Toilet Leak Detection: How To Fix For Troubleshooting

Posted on: November 30, 2016
By: Alan O'Neill
Posted in: Plumbing

Toilet Leak Detection Repair In Houston

Toilet leak detection is one of the things that a responsible homeowner can do as a preventative measure that will not only shed light on potential issues, but it will also keep your home’s plumbing running as smoothly as possible.There are many different signs that your toilet may be leaking. You may notice water on the floor by the base of the toilet, or you may hear unusual sounds, like continual running water, trickling water, or hissing.

The sounds of a toilet leaking water can be quite annoying to your ears, but it can also be a burden on your wallet if the issue isn’t immediately detected and repaired.

Toilet Leak Detection At Home

This toilet leak repair tutorial addresses whether you have condensation or a leak, finding the source of the toilet leak and how to seal a crack in toilet bowl.

So you have a toilet leak…what do you do next? If you notice water regularly pooling on the floor around the base of the toilet, you are right to think that you may have a leak. It’s important to take steps right away to determine the source of the leak and to get the toilet fixed. Besides being inconvenient, toilet leaks waste water and increase your utility bill. Declare the leaky toilet “out of order” and don’t use it until you solve the problem.

Step 1: Check to see if the leak is really just condensation

See if the leak could be from condensation forming on the tank or bowl that is dripping on the floor. Feel around the sides of the tank as well as the bottom to see if you notice any droplets of water. This common problem can be solved in different ways including changing out the flapper, lowering the room humidity, insulating the tank, and other methods including replacing the toilet.

Step 2: Identify where the leak is coming from

Determine if the leak is coming from inside the tank or elsewhere. If you hear the sound of continual running water, trickling water, hissing, or if the toilet never seems to properly shut off, you may have a leak inside the tank. However, you don’t always hear a noise when there’s a leaky tank so you can perform this simple test using household food coloring if you suspect you might have a leaky toilet tank. If the food coloring shows up in the bowl water, you may need to replace the toilet tank mechanisms. If the food coloring shows up at the base of the toilet on the floor, you need to investigate further.

Step 3: Check and seal the crack in toilet bowl

Water at the base of a toilet can be coming from several places. There may be cracks in the toilet bowl that need sealing. To seal the toilet tank cracks, you’ll need to drain and empty the bowl. If sealing the cracks doesn’t work, you’ll need to replace the toilet.
There could be a leak between the water supply line and the ball cock at the base of the tank. You can try tightening the connections, or you may need to replace the parts.
The bolts that connect the toilet to the floor may need tightening or replacing. Take care when tightening them to avoid cracking the base of the toilet tank.
The wax gasket seal that connects the toilet to the waste pipe may have failed. This is a common cause of toilet leaks around the base.
If you can’t find any leak source in the toilet itself, check the water shutoff valve to see if it could be the culprit.
To replace the wax gasket, you’ll have to remove the toilet from the floor and then replace it after the gasket is fixed or a new one is installed, so decide if you’re up for this DIY task or whether you’ll need to call in a professional. Read more…

The Benefits Of Toilet Leak Detection

The benefits of toilet leak detection use half as much water to expel waste through the toilet. Over time, the reduction in water consumption could significantly reduce your utility bills. Call (713) 812-7070 us for your home service and repair needs.

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