Why Is My Toilet Leaking at the Base?

Do you notice water pooling around the toilet? Don’t delay. Left unaddressed, your toilet will continue leaking slowly with each flush, allowing unsanitary water to pool on the bathroom floor and potentially causing potentially dangerous mold damage and rot in the subfloor. 

A toilet oozing water at the base often is a sign of a damaged wax ring. This piece of equipment is supposed to create a tight seal between the toilet base and the drainpipe. When it quits working, water may seep out every time you flush. Fortunately, it’s simple to test the source of the leak and pinpoint the problem. If you determine the wax ring needs to be replaced, we advise hiring a plumber for quality toilet repair

Test Your Leaky Toilet 

Occasionally, a nearby leak can make the toilet seem like it is leaking at the base. Follow these steps to find out specifically where the water is escaping from. 

Check for Condensation 

The “leak” around your toilet may not be a leak at all. Rather, water vapor could be condensing on the bowl or tank and running down onto the floor. To check for this, wipe up any standing water with a rag and flush the toilet. Look carefully —if no additional water pools around the base, condensation is the likely cause. Turning on the exhaust fan when you shower is an easy fix. 

Examine the Toilet Tank 

Look closely around the outside of the tank for any wetness. To rule out condensation, wipe up any droplets with a dry washcloth. Then, examine it again, checking for loose bolts or cracked porcelain leaking water onto the floor. Tighten any loose bolts you notice. If the tank is damaged, you’ll need to replace your toilet. 

Inspect the Water Hose 

Examine the cold-water supply line behind the toilet. A loose connection, defective hose or malfunctioning shut-off valve may cause a leak. If tightening the fittings doesn’t fix the problem, you may need a plumber to replace the water supply hose. 

Tighten the Tee Bolts 

If these troubleshooting tips prove unhelpful, your toilet is more likely than not leaking at the base like you suspected. Before calling a plumber, try tightening the tee bolts that secure the toilet to the floor. You may need to pry off the decorative plastic caps with a putty knife or flathead screwdriver to reach the bolt at the bottom of. Be careful not to screw the bolt too tight, as this could damage the porcelain. If the bolts spin freely, you may need to replace them. 

Look for Signs of a Worn-Out Wax Ring 

If bolting the toilet tighter to the floor doesn’t stop the leaking, a faulty wax ring could be the problem after all. Besides water pooling around the toilet, you may detect a sewage smell, indicating a broken sewer line seal. And if the toilet wobbles, this may mean it’s sitting on a broken flange, the piece of equipment that connects the flush system to the plumbing line. A rocking toilet might also indicate a soft subfloor resulting from the leak, which needs immediate attention to prevent the problem from causing more problems. 

Hire a Plumber to Replace the Wax Ring 

If you determine that a broken wax ring is indeed the problem, resolving it involves removing the toilet, replacing the ring and reinstalling the toilet. While it’s possible to do the fix without a plumbing license, DIY toilet removal is not recommended. Here’s why you should leave the job to a certified plumber: 

  • Porcelain is a sometimes brittle material. If you drop the toilet on the floor or hit it too hard with a plumbing tool, it could chip, forcing you to pay for a toilet replacement along with everything else. 
  • Lifting and lowering the cumbersome plumbing fixture is a two-person job. Even then, poor lifting techniques could leave you with an strained back. 
  • Checking for water-damaged subflooring requires a experienced eye. And if any damage has been done, it should be fixed/repaired before reinstalling the toilet, something a plumber can help coordinate. 
  • If you discover the entire flange at the bottom of the toilet is damaged, it will need to be replaced. This is even harder than repairing the wax ring. 
  • Removing the toilet, making the necessary fix and reinstalling it can take a few hours, if not longer. You probably have better things you’d rather be doing, giving you yet another reason to leave the repair to a plumber. 

Schedule Toilet Repair with an Expert Plumber 

At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, repairing toilet leaks is one of our fortes. Whether you go through the troubleshooting tips outlined above before scheduling an appointment, or you want us to handle everything from start to finish, we’ve got you covered. Every job is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee,* so sit back, take it easy, and let us complete the repair. To schedule dependable toilet repair in your community, please contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today

*Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions. 

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