What to Do If Your Toilet Is Leaking

Toilets are extremely long-lasting plumbing fixtures, with an average lifespan of more than 40 years. Water will occasionally pour out from under the toilet, causing significant water damage. Leaks can become trapped behind the toilet, rotting the floor surfaces and the framework beneath them. To minimize more damage and costly repairs, a leaking toilet should be repaired as soon as possible. A leaking toilet can waste more than 16,000 litres of water each year, according to Clean Up Australia Ltd., a non-profit environmental conservation organization. This article will show you how to fix a leaking toilet.

Diagnose the Problem

The failure of the wax seal is the most common cause of water gathering around the base of the toilet. Other issues, though, could be causing the leaks. Determine whether the water is coming from under the toilet, a loose supply tube, a sweaty bowl, or a damaged tank by using a sponge and a towel to dry the floor. The water leaking from under the toilet could be stopped by tightening the closet bolts that secure the toilet to the floor. Proceed to the next steps if water is still leaking after tightening the closet bolts.

Remove the Toilet

Turn off the water at the shutoff valve and remove as much water as possible from the tank before removing the toilet. With a wrench, unscrew the water closet nut. If the bolt spins with the nut, use locking pliers. The nut that links the water supply line to the tank’s bottom must be unscrewed as well. Before you pull the bowl off the floor, you must first remove the tank from the bowl.

Apply the New Wax Gasket

Clean the wax residue from the bottom of the toilet and the closet flanges thoroughly. The residue can be scraped off using a knife. Look for cracks or bends in the flange. Place a repair strap beneath the flanges to fill in the missing portion if the flange is damaged. It is not recommended to install a full replacement flange because replacing the entire flange is a difficult process. Apply the new wax gasket to the flange’s center. It is possible to avoid costly structural damage by replacing the wax seal.

Reset the Toilet

Set the toilet back in place after connecting the water supply line to the shank on the bottom of the tank. Press down on the toilet bowl rim to compress the gasket. After tightening the closet bolts, press down once more. Using a close-quarter hacksaw, remove the caps of the closet bolts. After tightening the closet bolts, replace the caps that cover them. After you’ve finished resetting the toilet, flush it and look for leaks.