Leaking toilets are both inconvenient and alarming. It does not only cause discomfort, but it may also indicate a major problem within your pipeline. Not only that, but toilet leaks need to be addressed as soon as possible in order to prevent mold growth or further damage to your bathroom floor.
Nevertheless, toilets that overflow at the bottom are pretty simple to repair with some do-it-yourself assistance. You can simply perform the necessary repairs by following this guide, which explains why your toilet is leaking, what tools you’ll need, how to fix the leak, and how to prevent future toilet leaks.
Why Does Your Toilet Leak?
Before you start fixing your leaking toilet, you must first determine the root cause of why your problem arose. Hence, listed below are the common causes of toilet leaks:
The Tee Bolts Must Be Tightened.
Two bolts, known as tee bolts, secure the base of your toilet to the floor. If these screws go loose, the bathroom will most likely shake, causing the wax ring gasket to shatter. When you flush the toilet, drain water may leak out of the base if your tee fasteners are too slack.
The Wax Ring Must Be Replaced.
When the toilet is loose, the wax ring typically has to be changed. Another reason a wax ring may need to be changed is because it has become worn and is no longer malleable over time. This means the gasket is not entirely effective. As a result, water seeps through the base.
The Toilet May Be Cracked.
Think about it: was there any object that fell in your toilet recently? Toilet leaks can be caused by a crack in your toilet or bowl. However, for cases such as this, the best option for you would be to replace your toilet.
How Do You Fix Leaking Toilets?
Here are some ways on how to fix leaking toilets.
Examine for condensation.
Check the exterior of your toilet bowl before beginning your toilet repair endeavour to ensure that the issue isn’t caused by condensation.
If the trouble is caused by condensation, consider the following methods to avoid water from pooling at the base of the toilet:
- Set up a tray.
- Shield your water reservoir.
- Check to see if your flapper is broken.
- Shower in shorter, cooler bursts, then turn on the fan.
- If this isn’t the case, keep looking for the cause of the matter.
Tighten the tee bolts if necessary.
Remove the protective coverings from both sides of your toilet’s base. Tighten the tee bolts using an extendable open-end wrench. Fixing the bathroom against the floor compresses the varnish circle, causing the toilet drain outlet to shut. If the tank screws are already secure or cannot be screwed anymore, you may want to remove and replace the restroom to install the new wax ring and bolts.
Unplug and detach the toilet.
Turn off the water when you start disconnecting your toilet. The shut-off handle is usually found on the left edge of the tank, in between the water supply pipe and the water valve tailstock.
- Flush your toilet to remove all of the drainage and water in the bathroom.
- To remove extra water from the toilet tank and bowl, use a wipe or towel.
- Disconnect the nut that connects the stockpile pipe to the refill outlet tailpiece using a screwdriver.
- To use your device, eliminate the screws from the tee bolts at the bottom of the bucket. If the tube bolts are rusty and won’t spin, you must slice each screw with a hacksaw.
- Lift the toilet away from the floor drain by raising it. Rather than attempting to relocate the bathroom on your own, it could be advantageous to get someone to help you.
- To avoid damage, turn the toilet on its side.
Take the wax ring and replace it.
Wipe away the entire waxes all around the drainpipe with a putty knife. Check to ensure that all of the old wax has just been removed.
Moreover, repair the wax cover if all of the wax was already worn away. The circle will be placed with the plastic cone facing the drainage. Check that the tee bolts are correctly positioned in the critical apertures on either side of the flange.
Replace the toilet.
Raise the toilet carefully and set it across the tube, allowing the tee bolts to slide through the openings in the toilet’s bottom. Rock the bathroom down onto the wax ring, compressing the wax to produce a tight seal.
Fasten the tee bolts and nuts using a wrench. However, be careful not to overtighten, as this might cause the porcelain to break.
Conclusion
If water is leaking beneath the bathroom, you may be able to prevent it by fixing the cupboard bolts that attach the toilet to the ground. Using a putty knife or notched screwdriver, remove the coverings that cover the bolts. Finally, always remember that excessive force may damage the toilet’s base to crack. Hence, gently adjust each bolt a bit at a time using a screwdriver.