I had a toilet leaking around the rubber stopper at the bottom of the tank, which not only wasted water but caused pure annoyance at the sound of the tank endlessly filling at a trickle. Recalling that the life of rubber skin-diving equipment can be lengthened with applications of silicone spray, I decided to try some silicone on the rubber stopper. I drained the tank, and without removing the stopper I sprayed it with the silicone and worked the preservative into the rubber with my fingers. The spray evidently added some suppleness to the stopper, because when I refilled the tank, the library was once again quiet. Silicone spray is available at auto-supply stores as well as dive shops.
Stephen Denton, Somerville, TN
