We all know the mess that can be caused by a leaking toilet. Just imagine what would happen if your toilet starts leaking right now, and you don’t know any professional plumbers. Maybe you don’t even have the money to get it fixed. This can be very frustrating, right? To avoid this, you need to have at least some basic skills and knowledge of how to fix your leaking toilet. That is what this article is all about.
A leaking toilet is very dangerous since it can lead to the growth of mold and bacteria on your floor. It also leads to higher water bills if you don’t fix it in time. With this guide, you will no longer need to worry about your leaking toilet. Are you ready to learn? Keep reading.
Identify the Leakage Source
The first step should be identifying where the leakage is coming from. You can perform the following tests.
1. Testing the Tank
If you hear some sounds from the bowl, chances are that there might be a problem with the tank. To test this, add some food color to the water in the tank and then allow your toilet to remain unused for 30 minutes. If your bowl water is tinted, this is a clear sign that the leakage is from the tank.
You should check out some tankless toilets if you don’t want a toilet with a tank.
2. Testing for Toilet Bowl Leakages
Add some food color into the water in your toilet tank and allow it to settle for 30 minutes. Use a paper towel to wipe around the external part of the bowl. Remember to wipe the floor around the toilet immediately. If you see some tinted spots on the paper towel, then it means that the leakage is from the toilet bowl.
3. Handle
The most common cause of toilet leakages is caused by the handle assembly. Try to jiggle the handle, and if you will no longer hear the leakage sound, there might be a problem with the assembly. Handle leakages are very easy to fix since, in most cases, they normally involve a bad flapper or a loose chain.
How To Fix a Damaged Wax Ring
The process of fixing a damaged wax ring can be a bit time-consuming, but it is ultimately very simple. You will need to lift the toilet base, which means that you can’t do it alone.
- The first step would be to drain the toilet bowl and the tank. You should also disconnect the water supply valve.
- After this, you can now remove the bolt that connects the water supply with the tank. You can use a towel to trap any water that is trapped in the valve.
- Use a wrench to remove the bolts that hold the bowl to the floor.
- Lift the toilet gently and place it on some towels.
- After you have found the ring, you can now remove the flange and wipe away any wax.
- Clean the area to remove any wax residue.
- Put the new ring on the flange and remove any wax residue on the lower part of the toilet.
- You can now place the toilet back to its position. Remember to tighten all the bolts. You should be very keen not to over-tighten the bolts, as this might cause cracks.
- Reconnect the water supply and the tank.
- Flush the toilet to confirm that you have fixed the leakages.
How To Replace the Bolt Gaskets and Spud Washer
You will need the following items;
- Screwdriver
- Rag
- Small wire brush
- Spud washer
- Adjustable wrench
- Sponge
Procedure
- Turn off the tap before you start fixing the toilet. You should also ensure that the water supply is completely turned off. Remember to close the valve that is located below the tank. Turning it clockwise will pause the inflow right from the tank.
- Ensure that the tank is empty. You can do this by just flushing the toilet. This will allow all the water in the tank to drain easily. Use a sponge to suck up the remaining water.
- You can now remove the nuts and bolts after ensuring that the tank is empty. Start with the nuts located below the cistern. You can use a wrench to remove the bolts from the tank.
- Get rid of the spud washer – Lift the toilet slowly after removing all the bolts and nuts. Remove the spud washer using the wrench because it might be a bit tight.
- Replace the washer- Put the spud nut back in its place tightly. After this, you can now replace the bolt tank’s gaskets. You can use a wire brush to remove the remains of the old gasket. Clean the surface thoroughly before you put the new gasket in place.
Conclusion
Toilet leaks occur every day due to some plumbing problems. We hope that this article will be very useful when fixing your leaking toilet. Follow the procedures carefully, and you will no longer need the services of expensive plumbers.
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