Your toilet is arguably the most relied-on device in your home. However, it’s uncommon without the proper maintenance for your toilet system to last more than 40 years. Occasionally faults will present, and our experts have concluded that one of the most common faults we see today is a leaky toilet.
Whether your toilet is leaking from the basin or from the tank, our step-by-step guide should help you diagnose the issue you are currently facing and how to repair it yourself if possible.
Although our experts want to make it clear, that if you don’t feel like you can repair your toilet yourself you should get in contact with an experienced plumber to help resolve the issue.
Identify what may be wrong with your toilet bowl
You may notice a small pool of water where your toilet meets the floor, while we appreciate this is never pleasant there are multiple causes of this inconvenience.
Condensation on the toilet collects on the floor – As a toilet basin contains water on the inside it's sometimes easy to assume that the toilet is leaking from the inside. However, in many cases, this is the opposite. It’s not a hasty leap to presume that most households have a toilet alongside a bath or shower in their bathroom – the steam that Is produced from this form’s moisture drops that will run down the bowl or tank and collect on the floor. If you believe this may be the cause of your leaky toilet, our experts advise improving the bathroom exhaust fan, warming the bathroom, and ensuring proper ventilation reaches the bathroom when bathing.
The toilet is loosely attached – Typically toilets are attached to the floor with bolts. These bolts attach to the metal or plastic flange. The flange then attaches to the floor around the top of the sewer pipe. It's completely possible that over time the bolts can loosen – so be sure to check if it's possible for you to tighten these. Another similar explanation may be that the toilet seal is loose or leaking, in which case you will want to have this replaced by a plumbing expert.
Toilet tank and bowl are loose – Commonly toilets consist of two major parts: the lower bowl and the upper tank, with the tank connected to the bowl and a connector, called a mack washer. The bolts that connect these two components can often become loose. If this is the case, we would be getting an expert out to help assist as it can be a tricky job.
You may find that your toilet is leaking at a location other than the base, however, if this is the case it's most likely an internal system issue and we wouldn’t advise you to stick your hands in your toilet. Whilst many faults may seem simple to repair, you will quickly discover that without the adequate training that all plumbers have under their belt things will start to prove more difficult than necessary.
We strongly advise that if you are unsure about why your toilet is leaking you should call an expert as quickly as possible to get it safely and efficiently repaired.