Toilet Floor Seal Leak

Frequently a toilet leaks simply because the wax ring has lost its seal.

Toilet floor seal leak.

Why toilets leak at the base if you notice water pooling around the base of your toilet there are several possible causes. When a toilet leaks water from the bottom base on the bathroom floor you most likely have a worn out wax ring seal. The damage from a toilet leaking at base if you neglect to repair your leaky toilet there can be some negative outcomes. The base of a toilet is held to the floor with two tee bolts threaded up from the mounting ring through holes in the base of the toilet.

This is to prevent sewer gas and other bad smells from escaping into the bathroom. If there is any leaking that occurs in a toilet it would happen through the floor and not on the floor. Simply tightening the bolts often solves this. Odors in bathrooms traced to leaky toilet seals or loose toilets loose toilets if your toilet wobbles on the floor it is unsafe and unsanitary.

By far the most common reason for a broken seal is a toilet that rocks when you sit on it. Under every toilet is a large round wax seal. A toilet would actually never leak right onto the floor. However if your toilet is old you may need a new seal.

Shut off the water at the valve and drain the water from the toilet tank as indicated above. Push the new wax ring onto the toilet horn with the rounded side toward the toilet. Mark the water closet bolt positions on the floor with masking tape. Toilets tend to leak below typically into a basement and seeing cases where a toilet is actually leaking on to the floor is quite rare.

Typically serious damages occur from toilets that are located on second or third floors of homes. Leave a gap in the caulk at the back of the base so if or when the toilet leaks at the floor gasket the leak will manifest without creating a mold farm or dripping through to the ceiling below etc. This wax ring seal is positioned between the toilet and the floor. Disconnect the water supply line from the toilet tank.

Use a plunger to force out any water that remains in the bowl. If the tank is not securely bolted to the toilet water can leak out around the seal and travel down the sides of the bowl to the floor making it look like the leak is coming from the base. Things you ll need wax replacement ring neoprene optional dry sponge plastic cup wrench or pliers flathead screwdriver blanket or piece of cardboard optional new wax seal with urethane foam core. If you didn t maintain your toilet and a slow leak caused damage it s unlikely that your insurance company will cover the cost of repairs.

The wobbling has compressed the wax. Dry out the bowl completely. Alternately fill a five gallon bucket with water then. Check for leaks at the toilet base you may see stains on the floor at the base of the toilet photo above or.