While toilet leaks should not be considered a major problem, nobody likes to go into the bathroom in wet socks. It is usually easy to fix a toilet that leaks at its base with these DIY steps. This guide can help you make quick repairs. It explains the cause of your toilet leak, the tools that you will need, what you can do to fix it, as well as tips on how to avoid future ones.
Here are 4 reasons why toilets leak at the base
Here are some reasons your toilet could be leaking at the base.
Tee Bolts Must Be Tightened
Two bolts known as tee bolts hold your toilet to the ground by holding its base. These bolts can become loose and cause the toilet to rock.
If the tee bolts on the toilet are loose, it is possible for water to seep out of its base.
The wax rings must be replaced
The toilet’s wax ring is usually broken and needs to be replaced.
A wax ring that is not flexible or worn down may also need to go out of service. This means that the seal may have lost its integrity. This allows water to seep through the base.
There is a Loose water supply line.
If the water supply line is loose, water will leak from your toilet’s base all the time and not just when it is flushed.
To ensure the nut is tight, check the connection to the tank where the supply line connects.
Water Condensing on Toilets and Dripping Down
The porcelain is also colder than water in a toilet bowl or tank. If you live in a humid area, water will drip down from the porcelain bowl and pool at the base.
Once you find the source of the leak, the right tools can be gathered to fix it.
There are tools and supplies you need to stop your toilet from leaking
Here are the essential supplies you need to fix your toilet if it leaks from its bottom.
Wrench
To take out some bolts and nuts that seal your toilet to the ground, you’ll need to use a wrench. You should make sure that the wrench is not closed.
Screwdriver
Depending on which toilet you have, you may require a set of screw drivers in order to unscrew different parts of your toilet.
Bathroom cleaner
Use an antibacterial bathroom cleaner to clean the toilet base. This ensures that the toilet water is properly cleaned.
Cleaning Cloths
You will need multiple cleaning cloths in order to complete this task. The best towels are microfiber towels or terry cloth.
Washers and Gaskets, Toilet Bolts. Toilet Wax Ring.
You will need to buy a toilet repair set, which includes everything you need. If you’d rather, you can buy toilet bolts and washers separately.
Cordless Drill or Driver
Some nuts and bolts can be difficult to remove manually. You will need a power tool like a cordless drilling machine to loosen tight bolts.
Hacksaw
Some bolts might be stripped and corroded. A hacksaw is a handy tool that can reduce frustrations in removing corroded or stripped bolts.
The hacksaw can be used to cut through the bolts at the toilet’s base, the plastic bolts holding the toilet seat together, and any other bolts.
Rubber gloves
It is not an easy task to repair a toilet-base leak. Protect your hands with gloves.
Caulk
Caulking can be used to seal the toilet edges.
All the necessary tools and materials are at your disposal so you can begin to stop your toilet leakage.
How to Stop your Toilet from Leaking Around the Base
These steps are detailed so that you can fix your toilet leaking by yourself.
1. Check For Condensation.
Before you start your toilet repair project, make sure to inspect the outside of the toilet bowl to ensure that there is no condensation.
To prevent water from pooling at the base your toilet, you can try these tips:
- Install a tray.
- Insulate your water tank
- You must ensure that your flapper doesn’t fall apart.
- Cooler showers are better, so turn on the fan.
If that is not the problem continue to look for the cause.
2. The Tee Bolts should be tightened.
On both sides, remove the plastic covers from your toilet’s base. Adjustable open-end wrenches are used to tighten the bolts. By pressing the toilet against a floor, the wax ring that seals out the drain outlet of the toilet will be compressed.
To install a new wax rings and bolts, remove the toilet if they are too tight.
3. Disconnect the toilet from the mains and remove it.
Before you disconnect the water, shut off the water supply to your toilet. The shutoff valve is located usually on the left side near the water supply tub and tailpiece.
- You can flush your toilet to remove all water from the tank and toilet. You can use a sponge to drain the excess water from your toilet bowl and tank.
- Next, you will need to remove the nut holding the supply tube to its tailpiece with a screwdriver.
- To remove the nuts from each tee bolt at the base, use your wrench. If the tee bolts have become corroded or won’t turn, you might need to use a saw to cut them out.
- You can remove the toilet by lifting the lid up and removing it from the floor drain. It might be easier to have someone assist you with moving the toilet than to try to do it yourself.
- To avoid damage, position the toilet on its sides.
4. Removing the wax rings is enough to install a new one.
Use a putty blade to scrape away any remaining wax from the drain opening. You must get rid of all old wax.
After all the putty has dried, install the new wax ring. The plastic cone will face down towards the drain when the ring is placed. Make sure that the tee-bolts are correctly positioned in the key openings at each end of the flange.
5. Reinstall the Toilet.
Place the toilet over the drain carefully. The wax ring will compress the wax and seal the toilet. You should tighten the tee nuts and bolts with a wrench. Do not over-tighten them as this could cause porcelain cracking.
6. Connect the Water Line
Connect the water supply tub to the fill valve and then turn on the water again. The toilet should be flushed after it fills up again. Next, inspect for any leaks. Make sure you seal your toilet’s base with caulk once you are certain there are no leaks.
How to Prevent Future Toilet Leaks
You can prevent future leak damage by reviewing these five methods to stop toilet leaks.
You can fix leaky toilets right away
Don’t wait until a toilet leak becomes serious before fixing it. You can prevent your toilet from leaking by maintaining its cleanliness. It is also cheaper to fix the toilet leak immediately than paying for water bills in the long-term.
Do not flush items other than human waste or toilet paper.
Because they don’t dissolve like toilet paper, flushing items that aren’t appropriate for the toilet can lead to major plumbing problems. A blockage in your pipes could lead to more serious problems than just a minor leak at the toilet’s base.
To unclog your toilet, don’t use chemicals drain cleaners.
Chemical drain cleaners may be too harsh to flush down your toilet. These cleaners could cause damage to plumbing fixtures and pipes.
Every six months, examine the components of your toilet.
You should make sure your toilet components work properly twice a year to avoid unexpected leakages. This proactive approach can prevent small toilet problems from becoming big problems.
Get a Plumber when You Need One.
There are some toilet plumbing issues that you cannot fix. Hiring an experienced Glendale, CA Plumber will relieve your stress and worries when it comes to plumbing repair.
You can be sure that your toilet leak will not happen again if you hire a professional Glendale, CA plumber. Common plumbing problems like a leaking toilet at the base can be fixed now to prevent bigger problems later.