Have you noticed a puddle of water around the base of your toilet? Don’t ignore it! Water can cause a lot of damage if not taken care of. This article will show you how to find the cause of your toilet leak.
Make sure it’s actually the toilet
You might have a “sweaty bowl.” Yes, that’s actually a thing. Just as a cold glass of water can “sweat” from hot, humid air condensing on the outside of the glass, a toilet bowl can also produce condensation. This can then run down the toilet and create a pool of water at its base. You can install an anti-sweat valve that mixes in a little bit of hot water with the cold water in your home, eliminating the sweating problem. Here’s how to install an anti-sweat valve.
Finding the source of the leak
Finding the actual source of a leak can be tricky since water is clear and where the water pools is not always where the problem is. Here are some tips for finding the source of the leak. First, mop up the water on the floor with a rag or sponge. Now look closely for where the water is coming from. If you’re having trouble finding the leak, add a few drops of food coloring into the bowl and tank. This will help you see where the water is exiting. Just don’t leave the food coloring in the toilet too long—you could stain the bowl. Here are a few places you should look for the leak: Toilet tank Even if it seems like the leak is near the floor, check your tank. A cracked tank can cause a trickle down the bowl and to the floor. If your tank is cracked, it might be time for a new toilet. Shutoff valve Look behind the toilet to see if the water is coming from the shutoff valve. The valve may need to be tightened or replaced. Make sure you shut off the water to your home before attempting to fix the shutoff valve or you could have even bigger problems! Under the toilet bowl Can you see water trickling out from under the bowl? There could be several causes of this. The most common causes:
If you don’t see any water after mopping up the puddle, try flushing the toilet. If the toilet leaks only when it’s being flushed, then the rubber gasket between the tank and bowl is probably worn out and needs replacing.
Get professional plumbing help Plumbing jobs can be frustrating because there’s no such thing as “good enough.” Because if the seals and connections aren’t done correctly, you’ll end up with more water leaks—causing serious damage. So, if you’re not comfortable fixing the toilet leak yourself, give Ragsdale a call! We serve the entire metro Atlanta area and provide expert toilet repair and replacement.
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