Addressing Toilet Leaks

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

A leaking toilet does not have to ruin your day or consume your weekend.

Taking Care of Toilet Leaks

Home maintenance in Wilshire Heights, TX is like home maintenance anywhere: a fact of life. A bathroom leak is not an unusual occurrence for homeowners, but addressing it quickly is important to prevent inconvenient and expensive water damage. Whether you are a DIY warrior or a person who prefers to call in the pros, knowing the cause of a leaking toilet can lead to a swift resolution.

The Usual Suspects

Toilets in the average home are not mechanically complex, and this is good news because it makes their repairs fairly predictable. Leaks are often noticed after a flush; if a puddle collects at the base, it could mean that:

• the wax seal has failed or the closet bolts need tightening.
• faulty supply tubes or shut-off valves need replacing.
• the bowl could be cracked or prone to sweating.
  
  

The Appropriate Responses

Resolving a leaking toilet can range from a simple adjustment to a complete replacement or anything in between. Once you have identified the problem, the solution is likely to be one of the following:

• If tightening the closet bolts doesn’t resolve the problem, removing the toilet and replacing the wax ring could be necessary. The problem could also be a broken flange, which will become apparent when the old wax ring is removed. A broken flange will require replacement.
• If the supply tube has failed, it is wise to replace it with a flexible, stainless and mesh model. If the shut-off valve has failed, consider replacing it with a new quarter-turn ball valve.
• If the bowl is cracked, replacement will be necessary. If the tank or bowl sweats, installing a mixing valve is a solution many plumbers recommend.

A leaking toilet does not have to ruin your day or consume your weekend. Tackling it yourself or making an informed call to a professional can make fast work of the needed repair.