What May Be Causing Your Toilet To Leak?

6/14/2019 (Permalink)

Different Causes of a Leaking Toilet

Discovering a pool of water under your toilet after flushing can leave you wondering what is causing this to happen. It is likely that your toilet is leaking, which can be a result of various factors. Understanding the different causes of a leaking toilet in your Hall Park, OK, home can help prepare you to fix the problem properly and reduce water damage.

Dry Wax Ring

One of the most common reasons for a bathroom leak is a failed wax ring. The wax ring, which is located between the sewer pipe and the bottom of the toilet, can cause leaking around the toilet’s base when the ring dries out. If this is the case, you’ll need to do the following:

• Shut off water by turning valve behind toilet
  
•  Flush until all water is drained from tank and bowl
  
• Disconnect water supply tube from bottom of tank
  
• Remove toilet and wax ring
  
• Clean flange and install new wax ring
  
  

You can follow these steps on your own or have a plumber do it for you. Make sure to quickly replace your wax ring in order to prevent any further water damage.

Loose Tank Assembly

Another possible explanation for your leaking toilet is that the tank is not tightened properly. To fix this problem, first turn the shutoff valve and drain the water as explained in the last section. Next, use a screwdriver to hold the tank bolts in place and tighten each one. Once the tank is tightened, your job is complete.

Improper Installation

In some cases, the problem is that one or more parts of the toilet were not installed properly to begin with. If an important piece is not inserted correctly, or if it is missing completely, your toilet will not function the way it should and therefore may start to leak. Depending on what needs to be replaced, you may have to remove the toilet as described previously and reinstall one with repaired parts.

If left unaddressed, a leaking toilet can lead to severe damage in your home. Schedule water damage repair to keep the problem under control.