Why Is The Base Of My Toilet Leaking?
Just found out that your toilet is leaking from the base? Please don’t waste any more time and check out this guide to know the reason behind the leak and how to fix it.
One of the worst things to come across is a toilet leaking from its base.
A leaking toilet can quickly be frustrating, as the water may flood your bathroom floor. It is not ideal to continue using the toilet in such an unhygienic situation.
So, it’s best to address the problem immediately for an easy resolution. But, many people either find out about the leak later or choose to ignore it. It can also be challenging to explain the leak to a professional plumber.
So, we prepared this handy guide to help you understand the problem better. We have even included some possible DIY solutions to fix the issue.
Let’s find out why your toilet is leaking at the base!
There can be several reasons why the base of your toilet develops a leak. Note that the leak might be hard to notice in some instances. And, in bathrooms with a shower area adjacent to the toilet, people can mistake the accumulated water for a leak.
So, before discovering the reason behind the leak, ensure it’s a leak rather than stagnant water. In any case, the situation isn’t desirable, and you may require a better drainage system. Similarly, poor ventilation systems can lead to water collecting on the floor.
It would help to be careful about these problems, as stagnant water in a bathroom can damage the flooring. It may also lead to the growth of mould, which could have severe health implications. Unfortunately, a bathroom exhaust fan can only do so much. So, if you find these to be the problem behind the water on the bathroom floor, contact a plumber immediately. Turn off the main shutoff valve to stop water wastage from your leaky toilet while waiting for a professional.
Now, let’s move on to some common causes of a leaking toilet base.
A typical reason behind a leaking toilet base is improper installation. As you might know, the toilet is usually attached to the floor with bolts on a closet flange made of metal or plastic. And the plastic closet flange sits on top of the sewer drain pipe.
The bolts might have loosened if you had used the toilet for a few years. However, it may also be due to hurried installation, where the bolts failed to attach completely to the closet flange. Other factors, like the wax seal falling apart, may cause the bolts to loosen.
You can check the toilet to see if there are any loose parts. You can also speak with your local plumber about reinstalling the toilet correctly.
We often don’t pay attention to toilet installations, and very few people know how the system works. If this is your first time experiencing a leaking toilet, issues like a broken wax seal may evade your attention.
A broken watertight seal is one of the most widespread reasons your toilet leaks at the base. This seal sits between the bottom of a toilet and the closet flange to ensure that dirty water can’t escape your toilet.
Since this problem frequently occurs in most homes, most plumbers can remove the toilet to reinstall a fresh wax seal or a silicone ring. If you’re doing it alone, clean the closet flange properly to ensure the seal and wax ring are tight. You will also need a screwdriver or putty knife for this.
It is also worth noting that most of us habitually clean toilet bowls in our homes with heavy chemicals to eliminate germs and bacteria. It’s detrimental to the wax seal and can lead to its breakage. So, if you have a toilet with a broken wax seal, consider using milder cleaning agents after installing a new wax ring.
Interestingly, you can trace a toilet leak from the base to the mack washer connecting the tank to the bowl rim. As the water drips and collects at the bottom, you may think the toilet leaks from the base. Note that this problem doesn’t exist in toilets where the toilet tank and bowl come pre-attached as one piece.
Such a leak might be caused by problems like a loose bolt or a cracked O-ring gasket. Even though tightening the toilet bolts may fix the problem, a gasket must be changed to stop the water from leaking. In any case, it is best to hire a professional plumber trained to give you the right solution and detect leaks with the right equipment.
Although uncommon, another reason for a leak near the toilet base might be a faulty water supply line. Fortunately, it’s easy to diagnose this issue. That said, your toilet would always leak instead of leaking when you flush in the case of a damaged water supply line.
To fix this issue, you must ensure the connection bolts are tight and in good condition. If you have called in a plumber, turn off the main water supply valve to stop the water from flooding your bathroom.
That’s everything we had to tell you about the reasons behind a leak at the base of your toilet. Toilets leak for many reasons, but if water is pooling on your floor, you must fix it! Remember to diagnose the issue properly; if you’re confused, contact us. Our team are happy to help fix a leaking toilet base!
And since a leaking toilet creates an unhygienic situation, properly cleaning up afterwards is essential. Cleaning will include disinfecting the area around your toilet and bathroom floor. We also recommend you mop the floor with bleach to eliminate germs.
With that, we have reached the end of this guide. Until next time!
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