If you’re not sure if your toilet is leaking underneath, it can be a bit difficult to tell for sure. in this article, we are going to talk about how to identify if your toilet is leaking and what you can do to fix it.
4 Ways to tell if your toilet is leaking underneath
1. Damp area around the toilet base:
Well, everybody knows if there is a leak in your toilet. We can feel it. If you smell a moldy odor in your toilet, that means the water can be leaking out through the floor and making a mess on the ground.
2. Dirt floor:
Floorboards should be clean and dry when you are looking at them. When you notice dirt or wetness on the floorboard, this is an indication of leakage coming from your toilet’s bottom valve or tank than your toilet itself.
3. Sewer smell:
If you smell a sewer smell in the toilet, it could be because of sewage coming from the drain line or the overflow tube. As a consequence, this is not an indication of a toilet or tank leakage but should be fixed anyway.
4. Water Visible Around The Toilet Base:
If you notice water around the base of your toilet, this could mean that your toilet base is lifted up from the floor because of soft ground and water flowing inside your home. This is not an indication of a toilet leaking underneath because the water is not coming from your toilet.
What causes a toilet to leak from the bottom?
It could be caused by several things. The most common reason is a failing seal at the bottom of the toilet. leaky toilet as a result of an old or worn-out rubber gasket between the tank and flapper valve or the rim and flapper valve. For those toilets with a flushometer, it could be caused by a broken siphon tube.
Can a toilet leak without you knowing?
yes, sometimes you might not even know that your toilet is leaking. It can be caused by the water hammer effect or a leaky ballcock cartridge. not always you can tell if there is a leak when you flush the toilet. Sometimes it could be hard to tell if you have a problem or not.
How to troubleshoot intermittent toilet leaks
“leaky toilet” could be caused by several things such as:
- A leaking flapper or flapper chain,
- A leaky flush valve or ballcock,
- A faulty fill valve
- A running toilet tank
- An obstruction in the tramway (can be caused by too much toilet paper).
Examine your toilet to check if there is any leak and how bad it is by following these steps:
1. Flush your toilet and hold the handle down until the tank empties and the flapper closes.
2. Place a little food coloring in the tank water before you flush the toilet. (Don’t flush yet.)
3. Wait for 15 to 20 minutes for the color to appear in the bowl water (without flushing). If you don’t see any color in the toilet bowl after 15-20 minutes, then you don’t have a leak or a real problem with your toilet.
4. If you see color in the bowl water, don’t continue to flush the toilet. If you flush now, the color will go away.
5. Use a flashlight to examine if there is any leak at the bottom of your toilet where the flapper or ballcock is located.
6. If there is a leak coming from your flapper valve, you can simply replace it with a new one for about $2-$3 (check local hardware store).
How do you fix a toilet that is leaking from the bottom?
You can fix a toilet that is leaking from the bottom by following the steps below
- Turn off the water supply to prevent any damage caused by water flow.
- Clean up the floor area around your toilet first because it is messy and it might be dangerous because of water.
- Use a wrench or pliers to disconnect your flapper, flush valve, or ballcock in order to replace it with a new one (depending on what is causing the leak). BE CAREFUL WITH THE WATER PRESSURE!!!
- When the water is off, open up the toilet and check for any leaks.
- When the leak is not coming from your toilet’s bottom valve or tank, it can be caused by your sewer line. You need to determine where the leak is coming from first and then call a plumber to fix it.
- If you don’t see any leaks or you have no idea where they are coming from, then there is probably is some problem with your drain line or sewer line as well.
Arthur C. Jackson is the resident handyman and toilet expert for BestToiletGuides.com. Drawing from his experience, he tends to focus on how he can help the consumer.
