns, drugs, or money but gold bars are another option. It’s also a great hiding place.
-
Chunk Of Cement
Cement tends to hold together much better than clay bricks. If you’re moving a sidewalk or see a construction site where they are removing old concrete, you can look for a smaller size that will fit in your toilet.
Cement doesn’t have color, so it won’t make your tank/bowl red as a brick does, and it will last longer (similar to a rock it could damage your porcelain though).
-
Cans Of Food
The final items to put in your toilet are cans of food. This is actually a great idea because cans are a standard size, they can be stacked, and they are heavy.
Add 2 cans of baked beans to your tank and it will displace just about the same as a brick – and without the mess.
I’d remove the paper around the can as it will come off over time. I’d bet the cans will hold up well over time, even if they are submerged in water!
Conclusion
Whoever came up with the idea to put a brick in the tank of a toilet was a wise person. They understood that we were wasting a lot of water and the understood the simple concept of displacement.
If you have a new toilet you don’t need to worry about putting a brick in your toilet. Your toilet likely uses 1.28 gallons per flush and is made to use a small amount of water. However, if you have an older toilet that uses 3 or more gallons per flush, a brick or other item is a great idea.
Because bricks are made from red clay they tend to break down in water. They will help save water, by displacing almost 1/3 gallons of water, but they’d be better utilized in a waterproof bag.
Whether it’s a brick, pebbles, rocks, or sand, it’s a good decision to put these in a bag or container. Ziploc bags, grocery bags, water bottles, and peanut butter jars work great to hold heavy items and keep them from breaking down in water.
Whatever you place in your toilet, make sure it won’t wear down the porcelain (porcelain can crack and break if there is firm pressure against it). Cheers to you for saving water and thanks for stopping by the Toilet Travels blog. Use the search bar to find more helpful hacks regarding toilets!