How to Prevent Toilet Leaks Around the Base
Looking for a trusted company to help you with your leaking toilet? Lexicon Plumbing & Gas Fitting are renowned plumbing experts in Blue Mountains. With our experience and expertise at plumbing, we'll get to the source of the leak right away.
Although a toilet leak is nothing to be alarmed about, nobody likes going into the bathroom with a wet floor. Additionally, a leaky toilet can waste a lot of water and increase your water bill. Good thing, though, that fixing toilet leaks in the toilet's base can be made easy through the help of a DIY guide.
To help you quickly perform the repairs you need, we've prepared this guide that thoroughly explains the causes of your toilet leak, what to do about it, and the tools you'll need to fix it.
Why is the Toilet Leaking from the Base?
Loose Water Supply Line
The water supply line transports water from a nearby cold water source to the toilet tank. If you look closely, the supply line can be seen running from your tank into the wall at the bottom.
Sometimes, water leaks continuously from the base of your toilet because of a loose water supply line. To make sure that the nut and rubber seal are tight, check whether it is properly connected to the toilet tank.
Wax Ring Has Worn Down
The wax ring basically connects the sewer pipe to the base of the toilet by creating an airtight and watertight seal. It is exactly what its name implies. However, over time, the wax ring may also worn out, losing its malleability and the seal it creates. When this happens, water can start to seep through the base.
Loose Tee Bolts
A toilet bowl usually consist of two parts - the lower bowl and the upper tank, connected together with brass or plastic bolts and secured by a rubber seal.
These bolts or the O-ring gasket that seals the tank to the bowl may become looser with time. Simply tightening the nuts will improve the fit of the two bolts. You can also use a new gasket if your old gasket gets broken.
Water Condensing Around the Toilet Bowl
Toilet bowls and tank lids are usually made of porcelain and can feel quite cold, making it common to see water collecting around the toilet base - particularly in more humid environments where condensation easily builds up and runs down.
As toilet collects moisture, water droplets form and fall on the floor. Thus, if you want this issue resolved, you can divert bathroom condensation by increasing or upgrading your bathroom exhaust fan or putting a drip tray below the tank lid.
Tools and Supplies You Need to Stop Your Toilet From Leaking
Now that you've learned about some of the possible reasons behind your leaking toilet, you might want to figure out now how to fix leaking toilet using a few tools.
Small wrench
To get rid of some of the nuts and bolts holding your toilet to the ground, you'll need a wrench that has an open end.
Screwdriver
Depending on the type of toilet you have, you might need a set of screwdrivers to remove various toilet components and repair it.
Bathroom Cleaner
Before cleaning around the toilet base, make sure to flush the toilet and ensure that the dripping toilet water is cleaned thoroughly using an an anti-bacterial bathroom cleaner.
Toilet Repair Kit
If possible, buy a toilet repair kit that includes toilet bolts, plastic closet flange, toilet wax ring, wax seal, and putty knife.
Stick with a wax ring if you feel more at ease with something known and proven. But if you want it modern and mess-free, use a wax seal.
Hacksaw
If there are stripped and corroded bolts, removing them won't be as frustrating if you have a hacksaw on hand. Using a hacksaw, you can cut through the toilet bolts, including the plastic ones on the toilet seat and the ones at the base.
Rubber Gloves
Put on a pair of rubber gloves before you start cleaning the toilet to
protect your hands from dirt, grime, and bacteria.
Caulking
Re-sealing the sides of your toilet to the ground requires caulking. Basically a caulk is a flexible material used to cover air leaks through joints, cracks, and spaces.
How to Fix A Leaking Toilet
The water in your toilet is probably flowing for one or more reasons. Whether it is a defective water valve or a leaky flapper, the good news is that none of these issues require a plumber.
In fact, given the right tools and proper instructions, you can diagnose and fix a leaking toilet by yourself without spending too much. Here's how.
Check for Condensation
Before proceeding to fix a leaking toilet, check the outer surface of your toilet bowl first to ensure that condensation isn't the main cause.
If you notice water pooling at the base of the toilet, here's what you can do:
- Set up a tray.
- Insulate your water tank
- Ensure that your flapper is not broken.
- Use an exhaust fan to cool the bathroom floor
However, if this is not the issue, continue looking for other causes.
Tighten Toilet Bolts
The nuts on the bolts need to be tightened if the toilet wobbles from side to side. Take hold of the nut with pliers. Then, turn it in a clockwise direction to tighten the bolts.
Do this carefully since the wax ring that seals the toilet drain outlet will be crushed if the toilet is pressed firmly against the floor.
Remove the Toilet Bowl
Turn off the water before removing the toilet bowl. Generally, the shutoff valve is situated to the left of the toilet, alongside the water supply tube and water valve tailpiece.
- Flush the toilet to remove all the water from the toilet tank and bowl.
- Next, remove the nut holding the supply tube to the fill valve tailpiece using a screwdriver.
- Use a wrench to remove the nuts from the bolts at the toilet base. If the tee bolts are corroded and stuck, you will need to use a hacksaw to cut each one in half.
- Lift the toilet while removing the closet flange. In this process, you may ask for assistance to relocate your toilet carefully.
Remove the Wax Ring and Install a New One
Use a putty knife to remove the old wax ring from the area surrounding the drain opening. Once all of the putty has been removed, replace the wax with a new one.
Take note that the plastic cone of the ring should be towards the drain. Make sure the tee bolts are properly installed in the crucial apertures on both sides of the flange.
Reinstall Toilet Bowl
To allow the tee bolts to fit through the holes in the toilet base, carefully lift the toilet and set it back over the drain. Gently rock the toilet onto the wax ring as you press it down, compressing the wax to form a tight seal. Be careful not to overtighten them as this could result in the porcelain cracking.
Connect the Water Line
Turn the water back on and reconnect the water supply tube to the fill valve. After the tank has filled up, flush the toilet and then check for leaks. Caulk the base of your toilet once you are certain there are no leaks.
Takeaway
Fixing a toilet leak should typically be as simple as outlined in this article. However, there may be instances where a temporary fix may not work successfully. Thus, if you are not familiar with plumbing matters, it is best to seek the help of a professional plumber to avoid any mishaps and tampering of your toilet supply line.
At Lexicon Plumbing & Gas Fitting, we offer a range of services aimed to protect your property from the strain and damage brought on by water leaks. We have the expertise to locate the source of the leak and, if necessary, replace the entire line. Contact us today for quick and easy toilet leak repairs.
