Why Is My Toilet Leaking at the Base?

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

A toilet oozing water at the base often is a sign of a faulty wax ring. This part should form a tight seal between the toilet base and the drainpipe. When it breaks, water may seep out every time you flush. Fortunately, it’s simple to find the source of the leak and find the problem. If you conclude the wax ring needs to be replaced, we advise reaching out to a plumber for quality 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 precisely where the water is coming from.

Check for Condensation

The “leak” around your toilet could not be a leak at all. Instead, water vapor might be condensing on the bowl or tank and dripping onto the floor. To check for this, soak up any standing water with a paper towel and flush the toilet. Look closely —if no more water pools around the base, condensation is the likely culprit. Using the exhaust fan when you shower is an easy solution.

Examine the Toilet Tank

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

Inspect the Water Hose

Look at the cold-water supply line located on the back of the toilet. A loose connection, broken hose or malfunctioning shut-off valve could cause a leak. If tightening the fittings doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need a plumber to replace the water supply hose.

Tighten the Tee Bolts

If these troubleshooting tips don’t help, your toilet is more likely than not leaking at the base like you originally guessed. Before calling a plumber, try tightening the tee bolts that secure the toilet to the floor. You may need to remove the decorative plastic caps with a putty knife or flathead screwdriver to access the bolt underneath. Be careful not to screw the bolt too tight, 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 failing wax ring could be the culprit after all. Besides water pooling around the toilet, you may notice a sewage smell, indicating a broken sewer line seal. And if the toilet rocks back and forth, this may mean it’s sitting on a broken flange, the part that connects the flush system to the plumbing line. A rocking toilet might also be a sign of a soft subfloor resulting from the leak, which needs immediate attention to prevent the problem from doing more damage.

Hire a Plumber to Replace the Wax Ring

If you find that a faulty wax ring is indeed the problem, resolving it necessitates removing the toilet, replacing the ring and reinstalling the toilet. While it’s possible to do the work without a plumbing license, DIY toilet removal is not recommended. Here’s why you should leave the job to a qualified plumber:

• • Porcelain is an unforgiving 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 large plumbing fixture is a two-person task. Even then, poor lifting techniques could leave you with an strained back.

• • Checking for water-damaged subflooring requires a Expert 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 below 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 change and reinstalling it can take a few hours, if not longer. You doubtlessly have better things to do, giving you yet another reason to leave the job to a plumber.

Schedule Toilet Repair with an Expert Plumber

At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, fixing toilet leaks is one of our fortes. Whether you complete the troubleshooting tips outlined above before scheduling an appointment, 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 it. To schedule reliable toilet repair in your neighborhood, 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.