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Nothing may put you off more than coming back home and realising that your bathroom is a wet mess because of a leaking toilet. Toilet leaks cause many issues such as damp surroundings that can become a breeding ground for mould and a lot of wastage of water. Water continuously leaking from your toilet is neither good for the environment nor your pocket as it increases your water bills. If you find a leaking toilet at your home, don’t panic. The first idea that may pop into your head is to remodel your bathroom but it is important to assess what caused the leak, quickly stop it, and how you can maintain a dry bathroom.
If a toilet flush tank leakage isn’t your only concern and has a leaking tap, we have a guide that takes you through fixing a leaky tap.
Common Causes of a Leaking Toilet
There are many reasons your toilet may be leaking. Pinpointing the leak's cause will help you save a lot of time and money in the future. Common causes for leaking toilets are:
- Condensation on the Toilet Bowl: Many times, you may have mistaken condensation on the toilet bowl for leakage. Consider the climate you are living in and its effect on your bathroom. Not only the weather but hot water baths can easily cause condensation in the bathroom. While this isn’t a cause for concern, ensure that you have scratched this reason off your list.
- Loose or Stuck Flush Knob: Due to long usage or defect, the flush knob can get stuck or loosen up, causing a continuously leaking toilet. A stuck knob can be fixed easily by adjusting it correctly or you can replace it with a new knob.
- Cracks on the bowl or tanks: Once you have invested in a sanitaryware, you expect it to last a lifetime. While these bathroom solutions are built to last, in an unfortunate situation the bowl or tank may crack causing water to leak from the toilet, giving you a rough time.
- Rusted Pipe due to Leakage: A leaking water pipe leading to your bathroom toilet may have rusted. Rust causes cracks in pipes that result in leakages. This can cause a leak in your bathroom.
- Loose or worn out seal: If water is logged near the base of your toilet, it may be due to a worn-out seal at the base of the bowl.
With technology, toilet flushes have evolved and you get sensor toilet flushes that have many advantages over the old, outdated versions.
Now that you are in a better position to understand what is causing the pipe, sanitaryware or flush tank leakage, it is time to list down a few tools that you may need to fix it.
- Wrench
- Screwdriver
- Bathroom cleaner
- Cleaning cloths
- Drill or driver
- Gloves
- Caulk
- Hacksaw
In addition to the above-mentioned tools, it is always advantageous to have a few bathroom cleaning equipment handy.
Steps to Fix a Leaking Toilet
If your toilet is leaking from below the base, your best bet to stop it is by tightening the bolts and securing the toilet close to the base. You can use your screwdriver to unscrew the caps that are covering the bolts and then use a wrench to tighten them. Be careful not to use too much pressure as you may crack the base of the leaking toilet. If tightening the bolts doesn’t help, you may have to remove the toilet and replace the wax gasket.
Step 1: If you have decided to remove the leaky toilet, the first thing to ensure is that you have switched off the water valve.
Step 2: In case of leakage in the tank, remove its lid and entirely flush the tank for repair. The goal is to make the tank entirely dry. To achieve that, you can use a sponge to clean up all the remaining water.
Step 3: Disconnect the tube that provides the water supply to the tank by loosening the compression nut. In case there is a water pipe leaking, you can temporarily tape the pipe, and later replace it with a new one.
Step 4: Carefully remove the rounded caps that cover the bowl’s base. Use a wrench to remove the bolts and nuts that tie the entire toilet to the ground.
Step 5: Now that the toilet is unhinged, carefully remove it and place it on a blanket or towel
Step 6: Look to scrape the entire old wax gasket from the closet flange
Step 7: Try to add a strap under the flange after the screws have been loosened. Remember to fasten the flange back to the floor when done.
Step 8: Replace the old wax gaskets with new ones and ensure that they are fastened tightly to the floor with the closet flange.
Step 9: Connect the water supply tube to the valve shank at the bottom of the tank and tighten the closet bolts.
Step 10: Finally, connect the supply tube to the shut-off valve. Fill up the valve, flush the tank to check repair results and leaks, if any.
A leaking toilet is a problem that many would never want to face. But with the repair tips provided by Jaquar, you are in a better position to handle this situation if it arises. While sometimes a small repair solves the problem, a toilet asks for renovation time and again. Not just for utility but also comfort as your bathroom is a sanctuary and it should be designed to your taste and comfort. Plan your bathroom with Jaquar and bring your dream bathroom to life. Read these tips for bathroom aromatherapy and bathroom plants that will help enrich your bathroom experience further.