leaky toilet
#1
01-23-04, 04:51 PM
leaky toilet
I have a leak somewhere in my toilet stack. I have opened up the kitchen ceiling and can see a drip but it seems to be coming from above somewhere. The toilet has been replaced in the past 5 yrs and I think that they did not seal the wax ring correctly. Could that be it? The house is 82 yrs old and the floor in the bathroom is not level, could that be the cause? without destroying the whole bathroom floor is there a way to check or do I just have to dig in?
#3
01-23-04, 05:36 PM
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You can pull the toilet to determine if it is the wax ring leaking.
Check for floor wetness and wood damage around the flange when the toilet has been removed.
If the floor wood is too soft and damaged from the leaking, you will have to replace it.
An unlevel toilet can be the cause of a leak because of a poor seal of the wax ring.
Get a new wax ring, beveled plastic shims made for toilet-leveling purposes, and a set of brass toilet bolts. These should be available anywhere plumbing supplies are sold.
1. Turn the water off to the toilet.
2. Flush it and sponge the left-over water in the tank into a nearby drain.
3. Remove the water supply line nut at the bottom of the tank and the nuts and washers at the sides of the base of the toilet.
4. Carefully lift and roll the toilet onto a pile of towels or old carpet (porcelain breaks easily).
5. Scrape and clean off the old wax ring from the toilet base horn and the floor flange.
6. Replace the two old (probably corroded) flange bolts with the new bolts. Use the old nuts or small bits of the old wax to hold the new bolts upright and in place at 3 and 9 o'clock.
7. Stick the wax ring onto the toilet horn or onto the flange, and carefully lower the toilet into position on the bolts and flange.
8. Sit or stand on the toilet bowl rim and rock the toilet down to the floor. Use a level across the bowl to level it with the beveled plastic shims, if necessary. Snug the washers and nuts down onto the flange bolts so that the toilet cannot move. Do NOT over-tighten them or you can crack the porcelain toilet base.
9. Re-attach the supply line nut and turn the water on to check for leaks.
10. For looks, seal around the base of the front and sides of the base of the toilet with tub-and-tile caulk. Leave the back open so that you can check for leaking easier later.
Good Luck!
Check for floor wetness and wood damage around the flange when the toilet has been removed.
If the floor wood is too soft and damaged from the leaking, you will have to replace it.
An unlevel toilet can be the cause of a leak because of a poor seal of the wax ring.
Get a new wax ring, beveled plastic shims made for toilet-leveling purposes, and a set of brass toilet bolts. These should be available anywhere plumbing supplies are sold.
1. Turn the water off to the toilet.
2. Flush it and sponge the left-over water in the tank into a nearby drain.
3. Remove the water supply line nut at the bottom of the tank and the nuts and washers at the sides of the base of the toilet.
4. Carefully lift and roll the toilet onto a pile of towels or old carpet (porcelain breaks easily).
5. Scrape and clean off the old wax ring from the toilet base horn and the floor flange.
6. Replace the two old (probably corroded) flange bolts with the new bolts. Use the old nuts or small bits of the old wax to hold the new bolts upright and in place at 3 and 9 o'clock.
7. Stick the wax ring onto the toilet horn or onto the flange, and carefully lower the toilet into position on the bolts and flange.
8. Sit or stand on the toilet bowl rim and rock the toilet down to the floor. Use a level across the bowl to level it with the beveled plastic shims, if necessary. Snug the washers and nuts down onto the flange bolts so that the toilet cannot move. Do NOT over-tighten them or you can crack the porcelain toilet base.
9. Re-attach the supply line nut and turn the water on to check for leaks.
10. For looks, seal around the base of the front and sides of the base of the toilet with tub-and-tile caulk. Leave the back open so that you can check for leaking easier later.
Good Luck!
