Why Is My Toilet Leaking at the Base?

Do you spy water pooling near the toilet? Don’t delay. Left unaddressed, your toilet will continue leaking a little bit with each flush, allowing dirty water to pool on the bathroom floor and potentially causing unsanitary mold damage and rot in the subfloor. 

A toilet leaking at the base often points to a faulty wax ring. This component should create a tight seal between the toilet base and the drainpipe. When it breaks, water may escape every time you flush. Fortunately, it’s not difficult to find the source of the leak and troubleshoot the problem. If you conclude the wax ring needs to be replaced, we suggest calling a plumber for professional toilet repair

Test Your Leaky Toilet 

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

Check for Condensation 

The “leak” around your toilet may not be a leak at all. Instead, water vapor might be condensing on the bowl or tank and puddling onto the floor. To check for this, soak up any standing water with a rag and flush the toilet. Look thoroughly —if there are no new water pools around the base, condensation is the likely culprit. Turning on the exhaust fan when you shower is an easy way to solve this problem. 

Examine the Toilet Tank 

Feel around the exterior of the tank for any moisture. To rule out condensation, clean up any droplets with a paper towel. Then, look 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 probably leaking at the base like you thought. Before contacting a plumber, try tightening the tee bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. You may need to take off the decorative plastic caps with a putty knife or flathead screwdriver to reach the bolt underneath. Be careful not to over-tighten, as this could damage the porcelain. If the bolts spin freely, you might need to get new ones. 

Look for Signs of a Worn-Out Wax Ring 

If bolting the toilet tighter to the floor doesn’t help, a faulty wax ring could be the cause after all. Besides water pooling around the toilet, you may notice a sewage smell, indicating a broken sewer line seal. And if the toilet moves from side to side, this might mean it’s sitting on a broken flange, the component that connects the flush system to the plumbing line. A rocking toilet might also point to a soft subfloor resulting from the leak, which demands immediate attention to prevent the problem from causing more problems. 

Hire a Plumber to Replace the Wax Ring 

If you discover that a faulty wax ring is indeed the problem, resolving it requires removing the toilet, replacing the ring and reinstalling the toilet. While it’s possible to attempt the repair without a plumbing license, DIY toilet removal is not recommended. Here’s why you should leave the task to a experienced plumber: 

  • Porcelain is a surprisingly delicate material. If you whack the toilet on the floor or hit it too hard with a plumbing tool, it could crack, forcing you to pay for a toilet replacement in addition to everything else. 
  • Lifting and lowering the heavy plumbing fixture is a two-person job. Even then, poor lifting techniques could leave you with an injured back. 
  • Checking for water-damaged subflooring requires a experienced eye. And if any damage has been done, it should be addressed before reinstalling the toilet, something a plumber can help arrange. 
  • If you discover the entire flange at the bottom of the toilet is damaged, it will need to be replaced. This is even more difficult than repairing the wax ring. 
  • Removing the toilet, making the necessary fix and reinstalling it can take a few hours, if not longer. You most likely have better things to do, 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, resolving toilet leaks is one of our specialties. Whether you go through the troubleshooting tips outlined above before reaching out, or you want us to handle the whole job from start to finish, we’ve got you covered. Every job is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee,* so sit back, don’t worry, and let us take care of the problem. 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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