major leak at base of toilet... help!
#1
12-31-02, 10:10 AM
major leak at base of toilet... help!
I have a fast and major leak from the base of my toilet... would this be due to a bad or broken wax ring?
Details -
I recently had a plumber come out to fix a clog in my toilet.... old pipes, old toilet.... happens all the time.
When the plumber left everything seemed to be fine. Until about a day later when a major leak sprung from the base of the toilet. Now my toilet is unusable and the plumbing company is saying that the leak is due to not having the toilet caulked to the floor and that isn't their problem.
Step back - the plumber replaced the wax ring and did not caulk the toilet to the floor.
I don't mind caulking the toilet, but it seems to me that there is a larger issue here. There is about a half gallon of water that poured from my toilet before I made it to the spigot.
I know it is the responsibility of the plumbing company to fix it, but I don't want to deal with them (because of the attitude) and just want to fix it myself.
Before I tear the toilet up....... Could it be something other than a bad wax seal that would cause this fast leak?
Thanks so much! And Happy New Year!!
Details -
I recently had a plumber come out to fix a clog in my toilet.... old pipes, old toilet.... happens all the time.
When the plumber left everything seemed to be fine. Until about a day later when a major leak sprung from the base of the toilet. Now my toilet is unusable and the plumbing company is saying that the leak is due to not having the toilet caulked to the floor and that isn't their problem.
Step back - the plumber replaced the wax ring and did not caulk the toilet to the floor.
I don't mind caulking the toilet, but it seems to me that there is a larger issue here. There is about a half gallon of water that poured from my toilet before I made it to the spigot.
I know it is the responsibility of the plumbing company to fix it, but I don't want to deal with them (because of the attitude) and just want to fix it myself.
Before I tear the toilet up....... Could it be something other than a bad wax seal that would cause this fast leak?
Thanks so much! And Happy New Year!!
#2
12-31-02, 10:37 AM
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That so-called "plumber" is full of hogwash!
The caulking around the base of a toilet is for looks, NOT for a seal.
A toilet should be leveled (with beveled plastic shims made for the purpose, if necessary) and firmly secured to the toilet flange, which should be firmly bolted on top of the finished floor. (Only the thickness of flange should be above floor level.)
It should not move or rock at all. If it was moving or rocking when that "plumber" left it, they should come back and do it right.
Your problem certainly sounds like a wax ring problem. It also could be a cracked toilet underneath, or if the flange is not bolted flush on top of the finished floor, it may need two wax rings or a flange extension.
The only way to correct it is to pull the toilet and see what you're dealing with.
You can do a Search above on Toilet Seals, and there should be numerous how-to posts on doing it right.
Good Luck!
Mike
The caulking around the base of a toilet is for looks, NOT for a seal.
A toilet should be leveled (with beveled plastic shims made for the purpose, if necessary) and firmly secured to the toilet flange, which should be firmly bolted on top of the finished floor. (Only the thickness of flange should be above floor level.)
It should not move or rock at all. If it was moving or rocking when that "plumber" left it, they should come back and do it right.
Your problem certainly sounds like a wax ring problem. It also could be a cracked toilet underneath, or if the flange is not bolted flush on top of the finished floor, it may need two wax rings or a flange extension.
The only way to correct it is to pull the toilet and see what you're dealing with.
You can do a Search above on Toilet Seals, and there should be numerous how-to posts on doing it right.
Good Luck!
Mike
Thanks Mike!
