Why Does Your Toilet Leak Every Time You Flush?

8/30/2019 (Permalink)

Water pooling in the base of a toilet

Common Causes Of A Leaking Toilet

Although it may seem like a mere annoyance, a leaking toilet should be taken seriously. To avoid the larger issues that water damage can cause in Batavia,IL, it is advisable to address the malfunction head on. There are several common causes of such a leak.

Faulty Wax Ring

One reason you may find water pooling at the base of the toilet is that the wax seal between the toilet and the floor has dried or was improperly installed. Even for someone with no plumbing experience, it is simple to replace the wax gasket to fix your bathroom leak. Just follow some simple steps:

• Turn off water and flush toilet to drain
  
• Unhook supply line and remove any bolts
  
• Rock toilet back and forth to loosen seal and gently lower it on its side
  
• Scrape off old wax from toilet and flange
  
• Place new wax ring on flange and put toilet back into place
  
  

Broken Flange

Another possible culprit for a leaking toilet is the flange. If it is broken, you can fill in the missing piece with a repair strap. First you need to loosen the screws that secure the flange to the floor. Then you will need room to slide in the new strap under the flange. Finally, re-tighten the screws and install the final closet bolt. If the flange is bent, or too damaged to repair, you can also reinstall a full replacement flange.

Degraded Supply Tube

You will also need to remove your toilet to check the status of your supply tube. If it appears damaged, you will need to replace it. Even if it isn't damaged, you should also consider replacement if it is made of chrome-plated copper, as they aren't very durable. Flexible stainless-steel polymer supply tubes last much longer than any others on the market and they are easier to manipulate when reinstalling your toilet.
It is best to solve your leaking toilet problem before you need to call water damage remediation specialists. It may seem daunting, but it is a good idea to get to know your plumbing as a homeowner.