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What to Do When Your Toilet Is Leaking Water from the Base
Have you recently noticed water pooling at the base of your toilet? The first time you spot water around the base of a toilet, you might think of it as a one-off accident — maybe someone made a mess while washing their hands, for instance. When you establish that you’re dealing with an ongoing problem, however, you will start wondering what to do next. You may even panic a little as you worry that your leaking toilet base will prove to be costly to repair.
What Can Cause Toilets to Leak Water from the Base?
When a toilet leaks water from the base, the problem generally falls into one of three categories — each of which have their own unique solutions. Let’s take a look.
- You may not have a leak at all. Instead, the cold water within the toilet bowl could be acting as a “condensation magnet”, causing moisture droplets to settle onto the sides of the toilet bowl. Over time, this condensation will drop toward the floor, where it can be seen as a small puddle.
- Your toilet might leak water from the base only after flushing. In this case, you have no doubt that the issue is originating from the toilet itself.
- Your toilet may be leaking water — slowly or more quickly — from the base continually, whether or not it is flushed. In this case, the issue may be an incorrectly-installed toilet. You may also have a more deeply-seated issue, such as a leaky water supply or broken shut-off valves.
What Are the Possible Solutions?
The solution depends on the cause of the leaky toilet — but before you call in the professionals, there are a few simple things you can try yourself.
- Should you discover that you have a problem with condensation, increase ventilation, consider installing a dehumidifier, and wipe the condensation from the side of the toilet bowl regularly.
- Check if the tee bolts that are meant to hold your toilet bowl firmly in place have become loose. If they are loose, first ensure that your toilet is level and then attempt to tighten the tee bolts. If this isn’t possible, because they are broken, they will need to be replaced. This may fix the leaky toilet entirely.
- The wax ring that acts as a sealant around the base of your toilet bowl may be worn out, and in need of replacing. DIY enthusiasts can take this job on themselves. Everyone else will need to call a plumber.
- If none of these issues prove to be the cause of your leaky toilet base, the problem is more complicated. The connection between your toilet and the water supply line could be loose, you could have a leak somewhere within your pipes, or the shut-off valve may be broken.
In this last case, diagnosing the root cause of your leaky toilet can prove to be complicated. A reputable leak detection company can help — in turn, allowing you to remedy the problem and prevent damage to the floor and underlying structures.