Leaks from a leaking toilet aren’t particularly frightening, but nobody likes coming out of the bathroom with wet socks. Let’s take a look at all the possible reasons.
4 Reasons Why Toilets Leak at the Base
There are a few reasons why your toilet may be leaking from the base.
1. Loose water supply line
If there’s a faulty water supply line, you’ll notice that the water keeps leaking from your toilet’s base all of the time, rather than just when you flush it. Make sure the nut and rubber seal on the supply line are tight.
2. Dripping Toilet
The water in a toilet tank and bowl is generally quite cold, as is the porcelain. Water will drip down from the porcelain of your toilet due to humidity, and you may notice water accumulating at the base of your toilet.
It’s time to get the necessary tools to repair the toilet after you’ve located the source of the leak.
3. Tightened tee bolts
The toilet is held to the ground by two tee-bolts, which are connected to its base. If these bolts loosen, the toilet will likely rock, causing the wax ring seal to break. If your tee bolts are very loose, water may seep out of the base each time you flush the toilet.
4. Wax Ring replacement
Due to the fact that sometimes the toilet becomes loose over time, the wax ring usually has to be changed. Another cause might be that the wax ring has worn down and no longer bends. This implies the seal has deteriorated. As a result of this, water seeps through the base as a consequence of the seal breaking.
What Are Some Of The Most Essential Supplies You Need If You Really Want to Stop Your Toilet From Leaking
Here are some of the most essential supplies, but please bear in mind the list is not exclusive:
- Bathroom Cleaner
It’s critical to wipe around your toilet’s base with an antibacterial bathroom cleaner. This ensures the leaking toilet water is properly cleaned.
- Driver or Cordless Drill
Some of the fasteners may be tough to remove manually. Make sure you have a power tool, such as a cordless drill, on hand to loosen stubborn bolts.
- Hacksaw
Bolts may be corroded and stripped. Having a hacksaw on hand might assist you in preventing the frustrations that come with attempting to remove rusted and stripped bolts.
To cut through the toilet seat’s plastic bolts, the toilet’s base end, or any other toilet-related hardware with a hacksaw, first cut along the bolt lines.
- Cleaning Cloths
Make certain you have a variety of cleaning cloths on hand to finish this task. Terry fabric and microfiber towels are the best options.
- Gaskets, Washers, Toilet Wax Rings, Toilet Bolts, and Knives
You’ll have to buy a toilet repair kit, which includes everything you’ll need to fix your toilet. If you want, you may get washers, toilet bolts, and other components separately.
- Caulk
Caulking is necessary for resealing the perimeter of your toilet to the ground. At this point, you’re almost ready to start preventing your toilet from leaking with all of your tools and supplies at hand.
- Screwdriver
Depending on the toilet you have, you may require a set of screwdrivers to remove various toilet components in order to repair it.
- Wrench
You will probably have to get a wrench to remove some of the bolts and nuts that fasten your toilet to the ground. Make sure the wrench is open-ended.
- Rubber Gloves
There is a lot of waste created when you fix a toilet base leak. Ensure that you have gloves on to prevent your hands from getting dirty.
How to Put An End To Toilet Leaks Around The Base
Take a closer look at these techniques so you may actually repair your toilet leak on your own.
1. Check For Condensation.
Make sure the problem isn’t due to condensation before you begin your toilet repair job. Check the outside of your toilet bowl to see whether it’s a condensation issue.
If water puddling at the toilet base is caused by condensation, try the following to prevent it from happening again:
- Install a tray.
- Take shorter showers at a bit lower temperatures, and turn the fan on.
- Check to see whether your flapper is broken.
- Insulate your water tank.
If the problem hasn’t been resolved up to this point, keep looking for the source of the problem.
2. Tighten Your Tee Bolts Properly
Remove the two plastic covers from the bases of your toilet on both sides. To tighten the tee bolts, use an adjustable open-end wrench. The wax ring that compresses when tightening the toilet against the floor ensures that the toilet drain outlet is sealed.
If the tee bolts are already tight or can’t be tightened, you’ll need to remove and replace the toilet in order to install a new wax ring and new bolts.
3. Detach and Remove the Toilet
Before you begin unplugging your toilet, turn off the water supply. Before you begin unplugging your toilet, turn off the water supply. The shutoff valve is generally located towards the left side of the toilet, next to the water supply tube and water valve tailpiece.
- Flush your toilet to get rid of all the water in the tank and bowl. To eliminate extra water from your toilet tank and basin, use a sponge or towel.
- Remove the cap from the tailpiece and, using a screwdriver, remove the nut that connects the supply tube to the fill valve tailpiece.
- Remove the nuts from the tee bolts at the toilet’s base with your wrench. If the tee bolts are rusted and won’t turn, you may need to saw through each bolt with a hacksaw.
- To remove the toilet, grip the tank and pull it away from the floor drain. It’s often easier to get assistance moving the toilet than trying to do it on your own.
- To protect against damage, place the toilet on its side.
4. Replace the Wax Ring
Using a putty knife, scrape away the old wax from the drain opening around it. Make sure you get rid of all of the existing wax. Install the new wax ring once all of the putty is removed. The plastic cone will be positioned with the inner surface facing down toward the drain. Make sure the tee bolts are properly installed in each key area on both sides of the flange.
5. Reinstalling Process
Remove the toilet from the floor, then lift it carefully and replace it over the drain so that the tee bolts can pass through the base of the toilet’s holes. Rocking gently, press down on the toilet until it compresses the wax to create a secure seal. To avoid the porcelain from cracking, tighten the tee bolts and nuts with a wrench.
6. Reconnecting The Water Supply
Replace the fill valve, reinstall the toilet tank cover, and reconnect the water supply tube to it. After the toilet tank has been refilled, flush it again to check for leaks.
Once you’ve verified there are no leaks, seal the toilet’s base with caulk.
Get In Touch With Some Of The Best In The Business
There are some toilet plumbing difficulties that you simply cannot control. When it comes to plumbing repairs, hiring a professional plumber takes the pressure and worry out of the equation.
You can rest confident that your toilet will be repaired properly the first time with a professional plumber!
By dealing with typical plumbing issues, such as a toilet leaking at the base, you can avoid more serious and costly plumbing problems in the future. Hire a professional plumber to handle all of your plumbing issues, big and small, with Pratt Plumbing.
