Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Is Your Toilet Base Leaking?

One of the most annoying things you can experience as a homeowner is a leaking toilet base. The sad part is, determining the source of the leak can be difficult. Pinpointing where the unwanted water is coming from, and fixing it, will often take you a lot more than just a few minutes. In many cases, you will need the help of professionals like Spartan Plumbing.

Toilet Base Leaking

Several factors may cause your toilet to leak from the base. Knowing them can help you prevent them, saving you a lot of money in expensive repairs. Following are some of them:

  • Wax Seal Issues – Your toilet base is most likely water-sealed with the use of a wax ring. If your toilet recently underwent a plumbing job, or if you had work done on the sub-flooring, it may take longer than usual for the drain to work. This means there might be some water sitting around the wax ring. The water will then spill out in the base area if the ring is a bit loose.

You will know this is the problem if you observe some rocking in the toilet, or if you see visible gaps around the toilet seal. If the bowl is not firmly fixed to the base, the wax seal may sustain damages. You can easily replace the wax seal, but to make sure the problem is properly fixed, it is best to let a professional handle the job for you.

  • Toilet Not Fixed Firmly – Your toilet is supposed to be fixed to the floor tightly, secured with a pair of bolts at the toilet bowl’s sides. If the bolts are a bit loose, water may leak. If this is the root of your problem, make sure both bolts are tightened. This way, the bowl will be secured tightly to the floor.
  • Toilet Bowl Cracks – The presence of cracks in your toilet bowl’s fabric often leads to leaking around the base. Thus, when you flush, the water pressure will force water to seep through the crack. This will create a water pool around the toilet base.

If you are sure this is causing the problem, you can fix it by removing the water from the bowl, then sealing the crack using waterproof sealant or glue. Use the type intended for baths and sinks. Make sure to dry everything first before using the toilet. Replacement of the entire unit may be necessary if the leaking problem persists.

  • Other Leak Sources – If any of the tips above didn’t solve your problem, the problem may be caused by something else. One possible cause is a leaking tank, in which case the water leak flows around your toilet’s base. The bolts securing the tank to your toilet bowl may be causing the leak. It is also possible that the gasket under the bowl is the culprit.

If this is the problem, you can easily fix it by removing the bolts and replacing them. You may also fix the problem just by tightening the bolts if you can, without removing them. To achieve the best seal possible, screw from the tank’s inside going down. Use a screwdriver for this.

Final Word

A toilet leaking at the base may be annoying and difficult to troubleshoot. It can eat a lot of your time. But, it will save you a lot of time and money if you pinpoint the cause of the leak and are able to fix it on your own.

However, not all leaks are easy to fix. For such plumbing concerns, call Spartan Plumbing right away to schedule an appointment.

The following blog post Is Your Toilet Base Leaking? was originally seen on http://www.spartantucson.com/blog/

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