Notice water pooling up around the base of your toilet? A leaky toilet is never a pleasure for homeowners and if left alone, it could cause major headaches. While there are a number of reasons why a toilet could be leaking – some that are much more involved – some can be fixed with a few simple solutions.
Water at the base of the toilet is a good sign that your toilet is in fact leaking. However, sometimes water can puddle as a result of condensation on the outside of the bowl which means that there is no leak.
Water Leaking Under The Toilet
To test this, wipe up the water and dry the bowl. If water is still leaking onto the floor you probably have an issue with the bowl, the tank or the shutoff valve. If you find that water is leaking from underneath the toilet, you might be able to stop the leak by tightening the closet bolts that secure it to the floor.
Water Leaking From The Tank
To test if you have a leaky tank, add a few drops of food coloring to the water. Let it sit for about 15 minutes and if the water in the bowl changes color, you have a leak. It’s also important to check the outside of the tank for small cracks or chips. This could be the source of the water on the floor as well.
To prevent water from leaking from the tank into the bowl, check to make sure the chain is the right length and that the flapper is closing properly after each flush. You may need to wipe away scale deposits that have settled around the flapper preventing it from operating correctly.
Need to call in a plumber for backup? The experts at Uptown have been serving the Twin Cities for over 100 years so you know you can count on us! Give us a call today at (612) 324-1004 to schedule an appointment and don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook!
