Drop some food coloring into the tank water and check back in an hour. If the bowl shows signs of coloring (it'll turn pink if you used red dye), you have a bad flapper.
How to Check for (and Fix) a Leaking Toilet Tank
Water leaking from your toilet tank doesn't just cost you money on your utility bill — it can also cause water damage to your bathroom floor and premature wear on your toilet's internal workings.
Test for a Leak With Food Coloring
Replace a Bad Flapper
If you find that water is leaking from the tank into the bowl, the flapper needs to be replaced — it's an inexpensive, straightforward fix that stops the leak at the source.
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